Your mobile device is essential for using the Commusoft app effectively in the field. These best practices apply to both Android and iOS, and help keep the app fast and reliable.

Device specifications

Your hardware must meet the minimum requirements for the app to function. Exceeding them keeps the app running well alongside the other apps you use in the field.

Tip: Check our Commusoft system requirements article for the minimum specification for each app.

Internet connection

A strong WiFi or data connection gives you the most reliable performance. Open the app with a good connection each morning, so everything syncs before you travel to your first appointment.

Features that need a connection

The app works offline, but some features are limited without a connection.

Click here for more details.

These features need a strong mobile data or WiFi connection:

Search
Home screen widgets - Parts pick up / Timesheets / Upcoming appointments
Property history
Notes and communications
Assets - dynamic fields
Parts
Parts Arena Integration
My Van
Stockroom app (standalone app)
Purchase orders
Deferred payments
SumUp
Tap to Pay
Fleet Management - Arrive/leave status updates

Keep the mobile app updated

Update the app regularly from the Google Play Store (Android) or App Store (iOS). Updates carry performance improvements, bug fixes, and new features that keep the app running smoothly.

When an update is available, the Commusoft Core app shows a banner on its home screen. This tells you an update is waiting, even if auto-update is turned off or hasn't run yet.

Note: Auto-updates are controlled by your device's app store, not by the Commusoft app.

Click here to see how to check your app store settings

Android devices: Google Play Store → Profile Icon → Settings → Network preferences → Auto-update apps
iOS devices: Settings → App Store → Toggle 'App updates'

If your device settings don't match the steps here, check your software provider's documentation for more information.

Enable mobile app permissions

Grant the permissions the app needs (location, notifications, photos, microphone, storage, contacts) so every feature works.

Android devices: Settings > Apps > Commusoft > Permissions > Grant necessary permissions
iOS devices: Prompted on first use, or adjust permissions in Settings > Commusoft

Location permissions

Several features rely on location access to work correctly.

Required for Timesheets: The app must confirm your location when you clock in and out using the Timesheets widget.
Highly recommended for photo timestamping: Location data is recorded on each photo to prove where it was taken.
Used for job status updates: Helps confirm that field staff are at the property when marking appointments as arrived or completed.

✅ Tip: Enabling location access keeps your job records accurate and supports audit trails for photos and on-site activity.

Keep mobile app notifications on

Turn notifications on to stay updated on new appointments and changes.

Android: Settings → Apps → Commusoft → Notifications → Toggle 'Allow notifications'
iOS: Settings → Commusoft → Notifications → Toggle 'Allow notifications'

Push notifications trigger for appointments inside your diary sync range, for example the next 15 days. If a job is booked further ahead than your settings allow, you won't be notified.

Notifications also don't trigger when you schedule an appointment for yourself, in your own diary.

Note: To change how far in advance you get alerts, ask your office administrator to adjust the Mobile settings on your user profile. If your device settings don't match the steps here, check your operating system's documentation.

Accept appointments when notified

Accept appointments the night before, or on the morning of the event. Web users rely on these acknowledgments to confirm you've seen the appointment.

Tip: You can accept multiple events, and accepted appointments can still be edited.

Pull to refresh

Pull to refresh lets you manually sync data and update views in the app. Swipe down from the top of the screen until you see a blue bar reading 'Release to refresh', then release to complete the sync.

Pull to refresh is useful when:

Checking for new appointments or changes to your diary
Refreshing lists of forms, contacts, assets, and files
Making sure data updated by others is available on your device

Make sure you have a good internet connection when you use it. Syncing from the database and refreshing local data together ensure the app shows the most current information.

Click here to see how to pull to refresh

Close mobile apps not actively in use

Leaving unnecessary apps open drains battery life and can cause syncing issues.

Opening the Commusoft app from fully closed also starts a full data sync. This pulls new data from the server and pushes anything stored locally, keeping everything up to date across platforms.

Android: Tap the recent apps button (varies by device) and swipe closed.
iOS: Double-tap the home button (or swipe up from the bottom) and swipe apps closed.

Tip: Opening the app this way each morning ensures a sync runs before you start your day.

Restart your device regularly

Restarting your device frees up resources and clears temporary files or processes that may be causing issues. This applies equally to Android and iOS, and is especially useful if the app is slow or data isn't syncing as expected.

Daily mobile app usage

Regular use keeps your data synced with the central database. Consistent daily use means changes made on your device sync continuously.

The app isn't designed for long periods of inactivity. If it goes unused for more than 5 days, such as over a holiday, open it before your break ends. When you return to work, open it again with a good internet connection so it can download the latest data and finish syncing before you use it.

The app is also intentionally designed without a log out option. Field staff are expected to access the app daily as part of their workflow, and staying signed in means schedules, job details, and updates are ready immediately. It also enables background syncing and offline access, which keep the app working in areas with limited signal.

Note: If you're troubleshooting an issue and think logging out would help, reach out to our team for support.

Managing job completion workflows

Completing jobs on mobile depends on diary events, data syncing, and workflow continuity. Future diary events can block job completion.

When you tap Leave and confirm the job is complete, make sure no future diary events are attached to the job. If any exist, a user with the right permissions must cancel or manage them before the job can be marked complete.

Uninstalling the mobile app

Only uninstall the app when a member of the Client Services team directs you to. If you uninstall while your device is offline, any data created or updated locally but not yet synced is permanently lost.

That can include job updates, photos, notes, or any other changes made since your last successful sync. Make sure your device is online and fully synced first.

Support agents always confirm your device is fully synced before advising you to uninstall.

Important: Reinstalling can cause data loss if unsynced job data is stored on the device. Status updates such as "Arrived" or "Left" may not sync if the app is deleted and reinstalled before syncing completes. Forms and parts that have already synced stay attached to the job, but unsynced details may be lost. Don't reinstall during an active job, or when there may be unsynced data.

Tip: Always check with your office administrators if you're unsure of the sync status.

Troubleshooting data syncing issues

If your data isn't syncing, work through these steps in order.

Check for pending Commusoft app updates.
- If no updates are pending, move on to the next step.
Perform a pull to refresh:
- For appointments: Open the app and go to Home, Diary List View, or Diary Monthly View.
- Swipe down lightly to trigger a pull to refresh. A blue bar shows when it starts correctly. This compares your diary with the server and queues a sync.
- Leave the app open for at least 5 minutes so the sync can complete.
Wait 5 minutes, letting the process finish so actions aren't queued.
- If the issue persists, move on to the next step.
Check VPN settings: If you're using a VPN, disable it temporarily to see whether that resolves the issue.
Close Commusoft and all other unnecessary apps, reopen Commusoft, and wait 5 minutes.
If the issue persists, further investigation is likely required.

Note: Don't repeatedly pull to refresh. It queues extra sync requests and causes delays.

Contacting Client Services

If you still need help, include as much of the information below as you can. It lets our agents investigate quickly.

Username affected
Job, estimate, or invoice numbers, or the event description (if applicable)
Certificate details (if applicable)
Detailed issue description
Screenshots or recordings

Note: If you need to speak to us, check out the in-system support for further assistance.

Taking screenshots and recordings on Android phones and tablets

Taking screenshots:

Press and hold Power + Volume Down together to capture the screen.
On some devices, swipe down to Quick Settings and tap the Screenshot button if available.

🔗 Learn more about taking screenshots on Android.

Recording your screen:

Swipe down from the top of the screen to open the Quick Settings menu.
Look for the Screen Record button. If it isn't visible, edit your Quick Settings to add it.
Tap the Screen Record button and follow the prompts to start recording.

🔗 Learn more about screen recording on Android.

Taking screenshots and recordings on Apple (iOS) phones and tablets

Taking screenshots on iPhone:

With Face ID: Press Side Button + Volume Up.
With Home Button: Press Home + Side (or Top) buttons.

🔗 Learn more about taking screenshots on iPhone.

Taking screenshots on iPad:

With Face ID: Press Top Button + Volume Up.
With Home Button: Press Home + Top Button.

🔗 Learn more about taking screenshots on iPad.