How To Prepare ZOLEO For a Trip

Getting your ZOLEO device and app ready before a trip helps you stay prepared and confident once you're beyond cell service. This article walks you through what to check one week before travel and again in the days just before you leave.

One week before your trip

Use this window to update your app and device software, confirm everything is connected, and top up the battery — so there's nothing left to do in the rush before you leave.

1. Update the ZOLEO app. Check for any outstanding updates in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. While most smartphones update apps automatically, it's worth confirming manually before a trip.
2. Charge and power on your ZOLEO device. Fully charge your device and turn it on. For detailed charging instructions, see How to Charge Your ZOLEO.
3. Confirm the ZOLEO app is connected to your device. Open the ZOLEO app and check the navigation bar at the bottom of the screen. If you see three tabs (Chats, ZOLEO, and Settings), your device isn't linked yet — tap the "ZOLEO" tab and select your IMEI from the list to complete the connection. If you see four tabs (Chats, Weather, SOS, and Settings) along with the ZOLEO status bar, your app and device are ready to go. For step-by-step instructions, see How to Link Your ZOLEO Device to the ZOLEO App.
4. Update your ZOLEO device software. ZOLEO software updates are packaged with the app, and you may be prompted to update your device after an app update. To check manually, go to Settings > My Connected ZOLEO Device > About My Device > Device Software Update and follow the on-screen instructions if an update is available. Updates are completed via Bluetooth and don't require cellular data or Wi-Fi. For more information, see How to Update the Software on Your ZOLEO Device.
5. Power off your device until your trip. Once everything is updated and your device is fully charged, turn it off to conserve battery until you're ready to leave.

One to three days before your trip

In the final days before you leave, confirm your service plan is active, run a quick test, and do a final charge.

1. Verify your ZOLEO service plan. Log in to your account at myzoleo.com and confirm your device is on an active monthly service plan. If your plan was suspended, follow the steps in How to Restart Your Plan. If your plan was deactivated, follow the steps in How to Reactivate Your Plan.
2. Test your ZOLEO device. With your service active, send a test message or Check-In to confirm it's received by the intended recipient — see How to Send a Check-In Message for instructions. It's also a good idea to test the SOS feature so you're familiar with how it works before you need it. See How to Test ZOLEO SOS and Medical Assist Overview for step-by-step instructions on both.
3. Do a final charge. Fully charge your ZOLEO device so it's ready to go when you leave.

Understanding your billing when you restart your plan

If you restarted a suspended plan to prepare for this trip, you may notice that your next bill is slightly different from your usual monthly charge. This is expected and not a billing error. Here's what's happening.

When you restart your plan partway through a billing cycle, the days of active service between your restart date and your next billing date are added to your next bill as a prorated charge. For example, if your billing cycle runs from the 1st to the 31st and you restart your plan on the 20th, your next bill will include your regular monthly charge plus 11 days of prorated service from the previous cycle. You are not charged twice — the prorated amount simply reflects the days your plan was active before your new billing cycle began.