If your kid is getting calls or texts from unapproved contacts, let's check a few settings on your Bark parent app before checking some settings on your kid's Bark Phone.
Note: Calls or texts with 911, 988, and 6-digit shortcodes (such as those for two-factor authentication) are always allowed. These numbers are heavily regulated in the U.S. and are not expected to contain inappropriate content.
On your parent device
New UI
- Open up your parent app / dashboard.
- Tap your child's profile.
- Tap Bark Phone.
- Tap Contacts at the top.
- Turn on Contact Approval if it's disabled. It may take a few minutes for changes to take effect.
- Check the allowed contacts to see if the phone number in question was accidentally allowed previously.
- If the issue persists, the steps below should resolve it.
Classic UI
- Open up your parent app / dashboard.
- Tap the Bark Phone tile.
- Tap Contacts.
- Turn on Contact Approval if it's disabled. It may take a few minutes for changes to take effect.
- Check the allowed contacts to see if the phone number in question was accidentally allowed previously.
- If the issue persists, the steps below should resolve it.
On your kid's device
- Tap the ⏹ Home button and swipe up to find and uninstall any third-party texting or calling apps.
💡 Pro tip: Enable app approval to vet future app installs! - Then open the
Messages app. If it's not set as default, it'll prompt you whether it should be the default text app and the answer is yes! This app lets Bark apply your contact approval and delete text rules.
- Lastly, double-check their Spam and Unknown Caller settings.