# Why is check\_in\_time obtained via API much older than check in time shown on hub.mender.io?

**URL:** <https://hub.mender.io/t/why-is-check-in-time-obtained-via-api-much-older-than-check-in-time-shown-on-hub-mender-io/7798>\
**Category:** General Discussions\
**Tags:** api\
**Created:** [May 28, 2025, 4:29pm UTC](https://hub.mender.io/t/why-is-check-in-time-obtained-via-api-much-older-than-check-in-time-shown-on-hub-mender-io/7798 "2025-05-28T16:29:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![hbruce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecb155/32.png) [@hbruce](https://hub.mender.io/u/hbruce)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2025, 4:29pm UTC](https://hub.mender.io/t/why-is-check-in-time-obtained-via-api-much-older-than-check-in-time-shown-on-hub-mender-io/7798/1 "2025-05-28T16:29:46Z")

</div>

Our devices are configured to check for updates every 30 minutes. You can see this in the devices tab on [hosted.mender.io](http://hosted.mender.io) web U/I where “Latest activity” is never more than 30 minutes ago unless device has communication issues. I’m trying to get the last check in time programmatically using the [inventory API](https://docs.mender.io/api/?python#device-api-device-inventory), but the `check_in_time` property in the response can be up to 24 hours old. The `updated_ts` property is even older. How can I get the “real” check-n time displayed on the web U/I?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![TheYoctoJester](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/hub.mender.io/theyoctojester/32/1444_2.png) [@TheYoctoJester](https://hub.mender.io/u/TheYoctoJester)\
**Post date:** [May 30, 2025, 4:11pm UTC](https://hub.mender.io/t/why-is-check-in-time-obtained-via-api-much-older-than-check-in-time-shown-on-hub-mender-io/7798/2 "2025-05-30T16:11:50Z")

</div>

Hi @hbruce,

There is a distinction between the devices inventory, and its authentication status. The `updated_ts` of the inventory reflects the last modification to the inventory, whereas the `updated_ts` of the authentication reflects the last check in.

You should be able to get the latest state through this endpoint: [Mender API docs](https://docs.mender.io/api/?python#management-api-device-authentication-get-device)

Greetz,  
Josef

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![hbruce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecb155/32.png) [@hbruce](https://hub.mender.io/u/hbruce)\
**Post date:** [June 2, 2025, 7:57pm UTC](https://hub.mender.io/t/why-is-check-in-time-obtained-via-api-much-older-than-check-in-time-shown-on-hub-mender-io/7798/3 "2025-06-02T19:57:20Z")

</div>

@TheYoctoJester thanks so much for the guidance. That worked 👍