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How to Track Your Device Live

Kayla H.
  • Updated

Contents

Applies to: the Hapn web app at app.gethapn.com and the Hapn mobile app.

Overview

Live tracking allows you to monitor your tracker's movement in real-time as it travels. When a tracker is moving, the Hapn platform automatically updates its location based on your device's reporting mode (typically every 30 seconds to 5 minutes).

What you can do with live tracking:

  • Watch your tracker move on the map as it travels
  • See current location, speed, and direction
  • Follow a specific tracker while filtering out others
  • Monitor multiple trackers simultaneously

Live Tracking on the Web App

Basic Live Tracking

  1. Log in to app.gethapn.com

  2. View your tracker overview

    • The Assets tab at the top left shows how many assets you have, and a Find assets box and a Filters control sit alongside it
    • The left sidebar displays a detailed list of your trackers
    • The map shows all tracker locations

  3. Select a tracker to follow

    • Click on any tracker from the left sidebar list, OR
    • Click on any tracker icon directly on the map
    • The selected tracker will be highlighted and centered on the map

  4. Monitor live movement

    • Moving trackers will update their position automatically
    • Click on any tracker to see it start moving in real-time on the map
    • The tracker's information in the sidebar shows last update time
    • The map will refresh with new location data as it's received

What You'll See During Live Tracking

  • Real-time location updates as the tracker moves
  • Current speed and direction in the tracker information panel
  • Last update time showing when data was received
  • Current address and location details


Live Tracking on the Mobile App

  1. Open the Live screen. Tap Live in the bar at the bottom. Your trackers appear on the map, with their cards in a strip over it. The Assets and Places tabs, search and the sliders icon (Map filters) are along the top. Map filters on the mobile app cover Status and Battery (plus Asset Status if your organization uses asset statuses) — tracker tag filters are on the web app only.
  2. Follow a tracker. Tap it on the map or tap its card. The map centres on it and keeps following it as it moves.
  3. Read the card. It shows the tracker's status and address (when it last updated is in the bar at the top, beside the back arrow, with a History button next to it), with four buttons: Settings, Share Live, History and Spotlight.
  4. See more detail. Further down the card are speed, heading, estimated battery remaining (battery trackers) and update frequency, then sections for General (including the next update), Asset, Issues, Recent Trips (or Recent Locations on trackers that don't record trips), Work Orders and Tracker. The ⋯ button on the card opens extra actions such as Get directions, Edit tracker settings and Create Work Order.
  5. Go back to the whole fleet. Tap the back arrow at the top left of the screen, or the ✕ on the tracker's card.

Understanding Tracker Status Indicators

Status Types

  • Moving: Tracker is currently in motion and updating location
  • Stopped: Tracker is stationary at its last reported location
  • Online: Tracker has cellular connection and is reporting normally
  • Offline: Tracker hasn't reported in the expected timeframe

Visual Indicators

  • Web App: Colored rings around tracker icons indicate movement status
  • Mobile App: Status badges and activity indicators show tracker state
  • Both Platforms: Battery and charging icons show power status


Adjusting Update Frequency

Your tracker's reporting mode determines how often it sends location updates, which directly affects your live tracking experience.

Common Reporting Modes

  • Performance Mode: Updates every 5-60 seconds when moving (fastest updates)
  • Normal Mode: Updates every 1-5 minutes when moving (balanced)
  • Power Saving Mode: Updates every hour or at set intervals (conserves battery)

Changing Reporting Mode

  1. Navigate to tracker settings:

    • Mobile App: tap the tracker on the Live screen, then Settings on its card — Reporting Mode is near the top
    • Web App: select the tracker on the Live Map, then Settings — Reporting Mode is near the top

  2. Select your preferred mode:

    • Choose Performance Mode for the most responsive live tracking
    • Choose Normal Mode for balanced tracking and battery life
    • Choose Power Saving Mode for extended battery life (slower updates)

  3. Confirm the switch

    • Select Switch to <mode> (or Queue Change if the tracker is still finishing setup) — there is no separate Save. The new reporting mode will take effect within a few minutes

Choosing the Right Mode for Live Tracking

  • Use Performance Mode when actively tracking moving assets and need frequent updates
  • Use Normal Mode for general daily tracking needs
  • Switch temporarily to Performance Mode when you need to watch real-time movement, then switch back to conserve battery

For detailed reporting mode instructions, see our Reporting Modes Guide.


Filtering the Live Map

On the web app, the Filters control at the top of the Live Map narrows the map and the asset list to the assets you care about. Four groups are available — Status, Battery, Tags and Asset Status — and they combine.

Your filters are held in the page address, so a filtered map can be copied as a link or pinned to your sidebar as a saved view.

Full instructions, including the complete list of filter options, the clear-all control, and how to copy or save a view: How to Filter the Live Map, and Save or Share a View.


Tips for Effective Live Tracking

Update Frequency Expectations

  • Moving trackers: Update every 30 seconds to 5 minutes (depending on reporting mode)
  • Stopped trackers: May update less frequently to conserve battery
  • Network conditions: Updates may be delayed in poor cellular coverage areas

Best Practices

  • Click on moving trackers to watch them travel in real-time
  • Check reporting mode if updates seem too slow or too frequent
  • Monitor battery levels during extended tracking sessions
  • Consider signal strength when tracking in remote areas

Troubleshooting Live Tracking

  • If tracker seems delayed: Check cellular coverage and reporting mode settings
  • If no updates appear: Verify tracker is powered on and has GPS signal
  • If real-time tracking isn't working: Try refreshing the app or selecting a different tracker

Related features

Want more from the Live Map? You can add custom map overlays to display service territories, job sites, or planned routes on top of your tracking data. Equipment rental operations may also have the Equipment Rental Dashboard — a fleet overview that replaces the Live Map as the home screen when it's enabled.

Need help with tracker settings or reporting modes? See our Tracker Configuration Guide or contact support at support@gethapn.com. You can also reach us any time via 24/7 live chat.

 

 

 

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