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Enable Accessibility for Bark on Android

The Bark Kids app requires Accessibility to be enabled on Android to monitor your child's device properly.

It's an easy fix in the Bark Kids app on Android or the Guard Dog app on Bark Phone.

Fix it on Bark Phone

  1. Open the Bark Guard Dog app on your child's Bark Phone.

  2. Tap Fix next to Accessibility.

  3. Under Installed Apps, tap Bark and turn it on.
    ​

  4. Open the Bark Guard Dog app again to verify Accessibility is fixed.

Fix it on Android

  1. Open the Bark Kids icon Bark Kids app on your child's Android.

  2. Tap Accessibility on the checklist.

  3. Under Services, Installed Services, or Installed Apps, tap Bark and turn it on:

    Accessibility Bark

    Getting an error?
    ​​Devices running Android 13 or later need to do this first: Open Settings > Apps > Bark, tap the three-dot menu in the top right, and tap Allow restricted settings. If you don't see the three-dot menu, try triggering the Accessibility error again and it should appear.

  4. Open the Bark Kids icon Bark Kids app again.

  5. Tap ⚙️ Settings > Test Monitoring.

    On Bark Jr?
    ​    You can skip this step!

Alternative fix for both devices

  1. Open the ⚙️ Settings app on your child's Android or Bark Phone.

  2. Tap Accessibility.

  3. Under Services, Installed Services, or Installed Apps, tap Bark and turn it on:

    Accessibility Bark

    Getting an error?
    ​​Devices running Android 13 or later need to do this first: Open Settings > Apps > Bark, tap the three-dot menu in the top right, and tap Allow restricted settings. If you don't see the three-dot menu, try triggering the Accessibility error again and it should appear.

How to confirm monitoring is working

  1. Open up your parent app / dashboard.

  2. Tap on your child's profile.

  3. Tap Devices.

  4. Look for a green checkmark:

    New UI monitoring healthy

Accessibility continues to get disabled

There are a few reasons this can happen. Here's how to keep it enabled:

  • The Accessibility Menu is turned on.
    ​    In some Androids, there's an option called the Accessibility Menu that provides a shortcut to this setting. Disable it:

    1. On your kid's Android, open the Settings app.

    2. Tap Accessibility.

    3. Tap Accessibility Menu and turn it off.

  • An Accessibility shortcut for Bark is turned on.
    ​    In some Androids, there's an option within the Bark Accessibility setting that also provides a shortcut to this setting. Disable it:

    1. On your kid's Android, open the Settings app.

    2. Tap Accessibility.

    3. Under Services or Installed Services, tap on Bark.

    4. Turn off the Bark shortcut.

  • The app is outdated.
    ​    In the latest versions of the app, your child can't access Accessibility (they'd need a device code only parents have access to). Make sure their app is up to date.

  • Aggressive battery optimization settings.
    The Bark Kids app can be affected by battery optimization settings on your kid's device. Add Bark as an exception to battery optimization.

    Battery optimization screen

  • Restrictive data settings.
    The Bark Kids app can also be affected by data saver settings on your kid's device. Add Bark to the list of apps that have unrestricted data.

Need more help?

Check out our Android troubleshooting guide or Bark Phone troubleshooting guide.

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