Prerequisites
An Android device running Android 11.0 or later
A Fulcrum account — either self-registered or set up by your organization's administrator
Your Fulcrum login credentials (email and password) or your organization's SSO domain
Knowledge of which Fulcrum instance your organization uses (US, AU, EU, or CA)
An active internet connection for the initial sign-in and first sync
Step 1 — Download and install the app
Open the Google Play Store on your Android device.
Search for Fulcrum GIS field data capture or follow this link: Fulcrum on Google Play.
Tap Install. The app is free to download — your organization's subscription covers access.
Once installation is complete, tap Open.
Step 2 — Sign in
Before proceeding with device setup, ensure you are signed in to the Fulcrum app. If you have not yet signed in, see Signing In to Fulcrum for the First Time for a complete walkthrough covering all sign-in scenarios — including organization-invited users, SSO, and non-US instances.
Once you are signed in, return to this article and continue with Step 3.
Step 3 — Grant device permissions
After signing in, Fulcrum will prompt you to grant a series of Android device permissions. These prompts appear one at a time.
Note: The exact wording of permission prompts may vary slightly depending on your device manufacturer and Android version.
Location
Recommended: Allow all / While using the app and select Precise location
Allows the app to tag records with GPS coordinates and enables background GPS track logging.
Camera
Recommended: Allow /while using the app
Allows you to capture photos directly within a record using the Photo Field.
Microphone
Recommended: Allow /while using the app
Enables the Audio Field for voice notes and Audio FastFill for hands-free field entry.
Storage / Media Access
Recommended: Allow all
Allows Fulcrum to attach photos from your device gallery and save photos captured in the app.
Notifications
Recommended: Allow
Displays sync progress and status updates in the notification bar when the app is running in the background.
Step 4 — Adjust battery optimization
After granting permissions, Fulcrum may prompt you to adjust your device's battery optimization setting. This ensures syncs and GPS track logging are not interrupted when the app is running in the background or the screen is off.
To disable battery optimization for Fulcrum:
Open your device Settings.
Navigate to Apps (or Application Manager on some devices).
Select Fulcrum from the app list.
Tap Battery.
Select Unrestricted or Don't optimize, depending on your device.
Battery settings vary by device manufacturer. If you cannot locate this setting, search for "Battery optimization" in your device's Settings search bar and look for Fulcrum in the list of apps.
Step 5 — Complete your first sync
Once permissions are granted, Fulcrum will perform its first sync automatically. This downloads your organization's apps, records, and any map layers assigned to your account.
Ensure you have an active internet connection. Wi-Fi is recommended for the first sync if your organization has a large number of records or map layers.
Sync progress is displayed at the top of the screen. Keep the app open until the sync is complete.
Once the sync finishes, your apps and downloaded map layers will be available on the device.
Do not go into the field before completing at least one successful sync. Records and app definitions are only available offline once they have been downloaded to the device.
Step 6 — Begin collecting data
Once the first sync is complete, the Fulcrum home screen displays the apps available in your organization. Tap any app to open it and begin collecting records. Your device is now fully configured and ready for field use.
Updating permissions after setup
If you denied a permission during setup and need to enable it later, you can update any permission at any time from your device settings.
Open your device Settings.
Navigate to Apps and select Fulcrum.
Tap Permissions.
Select the permission you want to update and change its setting.
Note: On some Android devices, if you denied a permission twice, the system will not show the permission prompt again when the app requests it. In that case, you must grant the permission manually through Settings → Apps → Fulcrum → Permissions.
Notes
Permission prompts appear the first time Fulcrum needs access to each feature. Some appear at initial launch; others appear the first time you use a specific field type, such as a Photo Field or Audio Field.
Precise location is strongly recommended over approximate location for all field data collection workflows.
Disabling battery optimization is particularly important on Samsung, Huawei, Oppo, and Xiaomi devices, which apply aggressive background restrictions by default.
Always complete at least one full sync on a reliable connection before heading into the field, especially when offline data collection is required.
If you are setting up multiple devices for a team, each device must be set up individually using the credentials of the Member assigned to that device.