Getac F120 setup guide: batteries, Windows, docks and updates

This guide takes a new Getac F120 from the box to a working field tablet: batteries and charging, Windows setup, Wi-Fi and mobile data, touch input, the Getac software, updates, docks and the optional readers.

Before you start

Know your configuration

Every F120 is a 12.2-inch fully rugged Windows 11 Pro tablet with a 1,200-nit sunlight-readable screen, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, one USB-A port and IP66 protection. Getac sells it as a Copilot+ PC with an Intel Core Ultra processor and an NPU of up to 48 TOPS. The options differ per order:

Our F120 product page lists what is fitted in the version we stock. Getac's F120 spec sheet has the full option list.

Video: Getac

Check the batteries and charge

The F120 runs on two swappable Li-ion battery packs (7.74 V, typically 4,070 mAh each). Getac calls the design LifeSupport: you can replace one pack while the tablet keeps running on the other, so a shift does not have to stop for a battery change.

1. Check that both battery packs are fitted and seated before the first start.
2. Connect the 65 W AC adapter to the DC-in jack and to a wall socket.
3. Leave the tablet on the adapter until the battery is full before its first day in the field.

Other ways to charge:

• USB-C: both Thunderbolt 4 ports support power delivery. Getac offers a 65 W USB-C adapter and a 100 W Type-C adapter for the F120.
• Vehicle: the 120 W DC-DC vehicle adapter takes 11–32 V DC from a cigarette-lighter socket or bare wires.
• Spare packs: the external dual-bay charger charges two packs outside the tablet; the eight-bay charger suits shared fleets.

Switch on and set up Windows 11

1. Press the power button. The tablet starts Windows 11 Pro setup.
2. Choose your region and the keyboard layout you will use with a keyboard dock or USB keyboard. You can add more layouts later in Windows Settings.
3. Connect to Wi-Fi when setup asks, then sign in with your work or Microsoft account. If your company uses Intune or another MDM, sign in with the work account so the tablet can enrol automatically, if IT has set this up.
4. Set up Windows Hello face sign-in when Windows offers it. The front 5 MP camera supports Windows Hello face authentication.
5. Let Windows finish its updates.

Connect to Wi-Fi and mobile data

For Wi-Fi, select the network icon in the taskbar, pick your network and enter the password. The F120 has Intel Wi-Fi 7 (BE201).

If your F120 has 4G LTE or 5G, fit a nano-SIM in the SIM slot or add an eSIM profile in Settings › Network & internet › Cellular › eSIM profiles. The tablet has one physical SIM slot and one eSIM; choose which one carries data under Use this SIM for cellular data. Getac limits 5G to the US, UK, EU, Australia and New Zealand, so it is available in all EU countries. The 4G and 5G modules include GPS.

Learn the touchscreen, pen and stylus

The F120 uses Getac Smart Touch. It senses automatically whether you touch the screen with a bare finger, a glove or a stylus, so in normal use you do not need to switch modes.

• Capacitive stylus (with tether): works on every F120.
• Digitizer pen (with tether): needs the dual-mode touchscreen option. Its side button works as a right-click, which is handy for signatures and forms.
• Protection film: one comes with the tablet. Replacement anti-glare film is available as an accessory.

Set up Getac Utility and the buttons

Getac Utility (called G-Utility on Getac's software pages) comes pre-installed. It is the central place for device status and settings:

• Battery monitoring and power profiles
• Touchscreen mode switching, if you want to set a mode by hand
• System information
• Programming the five programmable tablet buttons

Open it from the Start menu.

Update BIOS, drivers and Getac software

Getac SmartUpdate checks for, downloads and installs BIOS and EC firmware, drivers and Getac software in one workflow, and handles BitLocker automatically during BIOS updates. It is not pre-installed on every device.

1. Open Getac's Drivers & Documents page and enter the serial number or choose the F120.
2. Download SmartUpdate from the App and Utility tab if it is not on the tablet, or download individual drivers and BIOS packages.
3. Connect the AC adapter and keep both batteries fitted before you start a BIOS or EC update.
4. Run the update and let the tablet restart on its own. Do not undock or switch it off.

In a managed fleet, leave updates to your IT team: SmartUpdate can be run from the command line and integrates with Microsoft SCCM and Intune.

Dock the tablet

Getac offers four types of dock for the F120. Choose by where the tablet is used:

For better reception in a vehicle, the tablet needs the RF antenna pass-through option (tri RF with 4G, quad RF with 5G) and the dock its quad RF option. Then connect the vehicle's external antennas to the dock's RF connectors.

Set up the barcode reader, RFID or smart card

Skip this step if your F120 has none of these options.

• Barcode imager (top slot): open Barcode Manager to set the trigger, the barcode types and the output format.
• HF RFID reader (right side): reads 13.56 MHz cards such as MIFARE, iCLASS, HID Prox, ISO 14443 A/B, ISO 15693 and FeliCa. Your access or login software decides what happens with the card data.
• Smart card reader (back): for smart card sign-in with your company's certificates; your IT team sets this up.
• Fingerprint reader (right side): set it up for sign-in in Windows Hello if your company allows it.

Without the imager, the rear 13 MP camera can read barcodes: the KeyWedge Barcode Reader Utility (pre-installed as a trial; a full licence is available from Getac) scans with the rear camera and passes the data to your applications. The Getac Camera app also offers barcode scanning.

If something does not work as expected, see Getac F120 troubleshooting. To reinstall the original Windows image later, the Getac Recovery tool builds recovery media from the serial number. More F120 guides are on the Getac F120 guide hub.