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In-Home Filtering Is Showing Duplicate Devices

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Paola
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New Unmanaged Devices

You may have noticed that in your Unmanaged list for In-Home Filtering, there are new devices popping up. If those devices are connected to the Wi-Fi network for the first time since you've set up Bark Home, then this is normal. Identify and assign those devices to the applicable child or home profile.

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Duplicate Devices

However, if you're seeing devices show up under new Unmanaged Devices or Anonymous Devices that you thought you'd already assigned to a profile, there may be some additional steps you have to take. See below:

Reason 1: The device is connected via both the child app and your network.

The Bark Kids app can be installed on children's iOS and Android devices for on-the-go web filtering. If you have set up on-the-go web filtering for the device and later Bark detected that device again via the home Wi-Fi network, it may show a duplicate device.

If that's the case, make sure you assign all relevant devices to the correct child. That way, your Screen Time settings for that child apply for all of their devices, whether on-the-go or at your home. Also, check to see if their device has Randomized MAC turned off. Next, click here for steps on merging the duplicate devices.

Reason 2: The device is connected via both Wi-Fi and Ethernet.

Many computers, including Chromebooks, use different manufacturers for their ethernet and wireless components, so Bark thinks they are two different devices.

Make sure you assign all relevant devices to the correct child. That way, your Screen Time settings for that child apply for all of their devices, whether the Chromebook is connected to the home network over Wi-Fi or over ethernet. Also, check to see if their device has Randomized MAC turned off. Next, click here for steps on merging the duplicate devices.

Reason 3: The device was set up for content monitoring.

Depending on the device, Bark can monitor the content (e.g. texts, photos, videos, etc) of a device on the Bark Premium plan. During setup, we will try to merge the monitored device with the device detected via your home network and the device detected via the Bark Kids app. However, sometimes the system doesn't always know how to merge the different ways we protect the device. Look at the name of the device and identify it to merge the duplicate device(s), if applicable. Also, check to see if their device has Randomized MAC turned off.

Reason 4: Turn off private or randomized MAC addresses, if applicable.

(What is a Private or Randomized MAC Address?)

Bark remembers the devices on your home network because of their unique MAC Address always being the same.

However, devices on iOS 14+, watchOS 7+, Android 10+, and Windows 10+ may have a setting enabled that keeps them from broadcasting the same MAC Address, meaning it could lead Bark to think it's detecting more devices, when in fact it's detecting the same device.

For each iOS 14+, watchOS 7, Android 10+, and Windows 10 device in your home, follow these steps:

ios.svg iOS 14+:

  1. Open the Settings app, then tap Wi-Fi.
  2. Tap the information button ℹ️ next to your home network.
    NOTE: If you have both a 5GHz and 2.4GHz network, follow these steps for both.
  3. Tap Private Address > Turn off.
  4. Then, identify the device one last time so that you can make sure it's assigned to the right profile.
  5. If you want to remove devices you no longer have, you can follow these steps.

ios.svg watchOS 7+:

  1. Open the Settings app, then tap Wi-Fi.
  2. Tap the name of the network you are connected to.
    NOTE: If you have both a 5GHz and 2.4GHz network, follow these steps for both.
  3. Tap Private Address > Turn off. 
  4. Then, identify the device one last time so that you can make sure it's assigned to the right profile.
  5. If you want to remove devices you no longer have, you can follow these steps.

android_icon.svg Android 10+:

  1. Open the Settings ⚙ app.
  2. Tap Network & Internet.
  3. Tap Wi-Fi.
  4. Tap the gear icon ⚙ associated with your home network.
    NOTE: If you have both a 5GHz and 2.4GHz network, follow these steps for both.
  5. Tap Advanced.
  6. Tap Privacy.
  7. Tap Use Device MAC.
    NOTE: On Samsung, this setting may instead be found in Settings > Connections > Wi-Fi > Advanced > MAC Address Type > select Phone MAC.
  8. Then, identify the device one last time so that you can make sure it's assigned to the right profile.
  9. If you want to remove devices you no longer have, you can follow these steps.

blobid0.png Windows 10+:

  1. Connect to your home network.
  2. In your taskbar (near the time), right-click on the Wi-Fi icon wifi.png > select Network & Internet Settings > and then click on Properties for your home network. 
    NOTE: If you have both a 5GHz and 2.4GHz network, follow these steps for both.
  3. Under the Random Hardware Addresses section, change the setting to Off.
    NOTE: Don't see this setting? Then this computer's network adapter doesn't have it! You can move on to your other devices, if applicable.
  4. Turn off of the Wi-Fi on your computer and turn it back on to reconnect to your home network using the original Wi-Fi MAC address.  
  5. Then, identify the device one last time so that you can make sure it's assigned to the right profile.
  6. If you want to remove devices you no longer have, you can follow these steps.

This will prevent your family's iOS 14, Android 10+, and Windows 10 devices from continuing to generate duplicates under the Unmanaged Devices on your Bark dashboard. 

Reason 5: Adjust network extender configuration, if applicable.

(What is a network extender?) 

Some extenders will perform a function called network address translation (“NAT”), a function generally performed by the router. If you have an extender set up in your home and any of the following symptoms present themselves, you may need to change the configuration of your extender (perhaps by turning off NAT in the extender's settings, if applicable).

Symptoms:

  • All of the devices connected to the extender show up as 1 single device within the In-Home Devices list.
  • You see duplicate entries for the same devices within the Bark app. This is because Bark sees two different identifiers (“MAC Addresses”) for the device: the real one when the device connects directly to the primary router, and the "translated" one when connected to the extender.

Reason 6: If you have more than one router in your network, you may need to adjust some settings.

(How does Bark Home work with different networks?)

Routers often perform a function called network address translation (“NAT”). If you have multiple routers in your network doing this, symptoms may include:

  • You see duplicate entries for the same devices within the Bark app. This is because Bark sees two different identifiers (“MAC Address”)  for the device: the real one when the device connects directly to the primary router, and the MAC address of the second router when the devices are connected through that.
  • All of the devices connected to the second router show up as 1 single device within the within the In-Home Devices list. You will need to remove the second router, or ensure it is configured to bridge mode or access point (“AP”) mode. If you believe this advanced configuration is necessary for your network, please refer to your ISP's knowledge base or contact them for instructions on doing this. If you are unsure this applies to you, you can always reach out to us for help.

 

Need help or have additional questions?

We are happy to assist! Reach out to Bark Support, and we'll help every step of the way.