GreatPingDevices and routing
Add phones and tablets to your account, choose which ones ring for each computer, and remove devices.
Your account can hold several phones and tablets, on iOS and Android together. Each one gets alerts, answers questions and approves computers. Use a second device as a backup, a tablet on your desk, or a work phone that only rings during the day.
Add a device
On the new device
Install GreatPing and open it. Choose I Already Use GreatPing. It shows a QR code and an eight-character code, valid for 10 minutes. If the new device already started an account of its own by mistake, sign it out in Settings first.
On a device already in your account
Go to Settings › Link Another Device. Scan the QR code, or type the code.
Check and approve
The app shows the new device's name and system, and where it connects from. Approve only a device you have with you; never a code someone sent or read to you. Confirm with your passcode or Face ID.
Done
The new device joins your account and can be used at once. Your other devices get a security notice. For every computer, the new device starts as Standard.
Choose who rings
For each computer, every device has a mode:
| Mode | Gets the alert |
|---|---|
| First | Right away. The device that approved the computer starts as First. |
| Standard | When no First device has opened it in time (90 seconds by default). |
| Backup | Only the final reminder. |
| Off | Never for this computer. The alert is still listed, marked Muted. |
You can set modes in two places, whichever is handier:
- on the computer's screen, under Who Gets Alerts: every device for that computer;
- on the device's screen, under Alerts From: every computer for that device.
A First device that cannot take the alert (paused, in quiet hours, notifications turned off, or never registered for push) does not hold it back: Standard devices are notified right away. Changing another device's mode asks for your passcode.
Examples
- Phone and tablet. Phone First, tablet Standard: the tablet rings only if you did not react on the phone.
- Two people, one build server. Both phones First for the build server; each person's own laptop has only their phone as First and the other's as Off.
- A spare phone in a drawer. Backup for everything: it rings only for alerts nobody opened before the reminder.
A device's screen
Settings › Devices lists every device with its last activity; this device is marked. Open one to see:
- its system, GreatPing version, whether notifications are on or paused, and whether its app lock is on;
- when it was added and which device approved it, and whether its keys are confirmed;
- its last activity and the city and network it last connected from;
- Alerts From: its mode for each computer;
- Send Test Notification: checks that notifications reach it.
A device added in the last 72 hours is marked New, and its screen says when and by which device it was added. If you do not recognize it, remove it.
Remove a device or computer
- A device can always remove itself (Remove This Device), and anything that joined after it.
- To remove an older device or computer, the device acting must be at least 72 hours old. This protects you if someone gets hold of a newly added device: they cannot lock you out.
- A removed device stops receiving alerts and is signed out at once. It can be linked again from another device.
- Every change to who belongs to the account is shown to your other devices as a security notice and in Security Activity.
- When the last device leaves, the account is closed and deleted with its computers.
Lost a device?
From any other device of your account, open the lost one in Settings › Devices and choose Remove from Account. If you lost every device, see Your account.