SkieHow does live location work for managed school or company devices?
Each managed phone or tablet reports its position to the Skie dashboard through a protected background service. Admins with location access see the latest known position on a map, with a last-seen time beside it. It works only on devices that are managed, only for people whose role allows it, and it pauses when a device has no connection.
Skie runs as the Android device owner, and location permission is granted to the Skie app automatically during setup. Nobody has to tap Allow on each device, and the person holding the device cannot switch it off from Settings. The app reports from a protected background service, so the position keeps arriving while the screen is off.
On the dashboard you open the location page for a student, a device or a group and see the latest known position on a map. Every position carries a last-seen time. That timestamp matters more than the pin: a pin from a few minutes ago is current, a pin from yesterday tells you where the device was when it last had a signal.
Location needs a connection to travel. A Wi-Fi-only tablet reports while it is on Wi-Fi. A device with a SIM reports on mobile data too. If the connection drops, the rules on the device keep working but the position stops updating until it reconnects. Skie does not include a mobile plan or SIM, so the connection is whatever your own carrier or network provides.
Seeing location is a page permission, not a default for everyone. The organisation decides which roles can open it, and you should have a written policy and clear notice for students, parents or staff before you switch it on. This is general information, not legal advice.
Practical tip: when you need the position right now rather than the last reported one, use the fresh location request described in request a fresh location.
- Location permission is granted automatically at setup
- Reports continue with the screen off
- Every pin shows a last-seen time
- Access to the page is set per role