If your kid is using a Bark Watch, contact approval is always enabled.
Types of contacts
✅ Approved Contacts — Allows calls and texts to and from this number (unless blocked by your routines).
Emergency Contacts — Always allows calls and texts to and from this number (unless the text app is blocked). Can also be quickly contacted with the SOS side button.
🚫 Unapproved Contacts — Blocks calls and texts to and from this number.
Manage Contacts
You can always edit contacts you've added by tapping your child's name and scrolling down to Contacts.
Schedule what types of contacts can call with routines
On your Bark parent app / dashboard, tap your child's name.
Scroll down to Who can be contacted.
Under Settings, make your changes:
Tap Emergency only if you only want your kid to be able to text and call emergency contacts during this current routine.
Tap All contacts if you want your kid to be able to text and call any approved contacts during this current routine.
Repeat for any other routines you've scheduled.
How you can block or allow numbers
You can block or unblock contacts on your parent app at any time.
Open up your Bark parent app / dashboard.
Under your child's name, tap Add contacts.
Enter in the phone number you'd like to block or unblock.
When an unapproved contact reaches out:
Text messages and calls from them won't show up for your child.
Their calls to your child won't go through.
They won't be able to leave a voicemail.
How to open contacts on the Bark Watch
Quickest method:
Short-press the bottom side button (labeled SOS on the watch) twice (2x).
Other method:
Short-press the top side button to open the home screen.
Swipe from left to right to open the apps list.
Tap
Contacts.
Any contacts you've added on the dashboard (that are allowed to be contacted during this routine) will be visible. Your child can tap on the contact and then tap on the call or text option.
Does the SOS button automatically call 911?
No, "SOS" is just the name printed on the button, not all it does. As you can see throughout this article, it's used to open contacts, call emergency contacts, and more.
Calling emergency services (911 or 988) requires multiple deliberate steps and button presses. This means your child won't accidentally dial emergency services by bumping the watch or pressing the wrong button but can still reach them in an emergency.
How to quickly call an emergency contact on the Bark Watch
Method A:
Short-press the top side button to wake up the watch, if applicable.
Short-press the bottom side button (labeled SOS on the watch).
Tap Emergency Contact to start calling emergency contacts directly. If the first call is not answered within 20 seconds, it will call the next emergency contact on the list.
Note: Emergency contacts and 911/988 are separate. The watch will never automatically call 911 or 988.
Method B:
Short-press the top side button to wake up the watch, if applicable.
Long-press the bottom side button (labeled SOS on the watch) to start calling emergency contacts directly. If the first call is not answered within 20 seconds, it will call the next emergency contact on the list.
Note: Emergency contacts and 911/988 are separate. The watch will never automatically call 911 or 988.
How to contact 911 or 988 on the Bark Watch
Method A:
Short-press the top side button to wake up the watch, if applicable.
Now, short-press the bottom side button (labeled SOS on the watch).
Scroll down.
Tap 911 SOS Call or 988 Lifeline to start calling those emergency services directly.
Method B:
Short-press the top side button to wake up the watch, if applicable.
Quickly short-press the top side button once and the bottom side button (labeled SOS on the watch) twice.
Swipe right on the SOS Call button to call 911.