Calibrate Location on Android

Having issues with your kid's Android location tracking not being accurate? Here’s how to fix it.

Interactive Troubleshooter

Text Instructions


Most Androids

  1. First, on your kid's Android phone or tablet, let's try to calibrate GPS using the Google Maps app.
    wifi 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.
  2. Next, open their ⚙ Settings app.
  3. Tap Location
  4. Turn on location at the top.
  5. Tap Mode > High accuracy.
  6. If you see it, turn on Google Location Accuracy, Wi-Fi scanning, and/or Bluetooth scanning.
  7. Open their ⚙ Settings app again.
  8. Tap Apps (or "Apps & Notifications"). 
  9. Tap Bark.
  10. Enter a device code if prompted.
  11. Tap Permissions.
  12. Tap Location.
  13. If present, tap Use precise location as well.
    locationsettings-android.png
  14. Tap < back twice (until you see the Bark Kids app Mobile data & Wi-Fi setting).
    bark
  15. Tap on Mobile Data & Wi-Fi (the name may vary slightly).
  16. Turn on Background data.
  17. Turn on Unrestricted data usage.
    mobile
  18. While we're here, let's check battery optimization settings.
  19. To prevent your kid from changing their location settings, use Google Family Link:
    • On your parent phone, open the family 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.

Samsung Androids

  1. First, on your kid's Samsung phone or tablet, let's try to calibrate GPS using the Google Maps app.
    wifi 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.
  2. Next, open their ⚙ Settings app.
  3. Tap Location.
  4. Tap Location Services (or "Improve Accuracy").
  5. If you see it, turn on Emergency Location Service, Google Location Accuracy, Wi-Fi scanning, and Bluetooth scanning.
    mceclip2.png
  6. Tap < back.
  7. Tap on bark kids app.png 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.
  8. Enter a device code when prompted (it will grant access to these settings for 5 minutes).
  9. Tap Permissions > Location > select Allow all the time.
  10. Tap < back twice.
  11. Tap Mobile Data.
  12. Toggle on Allow background data usage and Allow data usage while Data saver is on. mceclip4.png
  13. Tap < back
  14. Tap Battery > select Unrestricted
    mceclip3.png
    🤔 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.
  15. Tap < back a few times to get to the home page of the Settings app.
  16. Tap Battery.
  17. Tap Background usage limits.
    android battery background usage limits.png
  18. Turn off Put unused apps to sleep.
    android turn off 'put unused apps to sleep' setting.png
  19. To prevent your kid from changing their location settings, use Google Family Link:
    • On your parent phone, open the family 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.

That's it! You've now checked that they have the best settings for location alerts accuracy.