Mobile App vs. CMS Staff Directory: This guide covers contact email and phone visibility in the Edlio Mobile App Directory (managed in the EdlioApp Admin Dashboard under Features > Directory). To manage email visibility on your school website's public staff directory (/apps/staff/), see Make email addresses visible/hidden (CMS).
Overview
Understanding mobile directory contact controls
In the Edlio Mobile App, directory contacts display with direct interactive buttons: click-to-email and click-to-call. Unlike website directories, mobile apps do not feature an embedded public contact form or a single master "hide emails" toggle. Instead, contact visibility is governed by two key mechanisms in your admin dashboard: profile field population and folder access permissions.
How contact fields display in the mobile app
Active vs. blank profile fields
The mobile app dynamically renders contact buttons depending on whether information is entered on the contact's record:
When an Email address is entered: The contact card displays an active mail button. Tapping it automatically launches the user's default mobile mail app (Apple Mail, Gmail, Outlook) pre-addressed to that recipient.
When the Email field is left blank: The mail button is completely omitted from the contact's card on mobile devices. No dead link or empty space appears.
When a Phone number is entered: Tapping the phone button initiates a direct phone call. If left blank, the call button is completely omitted.
Protecting staff privacy in the app directory
Best practices for contact protection
If district or school policy restricts publishing direct personal email addresses or phone numbers for certain personnel, follow these recommended practices:
Omit the direct email field: When editing the contact, leave the personal email field blank. The contact's name, title, department, room number, and photo remain visible, but no email button is provided.
Use generic department addresses: Rather than publishing individual teacher inboxes, provide shared departmental contact emails (such as
[email protected]or[email protected]).Organize contacts using folder permissions: Under Features > Directory, arrange staff into dedicated folders (e.g., Administration, Grade Levels, Specialized Services). Use Folder Settings > Access Permissions to restrict sensitive staff folders to logged-in Staff roles only, keeping them hidden from Students and Parents/Guardians.
đ Important Note on Secured Access ("Visible only to"): In the Edlio Mobile App, "Secured Access" and audience permissions ("Visible only to" specific Roles or Lists) strictly require users to log in to the app with an authenticated account. If your school uses an open app (where users skip login), the app displays public information only. Features like audience-restricted contact folders, "Visible to" permissions, and Conversations cannot function on open, non-authenticated apps.
Updating an existing contact's visibility
Editing contact details in the admin panel
Navigate to Features > Directory in your EdlioApp admin panel.
Locate the contact in their folder or search list, and click the pencil (edit) icon.
To remove public email or phone outreach, clear the Email or Phone field completely.
Click Save. The updated contact information syncs to mobile devices as soon as the app refreshes.
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