Preparing Android Devices
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
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) are installed.
The Sim Card should be activated and has balance for 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
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.
Set Up WiFi (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. 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