Vendor Reputation
Some mobile operating systems and vendors apply aggressive background restrictions.
These restrictions can delay, suppress, or entirely block scheduled tasks, notifications, and passive data collection, even when a participant is compliant.
The Vendor Reputation column in the Participants page is an indicator of how reliably a device vendor allows background apps to run as intended.
What “Vendor Reputation” means
It is not:
- A judgment of participant effort
- A measure of honesty or compliance
- A guarantee that data will or will not be collected
It is:
- A risk signal based on well-documented vendor and OS behaviors
- A way to contextualize gaps, delays, or inconsistencies in collected data
This information helps you interpret results more accurately and decide when intervention is appropriate.
How to read the Vendor Reputation badge
Each participant’s device is labeled with a vendor reputation badge.
- Reliable / Neutral vendors
- Background execution generally works as expected.
- Issues are more likely related to study design, scheduling, or participant behavior.
- Warning vendors
- Background execution is known to be inconsistent.
- Delays or missed tasks may occur intermittently.
- Problematic vendors
- Aggressive power management or task-killing behavior is well documented.
- Missed notifications, delayed check-ins, or absent passive data are expected unless the device is manually configured.
Detailed instructions for participants
Clicking the Vendor Reputation badge opens a detailed, user-friendly guide with step-by-step instructions specific to that platform and vendor.
These instructions are provided by DontKillMyApp.com , a widely used resource that documents real-world background behavior across mobile vendors and explains how users can reduce app restrictions.
The instructions are written for non-technical users and focus on practical configuration steps.
When you should take action
You may want to intervene when:
- A participant shows repeated delays or missing responses, and
- Their device is associated with a warning or problematic vendor
Acting from the Participants page
Adjusting device settings can improve reliability, but it cannot override all vendor policies. Some devices remain constrained by design, even after configuration.
From the Participants page, you can:
Identify participants using vendors known to restrict background apps
Review the vendor-specific explanation and instructions
Send the instructions directly to the participant as a message