Automations and Troubleshooting

How do Automations Work?

Automations were designed to save you time by streamlining actions you would otherwise have to execute manually. By setting up automation rules, you can trust that an event will trigger an action. 

Prey automations allow fleet Managers to schedule Prey actions on their devices, such as the Lock, Alert, and Alarm, to be executed upon a specific trigger, like a specific date, time, or change in conditions. For instance, a curfew lock can be set from Monday to Friday at 6 pm to deter out-of-hours device usage. 

Which events can trigger an automation?

You can set either a time-based or event-based trigger based on the list below:

    • Exact time: Set an action with a specific date and execution time.
    • Repeat in time: Set one to be executed on specific days and hours, recurrently or in a date range.
    • Low battery: Activate a reaction when the device’s OS detects that the battery power level is low.
    • Hardware changes: Trigger a response when Prey detects a change of hardware in a device. Hardware changes are any hardware component changes that occur since the last connection with Prey, specifically, System, Motherboard, CPU, RAM or Network Interfaces. 
    • Stop Charging: Detect when a device has been unplugged from its power source and react to it.
    • Start Charging: Detect when a device has been plugged to its power source and react to it.
    • Device not connected to Prey: Triggers an action when a pre-defined number of days have passed with the device not checking-in to the Prey servers. 

Due to limitations placed by Apple on iOS devices, only time rule-based options and the low battery event are available for iOS. Device not connected to Prey is not available for mobile devices.

 

How to Create Automations

First of all, select the Automations tab from your panel menu.

 

Then, name your automation in the field marked below. Something that is easy for you to remember why it was created is always a good advice.

 

Next, select the rule that you would like to trigger the automation. Click on the drop-down list to chose the event that applies to the purpose of your automation, as per the following screenshot:

 

 

Once you're done setting-up how your automation will behave, it's time to select the action you would like to run when it's triggered, in the section highlighted below:

You can send a Message, sound an Alarm for 30 seconds, Lock the device behind a custom password (not available for iOS), or Mark as Missing, which will start gathering location and device data to generate missing reports. Once you're happy with the configuration, it's time to add the devices that you want to be affected by this automation.

 

 

You can select individual devices by clicking on the blue Select button, or add all of the devices in your account by clicking the toggle on top of the device list. You can also search specific devices by entering the device's name in the search field. Afterwards, just click Save Automation, and the automation will be set up in the selected devices once they're online.

 

Reviewing your Automations

You can review all the automations in the main screen of the Automations tab.

On the highlighted section, you will be able to see all your created automations. If you click on an automation, you'll be able to review its details and delete it if needed. Let's see that information in further detail.

Keep in mind that automations cannot be modified. If you need to change the devices that will be affected, modify the actions that will execute, or alter the trigger, you will have to delete the automation and create a new one.

 

Can't set your Automations or its not working as expected?

Write to us at help@preyproject.com or fill the contact form you can find on your Prey panel and we'll be glad to help you.

 

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