# Devices & access — Academium SMS

[View the HTML page](https://academium.com.ng/sms/features/devices-and-access/)

> See every computer running your school’s SMS, lock or sign out a device, set how long staff devices work offline, and give staff one-time sign-in codes.

Devices & access

## Know which computers hold your school.

The school owner sees every computer running SMS and who signs in on it, and can act on one that has gone missing.

[Download to get started](https://academium.com.ng/downloads?product=sms) [All SMS features](https://academium.com.ng/sms/features)

Fictional devices. A laptop nobody can account for is locked.

Devices

## Every machine, and who last used it.

Each computer is listed with who last signed in, its edition and version, and when it was last seen. Give a machine a name, sign it out, lock it, or remove its local copy of the school’s data.

-   **Not the computer you are using.** Sign out, lock and wipe are not offered on the machine you are working on.
    
-   **Owner and senior staff only.** The page is for the school owner, school admin and superadmin.
    

The three actions on a fictional device.

Working offline

## How long a device may go without checking in.

For each staff role, choose how long a device keeps working offline: 5, 10 or 15 days, or no limit. A device that runs past it locks until it checks in again. Five days is the default.

-   **Wiping is your decision.** You can have a locked device remove its local copy after 24 or 48 hours. By default it never does, because a wipe also removes work that has not synced.
    

The default policy, applied to the teacher role.

Sign-in codes

## A code instead of a shared password.

Issue a member of staff a one-time eight-character code. They type it once on their own computer, which is then tied to them and signs them in from then on.

-   **Shown once, valid for a day.** The code is not stored in readable form and expires after 24 hours.
    
-   **Bar a person from one machine.** Stop one member of staff signing in on a particular computer without affecting anyone else.
    

A fictional code. Codes avoid letters and digits that are easily confused.

FAQs

## Devices & access questions

Looking after the computers that run your school.

[Still have a question?](https://academium.com.ng/main/page-contact)

### Can I lock a device from any computer?

Commands are issued where the school’s devices get their permission to run. On a computer connected to a school server, the list is shown but the controls are not, and the page explains why. Commands are also not available in a demo.

### What happens when a computer is repaired?

Devices are recognised by their hardware. A reinstall keeps the same identity, but a new motherboard or drive makes it a new device that must be set up again on site.

### Does the school owner’s computer lock when offline?

No. Offline limits are set for staff roles. The school owner and superadmin have none.

## Keep track of your school’s computers.

Download Academium SMS and set up your school, try a demo, or start in free mode.

[Download to get started](https://academium.com.ng/downloads?product=sms) [Explore other features](https://academium.com.ng/sms/features)