Why Does the Airfob App Require Bluetooth and Location Services?

To use the Airfob app effectively, you must enable Bluetooth and location services on your smartphone. Many mobile card issues occur due to incorrect settings for these services.

1. Bluetooth

The Airfob app relies on Bluetooth communication between your phone and the mobile card reader. If Bluetooth is disabled, the app will not function properly.

2. Location Services

Airfob uses location data to measure the distance between your phone and the mobile card reader, ensuring secure authentication.


Proper Bluetooth and Location Service Settings Based on Contact Method

1. Bluetooth & Only While App On-Screen Mode

If you use Only While App On-Screen mode, where the app screen must be turned on for authentication, you can set Bluetooth and location services to "Allow only while using the app."

2. Bluetooth & Background Mode

If you want to use background mode (where the app runs continuously and allows hands-free authentication), you must set Bluetooth and location services to "Always Allow."

3. NFC (Android Only)

Even when using NFC, Android smartphones require Bluetooth and location services to be enabled due to system policies.


Bluetooth & Location Settings for iOS Users

  • Bluetooth must be enabled at all times for the app to function.
  • If using background mode, location services must be set to "Always Allow."
  • For foreground mode, location permissions are not required.


Bluetooth & Location Settings for Android Users

  • Android requires location services for Bluetooth-based authentication, even when the app runs in the background.
  • To use background mode, set location permissions to "Always Allow."


Location Services FAQ

Why does the Airfob app ask for location services?

Airfob relies on Bluetooth for authentication and needs location services to ensure secure communication between your phone and the card reader. Background mode requires location services for security purposes.

Does the Airfob app store my location data?

No. The Airfob app does not track or store your GPS location. It only uses location services to determine proximity to an access point.

However, access logs are recorded in the site administrator's system for security purposes. The data is managed by the company operating the Airfob system, not Airfob or MOCA.

Will enabling location services drain my battery?

No. Unlike GPS-based apps, Airfob does not use continuous location tracking, so battery consumption remains minimal.

Am I required to enable location services?

  • Android: Yes, due to system policies for Bluetooth communication.
  • iOS: Required only for background mode. If using foreground mode, location permissions are optional.

Why does my phone randomly ask to enable location services?

  • If you previously selected "Don't Allow" or "Allow Once", your phone may periodically prompt you to enable location services.
  • On iOS, periodic permission confirmations may appear even if "Always Allow" is enabled. This is controlled by iOS, not the Airfob app.