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Manage the app store on the Bark Phone

Updated
Paola Rivera

Block the Google Play Store

  1. From your dashboard, tap your child's name.
  2. Under Global settings, tap Manage Bark Phone features.
  3. Toggle Allow App Store to Off. 
  4. If you'd like to allow the Google Play App Store, just reverse these steps.

When you block the Google Play Store...

  • The play_store_icon.png Google Play Store app disappears.
  • No new apps can be installed.

Require App Approval

  1. From your dashboard, tap your child's name.
  2. Under Global settings, tap Manage Bark Phone features.
  3. Toggle Allow App Store to On. 
  4. Toggle Require app approval to On.
  5. If you'd like to remove app approvals, just reverse these steps.

When you enable app approval...

  • Newly installed apps are grayed out until approved.
  • You will get a notification.
  • A task to review app approval requests will appear.
    new UI - Bark Phone approve apps task on dashboard.png

Prevent App Removal

  1. From your dashboard, tap your child's name.
  2. Under Global settings, tap Manage Bark Phone features.
  3. Toggle Allow app removal to Off.

When you enable app removal...

  • Play Store apps can be uninstalled by the child.
  • Bark apps and system apps cannot be uninstalled.

How your kid downloads apps

When you've allowed your kid access to the Play Store, here's how they install apps on their phone.

  1. On your kid's Bark Phone, open the play store icon.png Play Store.
  2. If it asks you to sign in, log in with your kid's Gmail.
    • If the following screen says you have to activate Family Link parental controls, it means that Gmail won't be able to log into the phone without first making some changes. 
    • If it doesn't mention Family Link, then move on to the next step.
  3. Search for apps and tap install.
    • If you have app approval enabled, the app will be grayed out until you've approved it in your Bark parent app.

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