How to prepare for a remote phone collection

Start with the instructions for your assigned collection. Check that the phone and contact details are correct and that you understand when to begin. If you have several phones or recently changed devices, tell MARA before starting so the collection is associated with the intended source. If the assignment involves WhatsApp or Signal, identify the phone holding that material; MARA supports those applications from both iPhone and Android phones.

Counsel and MARA agree the collection scope. A full collection delivers a broader supported dataset; a targeted collection delivers selected supported categories such as Calls, Messages or Contacts, with necessary supporting files. You are following that assignment, rather than choosing conversations to include or exclude while setting up the app. Ask about a scope question before beginning.

You will use the phone, a suitable USB cable and a supported Windows computer or Mac. MARA confirms the appropriate setup for the assigned collection. Use a computer on which you can download and open the MARA app. If it is managed by your employer and software installation is restricted, raise that with MARA in advance instead of trying to bypass the restriction.

The computer needs room for collection files. MARA checks available storage and can help if the setup needs more space. Do not delete phone content to make the collection smaller. Tell MARA about a storage issue and follow the instructions for resolving it.

Arrange reliable power and an internet connection. Check that the USB cable fits both devices and that you can leave the phone connected without disturbing it. Choose a place where you can read the computer and phone prompts. Have both devices available together when you start.

Allow time for setup, collection and the upload that follows. The amount of content on the device and the internet connection can affect how long the workflow takes. If you need your phone or computer for another commitment, discuss the timing with MARA before starting.

For supported iPhone collections, the app provides a self-guided path with clear on-screen instructions. A MARA-assisted session is available if you want help or the setup needs it. Android collections use the guided path. You can ask for assistance without having to diagnose a technical problem yourself.

If you know that access, computer restrictions or scheduling may be difficult, mention that early. It is easier to arrange help before the session than to discover the constraint halfway through setup.

MARA sends a private collection invitation. Open its link to reach your collection page, then follow the download instructions to put the app on your computer. You do not need counsel’s portal username or password.

Open MARA, unlock the phone and connect it to the computer with the USB cable. Follow the prompts on both screens, including any connection or trust prompt the app directs you to. Enter a phone passcode yourself when needed; do not send passwords, passcodes or authentication codes through email or the public inquiry form. Our privacy notice explains the public inquiry channel.

If a prompt differs from the instructions, the phone is not recognized or the app reports a problem, use Help. Describe the step and the message you see. Avoid repeatedly unplugging the device or restarting the workflow while the collection is running unless MARA directs you to do so.

Once the assigned collection succeeds, MARA starts the secure upload automatically from the computer to the portal. You do not need to attach collection files to an email, create a separate sharing link or upload the package through another service.

Keep MARA open and the computer connected to the internet while the transfer finishes. Reaching the end of collection does not mean the files have reached the portal yet. Follow the app’s instructions and progress status. If the connection fails or you are unsure whether upload finished, contact MARA before closing the app or starting again.

Submit the request through your MARA portal with the custodian’s reachable contact details and the agreed scope. Let them know MARA will coordinate the collection and provide their invitation. Identify any deadline or need for a guided session without asking them to manage technical settings themselves.

Track upload, verification and availability through the portal. Your authorized team downloads the completed collection there; the custodian’s invitation serves a different purpose. The delivered material can then be opened in MARA Analyzer for artifact review and preparation of reports or exports. This keeps the request, status and resulting deliverables connected.