# How to configure Location Tracking? *Location Tracking* feature in Hexnode enables organizations to find lost or misplaced devices and fetch real-time device location information as well as the complete history of locations traversed by the device previously. Information about the time spent by an employee in a specific location helps administrators evaluate employee performance and make better business decisions. The ability of Hexnode UEM to track device location remotely finds the best use in various industrial sectors such as distribution, warehousing, and all others where there is a necessity to track the location of company-owned devices used by field employees. Hexnode allows you to track the locations of Android, iOS, macOS, Windows and Android TV OS devices. Prerequisites:- Hexnode UEM app must be installed on your device(s). - Location Services must be enabled on your device(s). - An active internet connection is required to transmit location coordinates from the endpoint to the Hexnode UEM portal. Notes:- For macOS devices, the Hexnode UEM app should be installed on the devices with the **Location** permission granted to the app. - Device location cannot be obtained if devices have been powered off or location services have been disabled. - If an Android device loses network connectivity, the Hexnode app will continue to collect and store location data locally based on the **Location Update Interval** configured in the Location Tracking policy. Once the device regains internet access, the last cached data is automatically synced with the Hexnode UEM portal to update the device’s current location status. As for macOS, iOS, and Windows, location data cannot be fetched if the device is disconnected from the internet. - If you need to pinpoint your device location with high precision, ensure that the location accuracy of your device is set to *High Accuracy* mode. However, turning this ON can affect your device battery life as it uses GPS, Wi-Fi, and mobile networks to determine your location. To turn ON *High Accuracy* mode on your device, tap **Settings** > **Location** > **Mode** > **High Accuracy**. - Enable **Prompt to enable location services** under **Admin > General Settings > Location Tracking** to prompt the user to turn on location services if it is disabled, for Android devices. The user is also prompted when he tries to disable location tracking. ![](https://cdn.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Prompt-to-enable-location-services.png) Periodic Location Tracking --------------------------- Hexnode UEM enables administrators to fetch the location of devices at periodic time intervals. The time interval ranges from 15 minutes to 24 hours. To enable *Location Tracking* on devices, 1. Login to your Hexnode UEM portal > Navigate to the **Policies** tab > Click on **New Policy** to create a new one or click on any policy to edit an existing one > Enter the *Policy Name* and *Description* in the provided fields. 2. Navigate to **General Settings** > **Location Tracking** > **Configure.** 1. Select the option **Enable Location Tracking** to enable location tracking on your device. 2. Select an appropriate **Location Update Interval** that indicates how frequently the location data needs to be updated. The time interval ranges from 15 minutes to 24 hours. 3. Navigate to **Policy Targets** > **+ Add Devices**. 4. Select the required device(s) to which the policy needs to be associated > Click **OK**. 5. Click on **Save**. Note:- You can also associate such policies with device groups, individual users, user groups, and even Active Directory Domains. Once you’ve applied the policy successfully, Hexnode fetches the location of its associated device(s) at the specified time intervals. For [co-managed Windows devices](https://www.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/co-management-of-windows-devices/), use the [Enable Location Tracking](https://www.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/location-tracking-for-co-managed-devices/) remote action to enable location tracking. ### Enabling location services on devices Enabling location services on Android devices #### General location settings Note:- The settings may vary slightly from one device to another. 1. Pull down the *status bar* and click on the **Location** icon. [![Location services on Android device](https://cdn.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Enabling-location-on-the-device.png) ](https://cdn.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Enabling-location-on-the-device.png)3. Ensure that the Hexnode UEM app is listed under *Recent location requests*. [![Recent location requests](https://cdn.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Location-services-enabled-apps.png) ](https://cdn.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Location-services-enabled-apps.png) #### App based settings 1. Navigate to **Settings** and find all the installed apps on the device. [![List of all apps installed on the device](https://cdn.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Apps-installed-on-the-device.png) ](https://cdn.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Apps-installed-on-the-device.png)3. Click on **Hexnode UEM**. [![Application info page in Settings](https://cdn.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Hexnode-MDM-app-info.png) ](https://cdn.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Hexnode-MDM-app-info.png)5. Under the Hexnode *App Permissions* page, toggle **Location** settings ON. [![Enable location permission for Hexnode app](https://cdn.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/App-permissions-for-Hexnode-MDM.png) ](https://cdn.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/App-permissions-for-Hexnode-MDM.png) Note:- You can also [enable location services](https://www.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/how-to-enforce-location-services-on-android-devices-using-hexnode-mdm/) permanently on Android devices without any user intervention. Enabling location services on Windows PCs and Tablets Follow the steps mentioned below to enable location services on Windows 10/11 Pro and Enterprise editions. 1. On your Windows PC or Tablet, go to **Settings > Privacy**. 2. Select **Location** under **App Permissions**. [![Location tracking using Hexnode MDM](https://cdn.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Location-permission-settings-on-Windows.png)](https://cdn.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Location-permission-settings-on-Windows.png) 3. Click on **Change** under **Allow access to location on this device**. 4. Enable the location access for the device. [![Enable location services for remote tracking](https://cdn.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Enable-location-access-for-Windows.png)](https://cdn.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Enable-location-access-for-Windows.png) Enabling location services on iOS devices Follow the steps mentioned below to enable location services on iOS devices. 1. Tap on the **Settings** icon on the device. 2. From *Privacy* settings, select **Location Services**. 3. Toggle the *Location Services* button ON. [![](https://cdn.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Configure-Location-Tracking-with-Hexnode-MDM-iOS.png) ](https://cdn.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Configure-Location-Tracking-with-Hexnode-MDM-iOS.png)5. Identify the Hexnode UEM app to enable location access permissions. Select **Always** to enable location services permanently. [![](https://cdn.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Configure-Location-Tracking-with-Hexnode-MDM-iOS-dvices2.jpeg) ](https://cdn.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Configure-Location-Tracking-with-Hexnode-MDM-iOS-dvices2.jpeg) Enabling location services on macOS devices Hexnode UEM app will prompt for enabling location permissions during its initial setup. If the user forgets to grant the required permissions to the app, the user has to grant the permissions manually. Follow the steps mentioned below to enable location services on macOS devices. 1. On your Mac, go to **System Preferences** > **Security and Privacy**. 2. Head on to the **Privacy** tab and unlock the padlock, if locked, with your admin username and password. 3. Check the option **Enable Location Services** and then select the **Hexnode UEM** app from the list. Instantaneous Location Tracking -------------------------------- Hexnode UEM also enables you to track the location of your enrolled devices on-demand even if periodic location tracking is enabled. [![](https://cdn.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Location-Tracking-On-demand-location-tracking-services-1.png) ](https://cdn.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Location-Tracking-On-demand-location-tracking-services-1.png)To track the device location instantaneously, 1. On the Hexnode UEM console, head on to the **Manage** tab > **Devices** > Select the device(s) for which you have enabled *Location Tracking*. 2. Click on the **Manage** button > **Scan Device Location**. OR 1. On the Hexnode UEM console, head on to the **Manage** tab > **Devices**. 2. Click on the device name to which you have enabled *Location Tracking*. This will take you to the device summary page. 3. Click on **Actions** > **Scan Device Location** to view the most recent geographic location of the device. Notes: - The **Scan Device Location** under the **Actions** button will be disabled by default. - Hexnode UEM does not allow you to fetch the location of a device unless you associate a Location Tracking enabled policy with that device. View device location --------------------- To view the current location of a device using Hexnode UEM, [![](https://cdn.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/enforce-location-services-to-devices-using-hexnode-mdm-recent-location.png) ](https://cdn.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/enforce-location-services-to-devices-using-hexnode-mdm-recent-location.png)1. Login to your Hexnode UEM portal. 2. Navigate to the **Manage** tab > Devices. 3. Click on the device name for which you have enabled location services. 4. On the *device summary* page, you can see the most recent location of your device. Notes: You can track not only the current location of a device but also get the complete list of locations traversed by the device. - By clicking **See History**, you can see the complete list of locations traversed by the device. - You can also click on **Location History** on the *device summary* page to see the complete list of traversed locations. [![](https://cdn.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Location-History.png) ](https://cdn.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Location-History.png) 1. Login to your Hexnode UEM portal. 2. Go to the **Manage** tab > **Devices**. 3. Click on the required device name > **Location History.** - You can filter location reports by date and export them as a CSV file. Disable Location Tracking -------------------------- By disabling *Location Tracking Services* on the device(s), you can stop the device(s) from being tracked. To disable location tracking on devices using Hexnode UEM, 1. Login to your Hexnode UEM portal. 2. Navigate to the **Policies** tab > Select the required *Location Tracking* policy. 3. Enter the *Policy Name* and *Description* in the provided fields. 4. Click on **General Settings**. 5. Uncheck the option **Enable Location Tracking** to disable location tracking services on the device(s). [![](https://cdn.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Location-tracking.png) ](https://cdn.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Location-tracking.png)7. Go to **Policy Targets** > **+ Add Devices** > Select the required device(s) to which the policy needs to be associated > Click **OK**. 8. Click on **Save**. Note: - You can also associate such policies with device groups, individual users, user groups, and even Active Directory domains. Troubleshooting Tips --------------------- - [Common reasons for location tracking to fail.](https://www.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/common-reasons-for-location-tracking-to-fail/)