Installing the Bark for Chrome Extension on Chrome

This article is for Bark subscribers whose subscription plan includes content monitoring. If you'd like to set up screen time & web filtering on a computer, gaming console, etc., you will need Bark Home.

Get Started

Watch this video to learn how to install the Bark for Chrome extension on a computer. If you'd like some additional tips — or if the video doesn't play — follow the step-by-step instructions written below.

NOTE: When it comes to monitoring Gmail accounts created for those under 13 years old, for some reason, Google can restrict any third-party connection, which includes Bark. You can see what birthday you've set for your child's Google account, inside of the Google account settings. For instructions on connecting an email to Bark, see here.

STEP 1: Access your child's computer and log in with your child's user account.

NOTE: If they have multiple user accounts they use to log in to the computer, repeat these steps on the other user account(s).

STEP 2: Open the Google Chrome Web Browser.

It will look like this in your bottom taskbar:

STEP 3: Sign in to Chrome with your child's Google account.

• On the top right click the button with your child's name or People.
• Click Sign in to Chrome > Sign in with your child's Google Account.
  If your child's account is already signed in, proceed to the next step.

STEP 4: Connect your child's email account(s) to Bark for monitoring on your dashboard.
This is an important step in getting the web browsing monitoring set up because it allows our system to identify your child's web browser as their own. 

If your child's email ends in @gmail.com or uses Gmail to view the inbox, select Gmail. 

If your child's email ends in @outlook.com or uses Outlook to view the inbox, select Outlook.

NOTE: When it comes to monitoring Gmail accounts created for those under 13 years old, for some reason, Google can restrict any third-party connection, which includes Bark. You can see what birthday you've set for your child's Google account, inside of the Google account settings. For instructions on connecting a Gmail to Bark, see here.

STEP 5: If applicable, remember to log out of your Bark dashboard on your child's Chrome web browser.

STEP 6: Navigate to the Chrome Web Store on your child's Chrome browser.

STEP 7: Search Bark, find Bark for Chrome, and select Add to Chrome.

• At the prompt showing permissions required by the extension, review the permissions, and select the Add extension button. You'll see a final prompt confirming the extension has been added.

• Click on the Bark for Chrome extension and select Manage Extensions.

• Toggle on the Allow in Incognito option:

STEP 8: Hide or Unpin the Bark extension from the address bar (optional).

While we encourage parents and kids to have discussions about Bark, we understand the desire to keep the Bark extension somewhat hidden.

To do so, click on the Bark extension, and click Hide in Chrome Menu or Unpin.

STEP 9: Browse 5 - 10 webpages on your child's Chrome browser so that the extension can start analyzing web browsing activities and reflect on your Bark dashboard.

STEP 10: Repeat steps 1-7 for any other children, if applicable.

For example, if the computer is a shared device that has different logins (e.g. Bob has a profile, Renee has a profile, etc) then you'll want to log out as the child you've just set up and log in as the new child you still need to set up. Then, follow the steps above to set up the Chrome extension on the other child's user profile.

Now, you're all done!

The Bark for Chrome extension is now installed and actively monitoring web browsing on Google Chrome going forward. 

Remember to connect the email accounts that your child uses on the computer to Bark. To connect these accounts (like Gmail and Outlook), check out this article.

NOTE: After the first time setup of the Bark for Chrome extension, Chrome web browsing activities analyzed may take some time to reflect on your Bark dashboard.

How do I know if monitoring is working?

If Bark is monitoring your child's Chrome browsing on their computer, you should see a Chrome icon on the list of connected devices and accounts for that child when you click View Profile for the child:

Need additional help?

Bark Support is here for you! Don't hesitate to reach out to us, and we'll be happy to assist.