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This page provides information on how to set up Android devices in preparation for using them with CommCare. If you want instructions on how to install and set up CommCare for Android please go to Install CommCare for Android Smartphones to get started. |
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Device Specific Guides
These are some guides for specific devices:
Getting Set Up
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Before installing your CommCare application, ensure that your Android Device is set to the right settings. Once you complete this step, you’ll be ready to install CommCare on your Android phone. As a note, this is general guidance. Some specific devices may have their own guidance. |
Android Device Prep Checklist
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General Prep Steps
Charge All Devices
Make sure that all devices are fully charged and can turn on.
Catalogue Devices
Additionally, ensure that you have a user and device management system in place.
Install and Verify Sim Cards
If needed, ensure that your Sim Cards and SD Cards (if needed)
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are installed.
The Sim Card should be activated and
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has balance for
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Checklist
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Internet.
Android Device Steps
All of the following steps will need to be done on device itself.
Date and Time Setup
If your network operator does not automatically set the correct time and time zone, set them manually. Usually Android phones update their time as soon as they get a data connection.
Go to Applications then Settings
Choose Date and Time
Uncheck Automatic Date and Time
Uncheck Automatic Time Zone (if available)
Set the correct date and time
Set the correct time zone
Internet Connectivity
Cellphone Internet
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Setting Up Connectivity
In some cases will start to receive configuration settings from the network.
Pull down from top of screen to view notifications
Select configuration settings and install all configuration settings received
Open Mobile Network Page (Settings -> Wireless and Networks -> Mobile Networks OR Settings -> More.. -> Mobile networks)
Choose Access Point Names
Make sure that APN for your cellphone provider is listed. Press the circle until highlighted.
Ensure that there is an G, E or H listed in the top-left corner of the phone, next to the phone bars indicating reception. Use the browser to navigate to www.google.com to test this.
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If automatic configuration settings are not received from network
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Set Up WiFi (
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If Needed)
Go to Settings -> Wireless and Network Settings -> Wi-Fi Settings OR Settings -> WiFi
Turn On WiFi
Select the desired Wi-Fi network and enter the Wi-Fi password
There should be a WiFi icon next to the phone bars
Use the browser to navigate to www.google.com to test network
Setup Google Account
You need a Google account to download applications from the Google Store for the phones. You can either create an individual account for each phone or create a single account for the project.
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To setup an account go to https://accounts.google.com/SignUp from your computer.
Individual accounts: You can create individual accounts for each phone in a sequential fashion (projectname0001@gmail.com, projectname0002@gmail.com, etc.).
Pro(s): You can use the Android Device Manager to track the devices and lock/wipe them if they get lost. The individual email addresses can also be added to the respective mobile users' profiles on HQ so it's easier to track. The best tool for tracking a phone's location is Google Maps' Location History.
Risk(s): In at least one case, a few days after starting the system, Gmail shut down these accounts because it suspected they weren't people's personal accounts, which violated its terms of use.
Single account for project: You can create a single project account such as projectname@gmail.com.
Pro(s): One fixed account to manage with one password can standardize setup of phones for new users without having to create additional accounts.
Risk(s): Having a single account for all phones can have a slew of unintended consequences - contacts, photos and settings will all get backed up to the same Google account. There are some pretty significant privacy concerns and the likelihood for serious HR problems. To minimize these potential issues, please make sure to follow the "uncheck the auto-sync option" in the steps below.
Once you have the account(s) per your requirements, follow the steps below.
Go the Add Account page (Settings -> Accounts and sync -> Add Account OR Settings -> Accounts Section -> Add Account)
Choose Google account and select that you have an existing account
Enter account information
If prompted, uncheck "Keep this device backed up with my Google Account"
if prompted, don't choose to setup the phone for Google +
If prompted, uncheck all the Sync options
Optional: to reduce bandwidth usage and stop multiple devices with the same account from sharing contacts/photos/other data between each other, choose the Account from Settings -> Accounts and Sync and uncheck all the sync options
Install Applications from Play Store
Open the Play Store from Applications. On older devices, it may be called Marketplace
Search for CommCare. Choose the CommCare and Install It. Make sure Auto-Update is checked.
Search for Amaze File Explorer and install it. This is useful if you are installing Multimedia on the phone.
Optional: Search for Barcode scanner and install one such as "Barcode Scanner" by ZXing Team. Note that Barcode / QR code scanning is a native feature of the Camera app on more recent versions of Android. You can easily check that by trying to scan a code using the Camera app.
Optional: If typing in a different language is required, you may want to install Google Input for your language. For example, Google Hindi Input is available.
User Friendly Settings
Remove all extra home screens: pinch screen and tap and hold the others to remove them
Remove all extra shortcuts except CommCare, Settings and Play Store - add the missing ones
Set wallpaper and lockscreen to a simple theme: tap and hold background
Update phone firmware: Settings -> About Phone -> Update Software -> click through confirmations
Update existing apps: Play Store -> Top Menu -> All Apps -> Update all
Create CommCare shortcut on lockscreen for easy access
Increase the Display Time Out
Go to Settings -> Display
Set screen timeout or sleep to 2 minutes
Turn Off Screen Auto-rotate
Go to Settings -> Display
Uncheck auto-rotate screen
Set the Display Brightness
Go to Settings -> Display
Set the Brightness to Auto if available (recommended for battery savings)
If Auto is not available, set Brightness to medium level or high level depending on whether phone will be used outdoors
Disable notifications for extraneous apps:
On older devices, go to Settings > Apps. Select the relevant apps, and for each one, disable the "Show notifications".
On newer devices, go to Settings > Sounds and notifications. Select the relevant apps and enable "Block notifications".
Optional: Set Phone to Local Language.
Go to Settings -> Locale and Text or Settings -> Language Input
Change the Language to the local language
Optional: Setup the keyboard
Go to Settings -> Locale and Text or Settings -> Language Input
Check Google Input for your language if installed
Change the Default Keyboard. On some devices choose Select Input Method. On others choose Default
Select the default keyboard
Optional: Adjust text size
Go to Settings -> Accessibility -> Font Size (or Settings -> Display -> Font Size
Try different sizes and confirm with user (if present) when text is big enough to be read
GPS And Camera Settings
If you're using GPS or capturing images in CommCare there are some additional settings required.
Setup GPS
Go to Settings -> Location and Security OR Settings -> Location Access
Make sure Access to my Location is On (if setting is available)
Check GPS satellites
Check WiFi & mobile network location OR Use Wireless networks
Change Camera Settings to Smaller Images
Go to Applications -> Camera
Open Camera Settings
Change Picture Size OR Resolution to the smallest size available
Setup CommCare Application
For more detailed instructions see Install CommCare for Android Smartphones
- Note: If you have multimedia, download your multimedia zip file from CommCareHQ, plug in your phone to a computer and copy the zip file to the phone.
- Open CommCare (Applications -> CommCare)
- Choose the Enter URL option (recommended) or use the barcode scanner to scan the application QR code on CommCareHQ
- Enter the App Code for your application (or scan the QR code)
- Choose Begin Install
- Phone will connect to the internet and download your application
- If you have multimedia, you will prompted about missing multimedia. Press the Settings -> Install Multimedia
- Choose the folder button and find the multimedia zip file you copied to the phone
- Multimedia should validate correctly
First Time User Login
- Open CommCare
- With internet connectivity, log in as the mobile worker for that phone. This will ensure they can login without internet or network in the future.
- If the application is using lookup tables, be sure to also press "Sync", the blue button on the app's home screen. This ensures that the lookup tables are downloaded to the phone for this specific user.
Setup Home Screen
- Go to Applications
- Press and Hold CommCare to create a shortcut on the homescreen
- If phone has multiple home screens (swiping left and right on homescreen shows additional screens), repeat to create shortcut on every home screen.
- If it's not possible to remove the home screens (e.g. Android 4.2.2), install Nova Launcher and set it as primary launcher.
- Nova Launcher is really useful for setting up multiple phones efficiently. You'll only have to setup one phone with your preferred settings, then save those settings within Nova Launcher, and then upload that file to other phones (remember to download Nova Launcher on every phone first). An example for setup instructions here.
Additional Useful Apps
There are many free Android applications that can be useful to the phone's users. Here are some favorites:
- App Lock - app locks can be a good way to prevent use of specific applications. App Lock by Dmobile works particularly well (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.domobile.applock&hl=en). Note that the app called "Smart App Protector" prompts the user to enter a passcode even when a background process is launched, which can be distracting.
- Nova Launcher - allows removing extra home screens if default Android launcher doesn't. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.teslacoilsw.launcher&hl=en
- Kid's Shell - safe launcher - lock down the phone to only selected apps with simple home screen. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.whisperarts.kidsshell
- MobiLock Kiosk Lockdown - put phone into kiosk mode, with limited access. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.promobitech.mobilock&hl=en
- SureLock Kiosk Lockdown - same as MobiLock, untested. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gears42.surelock
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Offline Android Apps Install
To accelerate the installation process and reduce the amount of bandwidth needed, android apps can be installed from the phone's file system rather than from the Play Store.
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