Enable Shared Devices on Your Network

  • Updated

This article is written for: Zello Work Zello Friends & Family.

Zello’s shared devices feature enables multiple network users to share a single account/device without sharing their private conversations. It’s particularly useful for shift workers, as it allows one account to be used by many people (just not simultaneously). 

When enabled, users are prompted to sign in with their name (not username) and—if required by the admin—a photo. The name/photo will be associated with all communications sent from that device throughout the duration of the user’s shift. When their shift ends, all of the user's Zello communications are cleared from the device. 

To set up shared devices, a network admin must take two steps: 

1) Enabled the Shared Devices console setting
2) Assign individual user's profiles as shared device accounts 

This feature is available on iOS and Android devices. 

Step 1: Enable the Console Setting

To enable shared devices, follow the steps below: 

  1. Sign in to the management console at [yournetworkname].zellowork.com and select Settings from the taskbar. 

  2. From the Common page, find the Shared Devices section. Toggle the "Enable shared device accounts" setting ON. 

Additional Configuration Options

Additional parameters can be configured for shared device accounts from the management console. Under the Common > Shared Devices section, you'll find the following options. 

Require profile picture to start a shift 

This setting requires a user snap a selfie—i.e. a forward-facing photo—when signing in for their shift. 

Please note that this setting doesn't allow photos to be uploaded—profile pictures are selfies taken in real-time. If a user attempts to sign in without taking a selfie, they'll receive the following error message: 
IMG_5126.PNG

If this setting is not turned on, users can sign in to Zello Work without taking a selfie.

Require first and last name to start a shift 

When enabled, users will be required to enter their first and last name when signing in to Zello Work. 

If this setting is enabled and a user attempts to sign in with just a first name, they'll receive the following error message: 
Screenshot 2024-10-14 at 3.15.47 PM.jpeg

If this setting is not enabled, only a first name will be required at sign-in. 

Automatically end shift when Zello is turned off  This setting automatically ends a user's shift when the app is terminated. This ensures the next person who starts a shift won't be able to access the user's messages. 

Automatically end shift when device is connected to a charger

 

*This setting is available exclusively for Android devices

This setting automatically ends a user's shift when their device is connected to a charger. 

Users will retain the ability to manually end their shift if this setting is enabled. When they connect their device to a power source, a 10-second countdown will begin; the user can tap Cancel to prevent their shift from ending, if desired. 

Screenshot_20241014-152227.png

Step 2: Assign Users as Shared Device Accounts

After the shared devices setting has been enabled for the network, an admin then decides which users should be designated as shared device accounts. Please note this is a required step in the enablement process; if a user's account isn't specifically designated as a shared device account, their Zello Work sign-in process will remain the same. 

These assignments can be made in three ways: on a user-by-user basis, via user templates, or utilizing the user import tool. When assigning accounts as shared device accounts, ensure the field for display name is left blank in the console—this ensures that the name each individual signs in with is used as their in-app display name. 

  1. 1. From the taskbar, select Users.
    Screenshot 2024-10-14 at 4.41.33 PM.png

    2. Select the user you'd like to assign as a shared device account. 
    Screenshot 2024-10-14 at 4.42.28 PM.png

    3. Under User Settings, toggle ON ""Shared device account."
    Screenshot 2024-10-14 at 4.44.05 PM.png
  2. 1. From the management console, open the Zello menu (three horizontal lines on the right side of the taskbar). Select User Templates
    Screenshot 2024-10-14 at 4.37.01 PM.png

    2. From the list, select the template you'd like to enable shared devices for. 
    Screenshot 2024-10-14 at 4.38.04 PM.png

    3. Under User Settings, toggle ON "Shared device account."
    Screenshot 2024-10-14 at 4.36.04 PM.png

    Please note: Admins will only see the "Shared device account" configuration if shared devices have been enabled from the console's settings. It will not appear under a template's User Settings section unless it's already been turned on from the Settings page. 

  3. Zello's user import tool allows admins to make bulk changes to user configurations. It's accessible from the Management Console's Users page. 
    Screenshot 2024-10-14 at 4.55.20 PM.png

    To configure many users as shared device accounts on your network, follow the instructions (both Step 1: Create the CSV File and Step 2: Upload the CSV File) outlined in this article.  Ensure you've left the full_name column blank.