Finalsite's mobile app provides a way for you to strengthen the connection between school and home, providing a streamlined and consolidated hub for you to engage with what's going on at your students' schools, receive important messages, and stay informed.
This is a Help for families article, helping parents, guardians, and students as they are learning how to use Finalsite's Mobile App.
💡Quick answers
- How do I find my school's app? Search for the school or district name in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The school administrator can confirm the exact name to search for.
- What are my login credentials? Use the username and password associated with the school portal account. Select Forgot password on the login screen to reset via email.
- Is logging in required? No, but logging in unlocks access to Chat, protected content, and personalized notifications. Guest users can browse public content only.
- Does Chat require a login? Yes. Accessing the Chat feature requires being logged in to the app.
- How are notifications managed after setup? Go to the profile in the app to configure notification preferences, quiet hours, and news subscriptions. See Mobile App for families: Manage your mobile app subscriptions and notifications for full details.
- Can a language other than English be selected? Yes. During setup, select a preferred language from a list of 196 verified languages. If the device language is already supported, it may be preset automatically.
In this article
- Step 1: Download the mobile app
- Step 2: Log in to your app
- OPTIONAL: Browse without logging in
- Step 3: Click through the setup wizard
- Step 4: Manage subscriptions and notifications
- Step 5: Browse through your mobile app
Step 1: Download your school or district's mobile app
Are you an iOS/Apple or Android user? Select your instructions below for how to add the app to your device.
- To download the mobile app on your iOS/Apple device, start by opening the Apple App Store.
- Search for the app using your school or district name. Your school leader / main website admin can instruct you on how to search for your app.
- Select and download your app by tapping the Get button next to your app and clicking Install if needed. You may need to enter your Apple ID password to authorize the download.
- Open up the app on your device.
If these instructions have changed or are not what you see on your end, click "Download apps and games on your iPhone or iPad" to see more current instructions.
- To download the mobile app on an Android device, open the Google Play Store.
- Search for the app using your school or district name. Your school leader / main website admin can instruct you on how to search for your app.
- Select the app from the search results and tap to download. Click Install to start the download and install process.
- Review the Permissions and click Accept to proceed.
- Once the app is installed on your Android device, open it directly from the Play Store by tapping the Open button or find the app icon on your home screen.
If these instructions have changed or are not what you see on your end, click "Get Android apps & digital content from the Google Play Store" to see more current instructions.
Step 2: Log in to your app
Enter your Username and then Password.
Don't know your login credentials?
- Select Forgot password to have a reset password link sent to the email address associated with your account. You'll be directed to a Login page where you can Create a new Password.
- Does your district or school use a third-party to authenticate logins? You may be instructed to enter those credentials instead.
OPTIONAL: Browse without logging in
The Finalsite mobile app allows you to browse without being logged in. This is very beneficial for community members who will want to jump right in quickly.
This diagram shows you what the top left corner will look like while logged in vs being logged out:
Logged in or out: What's the difference?
Understanding the user experience for logged-in vs. guest access can help you decide how to structure your mobile app content:
-
Logged-in users can:
- Access protected resources such as images and directory information.
- Customize event and news preferences.
- Do you have the Chat feature as a part of your mobile app? Accessing Chat requires that each user be logged in.
-
Guest users can:
- Browse public-facing content without logging in
- Experience community updates and general information
⚠️ Important Note
The district or school may have locked certain content behind authentication while keeping other areas open. Reach out to the school or district administrator with questions about what content is available without logging in.
Step 3: Click through the setup wizard
Now you will click through a series of screens to configure some initial settings.
Language
Select a preferred language for the app display. The app supports 196 verified languages via Google Cloud translation. If the device language is already supported, it may be preset automatically. If not, English will be preselected.
Schools
On a district app, subscribe to one or multiple schools to view their content. Toggle on to agree to view content for a particular school.
Allow or deny notifications
Select Allow notifications to opt in, then confirm the permission prompt. Select Not now to skip notifications for the time being.
Mailing lists
Select mailing lists to receive push notifications when certain types of messages are sent.
Step 4: Manage subscriptions and notifications
After completing the setup wizard, notification preferences and subscriptions can be adjusted at any time. Options include:
- Custom notification settings including quiet hours to reduce interruptions.
- Subscriptions to news categories and events of interest.
To learn more, check out the article, "Mobile App for families: Manage your mobile app subscriptions and notifications."
Important Note
Notifications can only be received and managed while logged in to the app. If the ability to manage notifications is not visible in the account profile, speak to a school staff member about getting logged in.
Step 5: Browse through your mobile app
Now everything is set up and ready to explore. Here's what to find and where:
- News at the top of the homescreen.
- Events in the middle and lower areas of the homescreen.
- The bottom toolbar links to individual areas of the app.
- Tap More to see everything else the school or district has available.
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