WATCHDESK — First-Time Sign-In

Welcome to WATCHDESK

A 2-minute walkthrough for your first sign-in

WATCHDESK uses your department email account (Google or Microsoft) to sign you in — there is no new password to remember. If you can check your department email, you can sign in to WATCHDESK.

Before you start: Make sure you know which station you belong to and that you can sign in to your department email on this device.

Signing In, Step by Step

Follow these four steps the first time you sign in

1

Open WATCHDESK in your browser

On your phone, tablet, or computer, open any web browser and go to:

https://watchdesk.org

You'll land on the WATCHDESK sign-in page.

2

Choose your station

In the "Select Your Station" dropdown, find your station number and name. The list is alphabetical by station.

Once you pick one, the Sign In button turns red and becomes clickable.

3

Sign in with your department email

Click Sign In. You'll be sent to Google or Microsoft to authenticate — whichever your station uses.

Use your department email address (the one your station gave you, usually name@yourstation.org). If you're already signed in to that email on this device, it will sign you in instantly.

Don't use a personal Gmail or Outlook account. Only your department-issued email will work.

4

Link your account (first time only)

If this is the very first time you've signed in, WATCHDESK will ask for your PGFD ID number so it can match you to your existing member record.

Enter your PGFD ID and click Look Up. You'll see your name on screen — confirm it's you, and you're in.

You only do this once. Future logins skip straight to your dashboard.

Go to Sign-In Page

📱 Install WATCHDESK on Your Phone

Get an app icon on your home screen — no app store needed

WATCHDESK works in any browser, but if you install it as an app, it opens in its own window with no browser bars, loads faster, and feels like a native app. It's free, takes about 15 seconds, and there is nothing to download from the App Store or Play Store.

Faster. Skip typing the URL — just tap the icon.

Push notifications. Get alerts when activity needs your approval.

Full screen. No address bar eating your screen space.

Same secure sign-in. Stays signed in like any other app.

1

Open WATCHDESK in Safari

This must be Safari — Chrome and other browsers on iPhone can't install web apps. Go to https://watchdesk.org.

2

Tap the Share button

At the bottom of the screen, tap the Share icon (the square with an up-arrow). On older iPhones it may be at the top.

3

Tap "Add to Home Screen"

Scroll down in the share menu and tap Add to Home Screen. You may need to scroll past the "messaging" row to find it.

4

Tap "Add"

Confirm the name (WATCHDESK) and tap Add in the top right. The red WATCHDESK icon will appear on your home screen.

1

Open WATCHDESK in Chrome

Open the Chrome app and go to https://watchdesk.org.

2

Tap the menu (three dots)

Top right of the Chrome window, tap the ⋮ menu icon.

3

Tap "Install app" or "Add to Home Screen"

Some Android versions say Install app; others say Add to Home Screen. Either one works.

4

Tap "Install"

Confirm. The WATCHDESK icon will land on your home screen and your app drawer. Open it once and Android will offer to allow notifications — tap Allow if you want approval alerts.

1

Open WATCHDESK in Chrome or Edge

On a desktop or laptop, open Chrome or Microsoft Edge and go to https://watchdesk.org. Firefox and Safari on Mac don't offer this install option.

2

Look for the install icon in the address bar

On the right side of the address bar, look for a small monitor-and-down-arrow icon (Chrome) or an "App available" icon (Edge). Click it.

If you don't see it, click the browser's menu (⋮ in Chrome, … in Edge) and look for Install WATCHDESK or Apps → Install this site as an app.

3

Click "Install"

WATCHDESK will open in its own window and add itself to your Start menu (Windows), Dock (Mac), or Applications launcher (Linux). Pin it to your taskbar for one-click access.

Tip: Sign in once after installing and you'll usually stay signed in for weeks. If you ever get signed out, just tap the icon and run through the sign-in steps above.

Common Questions

Quick answers if something goes sideways

"It says my email isn't recognized."

Make sure you're using the email address your station assigned you, not a personal account. If you only have a personal Gmail/Outlook, ask your station admin to add you to the roster or set you up with a station email.

"I don't know my PGFD ID."

Your station admin can look it up for you. It's a short number printed on your county ID badge.

"My station isn't in the dropdown."

If your station hasn't been onboarded to WATCHDESK yet, your chief can request setup — share the Station Setup Guide with the person who manages your station email accounts.

"I don't see the 'Add to Home Screen' option."

On iPhone you must use Safari, not Chrome. On Android you must use Chrome (or an updated Edge or Samsung Internet). On desktop, Firefox doesn't support installing this kind of app.

"Do I need to download anything from the App Store?"

No. WATCHDESK is not an App Store app — you "install" it directly from your browser. That's why there's no download and no charge.

"What if I still can't sign in?"

Reach out to your station admin. They can verify you're in the member roster and confirm your email is correct.