Check if monitoring is working on your kid's Android
- Open up your parent app / dashboard.
- Tap your kid's avatar at the top.
- Tap Monitoring.
- Look at the symbol and text below your kid's device:
❗ Red exclamation mark: Monitoring is not working. Tap on Fix in the alert or look for more tips below.
✅ Green checkmark: Monitoring is working! Your kid's texts, photos, videos and more are being scanned for worrisome content.
Fix Android monitoring
Why did monitoring stop working?
There are a few reasons your kid's device is not being monitored:
-
The device is offline
If it's turned off or disconnected from the internet for more than 3 days, Bark will generate an alert about the lack of data during that time. Once the device is powered on and reconnects to the internet, monitoring will automatically resume! -
App got deleted
Here's how to prevent your kid from deleting Bark. -
App is outdated
Update it and get back on track. -
Accessibility is disabled
Enable Bark in your kid's Accessibility settings. -
Security application installed
Some security apps can affect Bark. Uninstall them to see if they fix your issues with monitoring. -
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. -
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.
Can't install the Bark Kids app
This is likely due to the "unknown apps" setting in your kid's Settings app (learn more).
If you use Family Link, you'll also have to adjust an additional setting in your parent Family Link app (learn more).
If your kid has a Google Pixel and the above steps didn't help in installing the Bark Kids app, here's how you can get it installed.
Unexpected app blocking
If Bark is blocking every single internet-based app or site on your child's device, then click on Bark is blocking everything.
If Bark is blocking particular apps or sites (like just Instagram), let's figure it out with this guide:
Unexpected text message blocking
Bark may be blocking text messages on your kid's device if certain settings are enabled. Learn more and take care of it with this guide:
"Grant Access" error on Bark Kids app
If you are seeing this in the app, tap on Grant Permissions and make sure to select Allow on the prompts that appear.
If you still cannot fix the permissions, let's try this:
- Look at which permission(s) say Denied.
(the above example shows that the Location permission was denied) - Open the Settings app on your kid's phone or tablet.
- Tap on Apps.
- Find and tap on Bark (you may have to enter a device code).
- Tap on Permissions.
-
Allow the missing permission(s).
Can't allow the setting because it's grayed out? Sounds like you have to allow it via your Google Family Link parent app. Open Google Family Link, tap your child, tap App Limits, tap Bark for Chromebooks, tap App details, tap App permissions, and allow all permissions. - Open Bark Kids again.
- Tap Check in.
Not receiving push notifications
If you or your children are not receiving push notifications, review this guide for tips:
Not getting accurate location alerts
Bark's location features rely on the GPS of your kid's phone or tablet. There are a number of variables that can temporarily throw off the GPS on their device, leading to a check-in or location alert that is inaccurate.
Take care of it by calibrating the GPS on your kid's Android or Bark Phone.
Can't install the Bark for Chrome extension on Android
You do not need to install the Chrome Extension on your child's Android — the Chrome Extension is only for monitoring Chrome on a Windows, Mac, or Chromebook computer.
Instead, install the Bark Kids app to monitor their Chrome browsing.
FAQs
On Android, Bark can monitor texts, photos, videos, web browsing, and many installed apps, including TikTok and Snapchat.
Here's a detailed list of everything Bark can monitor:
If your child's Android device is on a limited cellular data plan, enabling a setting in Bark Kids prevents it from using cellular data. Instead, Bark Kids waits for a Wi-Fi connection to send data to the Bark servers. This adds a delay in receiving alerts about Android usage, though.
If you are okay with that delay since it saves on cellular data, you can adjust that setting with these steps:
- On your kid's Android, open the
Bark Kids app
- Tap on Settings at the bottom
- Toggle on Upload over Wi-Fi Only.
⚡ On the Bark Phone, this setting is not available because the data used for monitoring is not counted towards your data usage!