A low battery changes how the tracker behaves before it ever switches off — so if features start disappearing, check the battery first. Here's what happens at each stage and what to do about it.
The alerts you'll get
Your tracker sends these as they happen:
| What happened | Notification |
|---|---|
| Below 20% | "{Pet}'s tracker battery is below 20%" — Charge it soon to keep tracking. |
| Critically low | "{Pet}'s tracker battery is critically low" — Battery is at 10%. Charge it now to keep tracking. |
| Powered off | "{Pet}'s tracker was powered off" — You won't receive location updates until it's back on. |
| On the charger | "{Pet}'s tracker is charging" — You'll be notified when the battery is full. |
| Charged | "{Pet}'s tracker is fully charged" — Ready to go. |
| Back on | "{Pet}'s tracker was powered on" — Tracking is active again. |
What the tracker does as the battery drops
| Battery level | What happens |
|---|---|
| 20% | It forces energy-saving mode |
| 10% | It warns you a second time |
| 0% | It shuts down |
What you'll notice first
- LIVE tracking won't start: "The tracker's battery is too low to start live tracking."
- A LIVE session ends early: "Live tracking stopped — the tracker's battery is too low."
- Tracker light controls are disabled below 20%: "Light features are unavailable while battery is low."
- Once it shuts down completely, the app shows Offline with charge-it guidance.
Where to see the battery level
The battery icon on the map drawer is colour-coded:
| Battery level | Icon colour |
|---|---|
| 50% and above | Dark |
| 20% to 49% | Orange |
| Below 20% | Red |
| Charging | Green |
On the firmware update screen the same reading is shown as Good (50% and above), Fair (20–49%), Low (below 20%) or Unknown.
What to do
- Put the tracker on its charger. Everything comes back automatically once it has enough charge — no re-pairing needed.
- To reduce how often you're charging, set up a Power Saving Zone for places your pet spends a lot of time, and keep LIVE tracking sessions to the length you actually need.
The tracker charges over USB-C: open the waterproof cover on the charging port, plug in any USB-C cable, and use a standard charger rather than a fast charger. On the charger, a red light usually means it's charging and a green light usually means it's fully charged.
How long a charge lasts
Up to 14 days, depending on how much you use it and which settings you have on.
If it won't charge at all
- Unplug the cable and reseat it firmly — and try flipping it round.
- Try a different USB-C cable, adapter or power source. The accessory is the usual culprit, not the tracker.
- Check the charging port for dirt, dust or moisture. Clean the contacts gently, and let a damp port dry out fully before charging again.
- If the battery is completely flat, leave it connected for 10 to 60 minutes before you expect any light.
[CONFIRM: roughly how long a full charge takes from empty.]
Related articles - My tracker shows "Offline" in the Ask A Vet app - Tracker settings are greyed out - I'm not getting firmware update or battery notifications - When to contact Ask A Vet support about your tracker