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How to test app and site blocking is working

Updated
Paola Rivera

Check whether your kid's device has app and site-blocking turned on

  1. Open up your parent app / dashboard.
  2. Tap your kid's avatar at the top.
  3. Tap Screen Time.
  4. Tap the Devices tab at the top.
  5. Look at the symbol and text below your kid's device:

 ❗   Red exclamation mark: Screen time is not working. Tap on Fix in the alert or look for more tips below.

✅ Green checkmark: Screen time is working! You can block any app or site on your kid's device.

Test an app or site is blocked on your kid's device

These methods are great for iPhones, iPads, Androids, and any device filtered by the Bark Home on your home network.

For example, let's say that 5 minutes ago you blocked Snapchat during School Time, and you're not sure if it's yet started blocking the platform on your child's device. You can test whether it's working a couple of different ways:

Method A
  1. On your kid's device, open up a browser app (like Safari or Chrome).
  2. Tap on the address bar and go to screentime.report
  3. This will load Bark's testing page. The top of it looks like this:
    Screen_Shot_2021-02-05_at_4.57.14_PM.png
  4. Tap on the app (or category of apps) that you'd like to test. To keep the same example, let's tap on Snapchat on that page:
    Screen_Shot_2021-02-05_at_5.00.55_PM.png
  5. Check the results!
    • Page doesn't load
      That means Bark is blocking that app / site. This is an example of what it may look like when the site is blocked on a browser:
      🤔 Why isn't Bark allowing it? If you expect that platform to be allowed and it's not, let's use this guide to allow it. Then, try the test again. Please note that it may take a few minutes for changes to take effect. If still no luck, try "Method B" below.
    • Page loads with this message
      The message below indicates Bark is not blocking that app / site.
      🤔 Why isn't Bark blocking it? If you expect that platform to be blocked and it's not, let's double check you blocked the app/site under the correct profile. Then, tap "Retry the test." Please note that it may take a few minutes for changes to take effect. If still no luck, try "Method B" below.
Method B
  1. On your kid's device, open up the site or app you'd like to test.
  2. If it's an app, attempt to refresh the feed, send a message, or do an action within the app that requires internet connection. If it's a site, refresh it within the web browser.
  3. Check the results!
    • App or site doesn't refresh the feed or send messages
      That means Bark is blocking that app / site. This is an example of what it may look like when the site is blocked on a browser:
      refusedconnect-android.png
      🤔 Why isn't Bark allowing it? If you expect that platform to be allowed and it's not, let's use this guide to allow it. Please note that it may take a few minutes for changes to take effect. If still no luck, check our other troubleshooting solutions.
    • App or site loads all features
      That means Bark is allowing that app / site.
      site loads example.png
      🤔 Why isn't Bark blocking it? If you expect that platform to be blocked and it's not, let's double check you blocked the app/site under the correct profile. Please note that it may take a few minutes for changes to take effect. If still no luck, check our other troubleshooting solutions.

To check whether app blocking is working on the Bark Phone:

  1. Unlock the Bark Phone.
  2. Swipe up to view installed apps.
  3. Here you can check whether the app is grayed out.
    greyed out app sites apps rules.jpg
    💡  If you've just blocked it, it may take a few minutes for changes to take effect. Restarting the device and making sure it's connected to a reliable internet connection help speed that along.