Prey connects a registered phone, tablet, or computer to a web control panel for location checks and remote security actions. The installed agent reports information from the device; the panel does not discover an unregistered device after it disappears. Prey can help locate nearby hardware with an alarm, place a message on the screen, lock supported devices, or collect reports after the owner marks a device as missing. It is a recovery and response service rather than a general antivirus or a substitute for a current backup.
Mark it missing
Missing mode tells Prey to gather periodic reports. A report can contain the latest location, hardware details, the active Wi-Fi connection, nearby networks, and, on supported computers, pictures or screenshots. These records can establish where and when the agent communicated. They do not prove that the person shown owns or stole the device, and the location can move between reports.
Aware Location Tracking takes movement and time-based checks outside Missing mode so the panel can retain a recent position. An account administrator can disable this behavior when continuous location collection conflicts with a privacy policy. Turning it off leaves Missing mode available, but the map may show an older last-known point until the device receives a new instruction.
Send an action
Prey can display a message, sound an alarm, request a fresh location, or lock a supported screen. The action travels through the service to the installed agent, so it needs power, a network connection, and permission to run. A command can remain pending while the device is offline. Screen locking also varies by operating system; newer Ubuntu releases do not accept that action even though other Prey functions can still work.
Remote wipe needs more care than an alarm or message. On a computer, Prey can accept specific file and folder paths, and those paths must follow the operating system’s directory format. On mobile devices, Prey relies on native wipe controls. Availability also depends on the account tier. A wipe is a data-destruction command, not a way to hide files temporarily, so an unverified path or the wrong selected device can create an unrecoverable loss.
Keep permissions active
Location results depend on the sensors and permissions that remain available. An Android device needs Location Services, and Wi-Fi or GPS improves the chance of obtaining a useful position. Some Android vendors restrict background work aggressively, which can require separate autostart, pop-up, and battery settings before Prey receives commands reliably.
On an iPhone or iPad, Prey must remain open in the background. If someone closes it completely, reports and remote actions stop because the operating system will not start the agent on demand. That limitation matters during setup: a successful test while the app is open does not show how it will behave after the user removes it from the recent-apps view.
Test before loss
Prey works best when the owner registers the device, grants permissions, and tests a harmless location or alarm while the hardware is still present. The panel should show the correct device name and a recent check-in. A separate backup still protects the files, while a screen lock and account password protect access. Prey can then supply evidence and commands when a device goes missing, but it cannot report through a dead battery, disabled network, removed agent, or revoked permission.