Using the Device Loan Manager Feature

Available for

✗ Prey Tracking
✗ Prey Protection
✔︎ Prey Full Suite

Whether you are handling a remote or mobile workforce that needs devices assigned for specific periods of time, or you are an IT manager in a school with a laptop loan program for the students, you can use Prey to manage your device loans.

IMPORTANT: This feature is only available for macOS, Windows, and Ubuntu computers (laptops or desktops).

Where to Find the Loan Tool

To loan a device, locate it in your Control Panel device list, and click it to access its detailed view.

Loan Smart Filters on the Device List: We have added new loan-related filters to the Smart Filters at your device list. These will help you filter your device list to see Lendable devices (those ready to be loaned) and Not Lendable devices (those already loaned) in just one click.

Once inside you will see under the device’s name and OS details the ASSIGN DEVICE button. Click it to open the assign/loan menu.

Setting up a Loan

When you click the ASSIGN DEVICE button, a new window will pop-up with the loan's configurations. Here you'll say who you assign your loan to, for how long, and what happens when the loan expires. At the moment you can create 3 types of loans with these variables:

An open-ended assignment, without return date and no follow-up security actions. Ideal for keeping a tab on devices with permanent users, or flexible loan agendas.
An unsecured timed loan. If you activate the "Lend device with time rule" switch, you can lend the device with a return date and no follow-up security actions upon expiration.
A secured timed loan. By activating the "Lend device with time rule", and the "Lock device when loan ends" you create a secured loan with a return date and follow-up lock upon loan expiration. Ideal for device loans in which the device might be at risk of not being returned.

Add an Institution

First, if you haven’t assigned an institution yet, you must do so to know to which institution this device belongs to. (e.g John Doe Junior High).

Add a Contact ID for the User

Add a Contact ID, of the person assigned to the loan. You can write a name, email, phone number, or any type of identification that might help you know who the user is.

If it is a Loan, Add Time Rules, and a Lock (Optional)

If needed, you can add a start and return date, with a start date and hour, and an end date and hour. If you don't the loan will be open-ended and won't expire or take any security follow-up actions.

'Time is Almost up' Alerts for the User: If you do set up a return date, Prey will message twice to let them know the loan is ending. Once 1 hour before, and a second time 15 minutes before it ends, letting them know it is time to return the device and to avoid delays.

Locking Devices Once Overdue (Optional)

If you select a return date, you can also choose to LOCK the device when the loan ends. If you select this option, the computer will be locked behind a password of your choosing and display a message for the user (by default, it prompts the user to return the device). The personalized message on the lock screen is only available on computers with Prey 1.9.3 or higher.

Assign the Loan

When you’re done, simply click assign and that’s it! Prey will keep a record of this loan and send the proper configurations to the device through its servers.

What to do When the Loan Expires, or if the Device is Missing?

If you do configure a return date, the device will be monitored by Prey until the expiration date arrives and it will be then be marked OVERDUE.

When a Loan Expires

When a loan with a return-date expires, you will receive an email notification with the loan's details, the assigned user, and a button that prompts you to take action, and that will take you to the loaned device's view where you can:

SET DEVICE TO MISSING: If the device hasn't been returned yet, set it to missing to track and gather evidence reports.
FINISH LOAN: If the device has been returned, simply finish the loan and it will be ready to be re-assigned!
SECURITY ACTIONS: If you have marked the device as missing, you can use any of the tools on the right-hand actions bar to further secure and locate the device.

When a Loaned Device is Missing

If mid-loan you are informed the device has been lost or stolen, you can also enter the same device view and SET DEVICE TO MISSING to start tracking and gather evidence reports. When a loaned device is missing, you can't edit the loan's details. Once it is recovered, you can MARK IT AS RECOVERED on the same view, and the device will be considered returned and the loan ended.

How to Edit the Loan's Details

You can change the loan's settings mid-loan by using the button seen in the screenshot above. This will open the loan configuration window, where you can change any of the loan's parameters. Change the contact, add or remove time rules, change the lock and message settings, or delete the loan entirely to finish it early.