Geofence troubleshooting

1. False positives and unwanted automations

Symptom: Devices trigger an exit alert or an automated action (like Screen lock) while physically remaining inside the geofence.

Cause: The location radius is too small. Natural fluctuations in location data can temporarily push the device "out of bounds." This is especially common on Windows devices relying on Wi-Fi triangulation in areas with weak or changing network signals.

Solutions

• Increase the geofence size: Ensure the radius covers more than the exact perimeter of a building to account for location data drift.
• Switch to geographic divisions: For Windows desktops or devices in rural areas, using a State or Country boundary is more reliable than a small radius.
• Review automations: Avoid assigning critical security actions (like Screen lock) to narrow perimeters to prevent accidental user lockouts.

2. Delayed or missing geofence alerts

Symptom: The device physically leaves or enters the geofence, but the panel doesn't update, or email notifications are significantly delayed.

Cause: The device lacks proper background permissions, the Wi-Fi is disconnected (Windows), or third-party security software is blocking communication with our servers.

Solutions

• Windows: Ensure the Wi-Fi adapter is turned on and connected to a network. Prey cannot triangulate location over Ethernet alone.
• macOS: Verify that global location services are turned on and Prey is explicitly granted access in System Settings.
• Mobile permissions: Location permissions must be set to "Allow all the time" (Android 13+) or "Always" (iOS) so Prey can check boundaries in the background.
• Firewall/antivirus: If Prey is being blocked, refer to our guide on how to whitelist Prey in your security software to ensure seamless communication.
• Missing emails: If you aren't receiving email notifications, verify that they were enabled during the initial setup. Review our geofence setup guide for details.

3. Inaccurate location in rural areas (Windows)

Symptom: The reported location is highly inaccurate, leading to geofence false positives.

Cause: Prey uses Wi-Fi triangulation for Windows devices. Accuracy drops significantly in rural or remote areas with few nearby Wi-Fi access points. Laptops and desktops track best in urban environments with a high density of networks.

Solution

Increase the geofence radius significantly for these environments, or transition these specific devices to geographic divisions.

Still need help?

If you need assistance, or if you have any more questions, please contact our Support team using the Help widget on your Prey panel.