Having issues with your kid's Android location not being accurate? Here’s how to fix it.
Most Androids
- First, on your kid's Android phone or tablet, let's try to calibrate GPS using the Google Maps app.
Is your kid's phone "Wi-Fi only"? Bark will only be able to get location information whenever it's connected to a Wi-Fi network.
- Next, open their ⚙ Settings app.
- Tap Location.
- Turn on location at the top.
- Tap Mode > High accuracy.
- If you see it, turn on Google Location Accuracy, Wi-Fi scanning, and/or Bluetooth scanning.
- Open their ⚙ Settings app again.
- Tap Apps (or "Apps & Notifications").
- Tap Bark.
- Enter a device code if prompted.
- Tap Permissions.
- Tap Location.
- Tap Allow all the time if you want check-ins, location tracking, and location alerts.
- Tap Allow only while using the app if you only want check-ins.
- If present, tap Use precise location as well.
- Tap < back twice (until you see the Bark Kids app Mobile data & Wi-Fi setting).
- Tap on Mobile Data & Wi-Fi (the name may vary slightly).
- Turn on Background data.
- Turn on Unrestricted data usage.
- While we're here, let's check battery optimization settings.
- To prevent your kid from changing their location settings, use Google Family Link:
- On your parent phone, open the
Family Link parent app.
- Tap Location > Set up location.
(If “Set up location” doesn’t display, select the child you want to set up location for and turn on location sharing.) - If you have multiple children, select which ones you want to turn on location sharing for.
- Tap Turn on.
- Then, tap < back.
- Select your kid.
- On the "Apps installed" card, tap More.
- On the "Allowed" list, tap on Bark.
- Tap App permissions.
- Ensure location is always turned on for Bark.
- That's it! They can no longer make changes to location settings without your approval through the Family Link parent app.
- On your parent phone, open the
Samsung Androids
- First, on your kid's Samsung phone or tablet, let's try to calibrate GPS using the Google Maps app.
- Next, open their ⚙ Settings app.
- Tap Location.
- Tap Location Services (or "Improve Accuracy").
- If you see it, turn on Emergency Location Service, Google Location Accuracy, Wi-Fi scanning, and Bluetooth scanning.
- Tap < back.
- Tap on
Bark under the Recent Access section (or "Recent location requests" section).
🤔 Don't see Bark there? No worries, let's go this other route: Settings app > Apps > enter a device code when prompted > Permissions > Location > Allow all the time. - Enter a device code when prompted (it will grant access to these settings for 5 minutes).
- Tap Permissions > Location > select Allow all the time.
- Tap < back twice.
- Tap Mobile Data.
- Toggle on Allow background data usage and Allow data usage while Data saver is on.
- Tap < back.
- Tap Battery > select Unrestricted.
🤔 Seeing an option for "Optimize Battery Usage" instead? Then, tap on Optimize battery usage > tap the dropdown at the top > tap All > toggle off battery optimization for Bark. - To prevent your kid from changing their location settings, use Google Family Link:
- On your parent phone, open the
- Tap Location > Set up location.
(If “Set up location” doesn’t display, select the child you want to set up location for and turn on location sharing.) - If you have multiple children, select which ones you want to turn on location sharing for.
- Tap Turn on.
- Then, tap < back.
- Select your kid.
- On the "Apps installed" card, tap More.
- On the "Allowed" list, tap on Bark.
- Tap App permissions.
- Ensure location is always turned on for Bark.
- That's it! They can no longer make changes to location settings without your approval through the Family Link parent app.
- On your parent phone, open the
That's it! You've now checked that they have the best settings for location alerts accuracy.
