Fi uses your phone as a link to your pet's tracker. When your phone is nearby, the tracker sends its location through your phone instead of using GPS and cellular. This saves your tracker's battery and gives you faster, more accurate updates.
For this to work, the Fi App has to keep running in the background. Android stops the app from doing this unless the settings mentioned in this article are turned on.
Keep Permissions From Being Removed
Fi App Permissions
The Fi App needs these permissions to connect to your tracker and send you alerts.
To open the Fi App permissions:
- Open Settings on your phone.
- Tap Apps.
- Tap Fi.
- Tap Permissions.
Set each permission as follows:
- Location: Select Allow all the time, then turn on Use precise location.
- Nearby devices: Select Allow. Your phone uses this to connect to your tracker over Bluetooth.
- Physical activity: Select Allow. This lets the Fi App wake itself up when you start moving.
- Notifications: Select Allow. This is how you receive escape alerts and Lost Pet alerts.
These permissions are optional:
- Contacts: Allow this if you want to find friends or add caretakers.
- Camera and Photos: Allow this if you want to add photos of your pet.
Battery Settings
Battery settings on your phone can stop the Fi App from running in the background.
To let the Fi App run in the background:
- Open Settings on your phone.
- Tap Apps.
- Tap Fi.
- Tap App battery usage. On some phones, this setting is called Battery.
- Select Unrestricted.
Samsung Phones
Samsung phones have one more battery setting that can put the Fi App to sleep.
To keep the Fi App awake on a Samsung phone:
- Open Settings on your phone.
- Tap Battery.
- Tap Background usage limits.
- Check that Fi is not listed under Sleeping apps or Deep sleeping apps.
- Add Fi to Never sleeping apps.
Other Android Brands
On Xiaomi, OnePlus, Oppo, Huawei, or other brands, look for a similar setting. It is often called Auto-launch, Background activity, or App battery saver. Allow Fi to run in the background.
Keep Permissions From Being Removed
Android can remove app permissions when it thinks you are not using an app.
To stop Android from removing the Fi App permissions:
- Open Settings on your phone.
- Tap Apps.
- Tap Fi.
- Turn off Pause app activity if unused. On some phones, this setting is called Remove permissions if app isn't used.
Data Settings
Android can block the Fi App from using mobile data while the app runs in the background.
To let the Fi App use mobile data in the background:
- Open Settings on your phone.
- Tap Apps.
- Tap Fi.
- Tap Mobile data. On some phones, this setting is called Mobile data & Wi-Fi.
- Turn on Background data.
- If you use Data Saver, turn on Unrestricted data for Fi.
Bluetooth and Location
Keep Bluetooth and Location turned on. You don't need to keep the Fi App open; it works in the background once these settings are on.
If the Fi App ever shows a screen asking you to turn a permission back on, follow the prompt.
If your tracker still is not sending updates through your phone after you turn on these settings, start a chat with our support team.