This article shows you how to install the Care App on your phone, log in, and pair your Empatica Wearable.
Before you start, make sure you have:
- Your participant login credentials (a QR code or a Participant Identifier and Password)
- Your Empatica Wearable
- A phone with an internet connection
There are four steps. They take about 10 minutes in total.
Step 1: Install the Care App
Download the Care App from your phone's app store. Check that the icon matches the one below, because other Empatica apps might look similar.
Empatica Care
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If you install the wrong app, login will fail with this message: 'Care does not recognize the QR code you have scanned. Please try again or get in touch with your provider if the issue persists.' Delete that app and install the Care App shown above.
If you can’t find the Care App in the store, or it won’t install, see If your phone isn’t compatible at the bottom of this article.
Step 2: Log in
You can log in two ways. Scanning the QR code is faster, so try that first. Either way, make sure your phone is connected to the internet.
Find the QR code on your participant login credentials.
- Open the Care App and tap Login with QR code.
- When your phone asks, allow the Care App to use your camera.
- Point your camera at the QR code to scan it.
Find your Participant Identifier and Password on your participant login credentials.
- Open the Care App and tap Login with credentials.
- Type in your Participant Identifier and Password, then tap Login with credentials again.
If you see a 'phone not compatible' message when you log in, see If your phone isn’t compatible at the bottom of this article.
This short video shows logging in and pairing from start to finish:
Step 3: Pair your Empatica Wearable
- Place your Empatica Wearable right next to your phone and keep it there.
- Follow the pairing instructions shown in the Care App.
Once pairing is complete, read the onboarding guide in the app so you know how to wear the device correctly.
Step 4: Keep the Care App running in the background
The Care App needs to run in the background so your data syncs throughout the day. If it cannot, you may eventually see a Memory Full message.
The app asks for permission to do this during pairing. Some phones need a few extra settings changed as well.
- Open Settings.
- Tap Battery.
- Turn off Low Power Mode.
Do not swipe the Care App away in the App Switcher, as that stops data sync. If you close it by accident, reopen it so data can sync in the background again. If it stays closed for a long time, EmbracePlus can fill its memory and stop collecting data.
These settings have different names on different phones. If you cannot find one, check your phone's manual.
- Turn off any power-saving modes. These can stop Bluetooth devices from working.
- Turn off battery optimization for the Care App:
- Settings > Apps > Care (App info) > Battery, then select Unrestricted
- Settings > Apps > Care (App info) > Battery usage, then turn on Allow Background Activity
- Lock or pin the Care App in your Recent apps list.
- Remove the Care App from any deep sleeping, sleeping, doze, or similar modes.
Tip: For the most stable connection, avoid connecting other Bluetooth devices to your phone, such as wireless earbuds or speakers. On some phones these can interrupt the connection to your Empatica Wearable.
If your phone isn’t compatible
Your study team might check that your phone will work before you start. If you do run into a problem during setup, here is what it means:
- You can’t find the Care App in the store, or it won’t install. Your phone’s operating system is below the minimum version, or your phone model isn’t supported.
- You see 'phone not compatible' when you log in. Your phone doesn’t support Bluetooth PHY 2M, which the Care App needs to transfer data reliably.
In either case, contact your study coordinator. They can advise you on the next steps.
Your phone needs to meet these requirements:
ios
- iOS 18 or higher
android
- Android 13 or higher, as released by Google
- Bluetooth® 5.0 with PHY 2M
We support only recent versions of iOS and Android because older versions no longer receive security updates from Apple and Google.
PHY 2M lets your phone transfer data faster. Some phones list Bluetooth 5.0 in their specifications but do not fully support it, which can interrupt data transfer and cause data loss.
To check what your phone supports, use the free Nordic app:
- Install the Nordic app from the Play Store.
- Open the main menu and tap Device information.
- Look under Bluetooth Low Energy. It will tell you whether PHY 2M is supported.
For a list of phone models we have certified, see our Smartphone Compatibility page.