Why can't I check in or out on the mobile app?

Use this when the time clock is missing, the slider appears to do nothing, or Clean Smarts shows an error while you check in or out. Start with the message or symptom you see instead of reinstalling the app right away.

Applies to: Employees using the Clean Smarts mobile app and managers helping them. Available clock-in paths depend on the employee's modules, location access, assignment, and company or location timekeeping settings.

Before You Retry

Stay at the work site until the app confirms the punch if your company uses a geofence.
Check whether the phone has Wi-Fi or mobile data. Offline punches work only when the company or location allows them.
If HOME shows unsynced items, upload them before starting another check-in.
Do not clear app data or reinstall while a punch is still unsynced. That can remove the only copy stored on the phone.
Write down the exact message, location, shift or work order, and time of the attempt. These details help a manager find the attempt without sharing a password.

If Your Shift or Location Is Missing

Your next shift on HOME is not your full schedule. It shows an assigned shift that is already in progress or starts within the next hour.

On HOME, tap Check In when no next shift is suggested, or tap Select a different location under the suggested shift.
On Select shift, open My jobs. This list contains your assigned shifts for the day, including shifts that are not close enough to appear under Your next shift.
Select the correct shift or work order. Clean Smarts starts the check-in and may ask you to confirm your location.
If My jobs says No shifts, ask a manager to confirm the assignment, assignment date range, shift or work-order date and time, and your access to that location.
After the manager fixes the schedule or location access, open MORE > Sync, tap Sync, wait for the success message, and check My jobs again.

Some companies allow check-in without a scheduled shift. When your role includes Locations (Mobile Only) and you have access to the site, open MY JOBS > List or Map, select the location, and use its check-in control. Without that module, being able to view a location does not automatically allow an unscheduled punch.

If the Time Clock Is Missing

An administrator should check the employee's role or customized permissions in the web portal:

Timetracking (Check In) adds the normal clock-in and clock-out controls for assigned shifts and work orders.
Locations (Mobile Only) adds the location-only check-in path from MY JOBS > List or Map.
Manager permissions such as Timetracking (Edit) can provide additional timekeeping actions, but they do not replace the correct employee setup.
Location access still controls which sites the employee can open.

After a module or role change, Logout and log in again so the app reloads the signed-in user's permissions. Use MORE > Sync after assignment, shift, work-order, or location changes.

If Clean Smarts Shows a Location Message

Match the message to the recovery step:

Location Needed: Read the explanation and continue to the phone's permission prompt. Clean Smarts needs Precise Location for punch-time verification.
You must turn on location services to check in or out (or the version ending in to check in or to check out): Turn on the phone's Location Services, then allow location for Clean Smarts with Precise Location enabled. Return to the app and try again.
You must be on location to check in or out. (or the version ending in to check in or to check out): Confirm that you selected the correct site, move inside the work area, and wait for the phone to get a better GPS reading. If you are already on site, ask a manager to check the site's map pin, geofence radius, and your attempt in Time Tracking > Check-In Attempts.
Only genuine location readings are allowed: Turn off simulated or mock-location tools and retry with the phone's normal GPS.
Action aborted: You canceled the Location Detected map. Slide again, review the map, and tap Confirm.

For a site that only verifies your position when you punch, While Using the App may be enough. A site that automatically clocks you out after you leave requires Always on iPhone or Allow all the time on Android, plus Precise Location. When Clean Smarts offers Open app settings, use it to correct those permissions.

Clean Smarts uses location for the time clock and scan points. Background geofence monitoring applies while you are clocked in; your location is not shared when you are off the clock.

If Check-In Is Blocked by Another Rule

You may only check in during your shift. Confirm that you selected the correct shift and check its start and end times. A manager can change the shift's Prevent off hours check in rule when the schedule is wrong.
You may only check in during your job. Check the selected work order and its scheduled hours. A manager must correct the work order or its off-hours rule.
The item you scanned does not match the barcode or tag associated with this location. Scan the barcode or NFC tag assigned to the selected location. Sites configured this way show Check in with barcode, Check in with NFC, or the matching check-out label instead of the normal slider.
Unable to check in offline due to company policy or location policy or Unable to check out offline due to company policy or location policy: Reconnect before punching. The app did not save that attempt unless the active clock or unsynced item appears afterward.
You have unsynced time stored offline. Please go to Home, tap on 'Unsynced items' and sync data first. Return to HOME, open Unsynced items, and upload the pending records while connected.
Permission required on Android: If the message says exact alarm permission is required for break reminders, tap Open settings and allow it before checking in.

Check-out can also open a missed-break or incomplete-task prompt. Finish that prompt, or choose the offered check-out option, before expecting the active session to close.

If the Slider Moves but Nothing Changes

Wait for any location, map, break, task, barcode, or NFC prompt. Do not keep sliding while the app is processing.
Check HOME for an Unsynced items banner and upload pending records first.
Confirm the phone is online. Switch between site Wi-Fi and mobile data if one connection is unreliable.
Open MORE > Sync, tap Sync, and wait for either the success or error message.
Force-quit and reopen Clean Smarts.
Update Clean Smarts from the App Store or Google Play.
Reinstall only after all unsynced records are uploaded and the steps above fail.

If the slider still produces no prompt, status change, or error, report the phone model, operating-system version, Clean Smarts Version shown at the bottom of MORE, affected location, time of the attempt, and whether Sync succeeded. Do not send a password or private employee details.

If the Phone and Web Portal Disagree

The phone can show an offline punch or stale cached status that has not reached the server yet.

Upload any Unsynced items on HOME.
Run MORE > Sync and wait for completion.
Have a manager check the employee and date in web Time Detail.
Compare the actual time entry and timestamps, not only the phone's active-session display.
If the employee cannot check out because they have already left an enforced geofence, a manager should end or correct the entry in Time Detail.

For payroll or attendance decisions, use the web time entry after sync. Confirm the record there before treating a phone-only status as a completed punch.

Managers can also use Time Tracking > Check-In Attempts to distinguish location sharing off, out-of-bounds GPS, and off-hours attempts. Correct the employee's assignment, permissions, or one location's map pin and radius instead of loosening company-wide controls without evidence.