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To ensure Prey can track, report, and execute security actions seamlessly across your mobile fleet, correctly configuring the operating system permissions is essential. Both Android and iOS have aggressive battery-saving and privacy measures that can suspend the app if explicit exceptions are not set.
Below, we detail the exact configuration required for each platform.
Configuration for Android devices
Prey requests the necessary permissions during installation; however, to prevent the operating system from closing the app in the background, you must manually adjust location and power settings.
1. Essential permissions and Location services
The device must have location services permanently enabled with the highest possible accuracy (combining native GPS and Wi-Fi triangulation).
- Go to Settings > Apps > Prey > Permissions > Location.
- Select Allow all the time to ensure background tracking.
- Enable Use precise location (or High Accuracy Mode).
- In the same permissions section, grant access to the Camera (required to capture evidence photos) and Storage.
2. Battery optimization and background execution
Power-saving modes must remain turned off globally on the device.
- Go to Settings > Apps > Prey > Battery.
- Select Unrestricted (or disable battery optimization for Prey).
- To prevent the system from automatically closing the app, open the Recent Apps view, tap and hold the Prey icon, and select Keep open (or Lock).
3. Considerations for specific manufacturers (Xiaomi, TCL, Huawei)
Certain manufacturers include native security apps that override standard Android settings. On these devices:
- Open the manufacturer's native Security app.
- Navigate to the Manage apps section and select Prey.
- Toggle the Autostart option to On.
- Allow Prey to display pop-ups while running in the background.
- Go back to the Security app's main screen, enter the battery settings, and make sure No Restrictions is selected.
Note on Custom Wipe: The Custom Wipe feature is only available when Prey is installed using a custom APK. You will find detailed instructions in your web panel, under the Android tab, in the Custom link section.
Configuration for iOS devices
Due to operating system privacy restrictions, end users must manually grant these permissions on their devices, even when Prey is deployed massively via MDM or RMM tools.
Apple's ecosystem imposes strict restrictions on background processes.
To get the best possible performance from your iOS fleet, you must apply this setup and educate users on their daily habits.
1. Critical device permissions
- Global Location Services: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services and ensure this is globally turned on.
- Prey Location Permission: In the same menu, select Prey, set access to Always, and turn on Precise Location.
- Background App Refresh: Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh. Confirm it is enabled globally and that the specific toggle for Prey is turned on.
- Camera and Notifications: Go to Settings > Prey and enable Camera access. Under Notifications, enable all options (notifications are crucial to "wake up" the app when the panel requests an action).
2. Device health status
The hardware and operating system dictate how Prey behaves in the background:
- Battery health (> 80%): If the maximum battery capacity is degraded, iOS will apply aggressive throttling to background processes. A device with poor battery health will have an inconsistent location history.
- Low Power Mode: This must remain OFF. When active, iOS downgrades GPS accuracy to cell towers and halts background app refreshes.
- Available storage: If the iPhone has low storage space, the OS is much more aggressive at silently killing background apps.
- Updated iOS versions: Keep devices on recent iOS versions to avoid known background tracking bugs present in older versions.
3. User habits
User behavior is the primary cause of tracking interruptions in iOS fleets:
- Do not force-quit the app: Swiping the app up in the app switcher (force-quit) is the biggest silent killer of fleet tracking. When a user does this, iOS penalizes the app and prevents it from waking up in the background until the user manually opens it again.
- Avoid Low Power Mode: This should not be used as a daily habit.
What to Expect from Prey on iOS
With the perfect setup, Prey guarantees frequent location updates with good accuracy when the device is in motion, entry and exit events for geofences, and rapid recovery after periods of inactivity.
However, due to Apple's system design, Prey cannot guarantee continuous tracking if the user force-quits the application or frequently activates Low Power Mode.
Still need help?
Please refer to our related articles for additional guidance:
If you need further assistance, reach out to our Support team directly via the Help widget in your Prey panel.