This article discusses troubleshooting solutions for issues encountered with screen time (mobile or in-home). For example, you may have seen a child's device under Screen Time with a ❗️ symbol:
How do I know screen time & web filtering is working?
To verify that web filtering is working on your family's devices, scroll down to the applicable profile on your dashboard, select Screen Time, and tap on Devices at the top. You can then review the status of the screen time devices associated with the child (learn more).
Why is it blocking this app / site?
If Bark is blocking every single internet-based app or site on your child's device, then jump down to "Bark is blocking everything" below.
If Bark is blocking particular apps or sites, let's figure it out! You can find out this information by following this guide:
Why is Bark blocking text messages?
Learn how to do this intentionally or how to troubleshoot if this is happening unintentionally:
Mobile screen time & filtering is not working
Learn more and take care of it with this guide:
Screen time protection has been disrupted
Bark Home (or in-home filtering) is not working
Learn more and take care of it with this guide:
VPN was manually disabled and re-enabled
Learn more and take care of it with this guide:
Mobile screen time & filtering was manually disabled
Set up the Bark Kids app so that it is not uninstalled or deleted
Learn more and take care of it with this guide:
Bark is blocking everything
We're sorry to hear that! We'll get you all fixed up.
- Restart the device.
- Wait a few minutes for Bark to settle in.
- Check whether you accidentally Paused the child's internet
- Check whether the child is under strict screen time rules.
- Try clearing the cache of their browser app(s), like Chrome or Safari.
💡 Why? This can help in clearing out the temporary files that devices build up over time to try to make browsing seem "faster." They do this by "caching" (or saving) webpages, which is why clearing the cache may help. - Check for updates to the Bark Kids app on your child's device.
- Check that it's not some other web filter or third-party VPN you have in place.
💡 Why? We recommend only using one web filter on a child's device at a time so that it's easier for you to manage rules. For example, if there is an unexpected block, you don't want to have to look at two different services' rules to figure out which one is the culprit.
Bark is not blocking anything
If Bark is allowing everything, it sounds like screen time protection has been disrupted on that device. Learn how to take care of it with our guide below:
Screen time protection has been disrupted
The schedule / rules are being enforced early or late
This is usually indicative of the wrong time zone being set in your Bark Account Settings. It's an easy fix! Click here for steps on how to take care of it.
My child's iOS device is reporting that the Bark Kids app is using a lot of cellular data. Is this normal?
Because the Bark Kids app is a filter or a gatekeeper to your child's web activity, in some reporting apps like Apple Screen Time, they may report all cellular data traffic used on the device as being used by the Bark Kids app. This is not quite accurate, since your child was using their favorite apps and games but the Bark Kids app was filtering their web activity, so the reporting app thinks the cellular data use all came from Bark Kids.
My child's iOS device is reporting that the Bark Kids app is using a lot of battery life. Is this normal?
On older iOS devices, you may want to make the following changes to help with battery life...
- Update iOS on their device.
- Open
Settings > scroll down >
Bark Kids > Notifications > Lockscreen.
- Disable lockscreen notifications.
Can I use more than one VPN at a time on my child's device?
Devices only allow one VPN to be connected at a time.
Amazon Fire Tablet is not being filtered
Follow this guide to get fixed up!
Set Up In-Home Filtering on Amazon Fire
What does it mean when it says a device is using "private address"?
Learn more and take care of it with this guide:
Device is using a private address or randomized MAC address
What are "Anonymous Devices"?
Learn more about the Anonymous Devices profile below:
Chromebook is not being filtered
If your child's Chromebook is not being filtered, check out this guide for tips:
Screen time protection disrupted on Chromebook
Mac or Windows computer is not being filtered
If your child's Mac or Windows computer is not being filtered, check out this guide for tips:
Mac or Windows Computer is not being filtered
Why is Bark blocking YouTube videos?
- Verify YouTube is allowed in your child's screen time settings.
- Check whether YouTube Restricted Mode is enabled.
