How to enable facial validation on the mobile app

Facial validation in the Day.io mobile app adds a layer of security by verifying the employee’s identity at the moment they clock in or out.

The feature prevents buddy‑punching and builds trust in your time‑tracking data.

Administrators and supervisors can enable this option so that each punch taken through the app prompts for a quick selfie.

Key actions or configuration

1. Open settings and enable the App device:

   • From the side menu, select Attendance → Punch log.

   • Click the Settings gear to open the Device settings modal.

   • Under “Allow employees to punch using”, click the App card so that mobile punching is permitted.

   • Leave Tablet and Web enabled or disabled as required by your company policy.
     
     

2. Enable facial validation on the mobile app:

   • With the App selected, check Enable facial validation on mobile app in the advanced settings section.

   • Review other options such as Allow only retroactive punches, Allow to clear punches and Allow to clock in/out from any location—they are unrelated to facial validation.

   • Click Save. The app will now request a selfie whenever an employee records a punch.
     
     

3. View photos and check biometric templates:

   • To see the pictures captured with each punch, click the column‑selector icon in Punch log and enable Photo. Filter by employee and date to display images next to each record.

   • To verify which employees have a biometric template on file, go to People, open the column selector and enable Biometric Template. An icon indicates who has registered a facial template, while blank entries show employees without biometrics.
     
     

Tips and troubleshooting

• Update the app. Ensure employees run the latest version of the Day.io app; outdated versions may not support facial validation.

• Use a front‑facing camera. Devices without a working front camera cannot capture selfies. For those users, provide access to a tablet kiosk or web punching.

• Missing template? If the Biometric Template column shows a blank for a particular employee, instruct them to perform a punch after enabling facial validation; the system will prompt them to register their face.

• Location setting: The Allow to clock in/out from any location toggle controls geographical restrictions and does not affect facial validation.

Best practices

• Set expectations with employees. Explain that facial validation helps prevent buddy‑punching and that photos are used only for authentication and audit.

• Pilot with a small group. Enable the feature for a subset of users first to test camera quality and user experience before rolling it out company‑wide.

• Clean the camera lens. Smudges or dirt on the front camera can cause failed validations; remind users to keep their devices clean.

Frequently asked questions

• What happens when facial validation is enabled? The mobile app will capture a selfie at each punch. Managers can view these photos in the Punch log by enabling the Photo column.

• Do I need to enable facial recognition on the tablet as well? No. Tablet kiosks have a separate Enable facial biometrics option in the Tablet advanced settings.

• How do I disable facial validation? Open Device settings, uncheck Enable facial validation on mobile app, and save. The app will stop requesting selfies.

• Can an employee without a front camera still clock in? Yes, but they must use another enabled device such as a tablet kiosk or the web interface.