# Deactivating a mobile device

> Deactivate a lost or unused phone or tablet so it can no longer send reports to your organisation, and see what happens to its data.

Source: https://help.venzeo.com/en/article/deactivating-mobile-app-device-within-admin-interface
Language: en
Updated: 2026-10-09

Only administrators can deactivate a mobile device.

Deactivation disconnects a phone or tablet from your organisation. Use it when a device is lost or stolen, or when nobody uses it any more.

## Deactivate a device

> **Tip:** If you still have the device, open the Venzeo™ app on it while it is online and let it send all waiting reports first. The user can then also deactivate it in the app settings with **Deactivate this device**.

1. Open the main menu, expand **Venzeo™ Mobile App & Devices** and choose **Manage devices with Venzeo™ mobile app**.
2. In the device table, click **Edit** next to the device. The **Editing device** pop-up opens.
3. Click **Deactivate**. A confirmation asks `Do you really want to deactivate this device?`

> **Warning:** Deactivation cannot be undone. Reports that the device has not sent yet are deleted from the device and never reach Venzeo™.

4. Click **Deactivate** in the confirmation. To keep the device active, click **Cancel** instead.

You see **Successfully saved**, the pop-up closes and the device is no longer listed in the device table.

## What deactivation does

- **On the device:** the next time the device connects, Venzeo™ refuses it. The app signs out of your organisation, shows `You have been automatically logged out. If you think this is a mistake, please contact your Venzeo™ administrator.` and deletes your organisation's data from the device, including reports it has not sent yet.
- **In Venzeo™:** reports the device sent before deactivation stay in Venzeo™. The device no longer counts among your active devices.
- **The assigned user** keeps their user account. Only the device is deactivated.

## Use the phone or tablet again

A deactivated device cannot be switched back on. To use the same phone or tablet again, activate it as a new device with a QR code or SMS. It gets a new **Device ID**. See [Activating the mobile app on a device](https://help.venzeo.com/en/article/activating-mobile-app).

To change a device's user, phone number or note instead, see [Managing phones and tablets that use the mobile app](https://help.venzeo.com/en/article/devices-with-mobile-app).