Parental Monitoring FAQs and Setup Guide

How does BrightCanary work?

BrightCanary gives parents a clear window into their child’s digital world. Our keyboard-based monitoring lets you monitor your child’s activity across all the apps they use, including social media, messaging apps, and search. You’ll get AI-powered summaries, emotional insights, and real-time alerts when something concerning shows up. We offer two plans:

Protection Plan: Real-time updates, full transcripts of what your child types, and Google/YouTube monitoring.
Text Message Plus: Everything in the Protection plan, plus full text message monitoring, including images, videos, group chats, and deleted texts.

What services does BrightCanary monitor?

BrightCanary monitors what your child types across all the apps your child uses, including:

Text messages on Apple devices
Snapchat
Instagram
Discord
TikTok
Google and YouTube
Roblox, Reddit, WhatsApp, Pinterest
And more!

Does BrightCanary work on iPads?

Yes. BrightCanary is fully compatible with iPads. You can also install the BrightCanary Keyboard on multiple devices for the same child — for example, if they use both an iPhone and an iPad.

How does BrightCanary compare to other services and what does it cost?

BrightCanary offers more comprehensive, real-time visibility across the platforms kids actually use — with no passwords required for most apps. We have two plans:

Protection Plan: Monitor everything your child types across every app using the BrightCanary Keyboard, with real-time updates, full typed transcripts, and more.
Text Message Plus: Includes everything in Protection, plus full visibility into your child’s text conversations — including deleted messages, group chats, and images.

We offer monthly and annual plans. Not ready to subscribe? Try BrightCanary for yourself with a free trial when you download the app. Compared to other parental monitoring tools, BrightCanary is specifically designed to work on Apple devices — including iPhones and iPads — with advanced AI insights, summaries, and alerts that help you connect with your child, not just monitor them. Here’s a breakdown of exactly what we cover and how we compare to other apps.

Does the BrightCanary Keyboard support other languages?

BrightCanary currently only supports English keyboards, but other languages are coming shortly.

What does BrightCanary analyze?

BrightCanary uses advanced AI to analyze the text your child types across all of their messaging and social media apps. Our technology identifies concerning content, surfaces emotional trends, and provides summaries about what your child is discussing — including friendships, interests, and possible risks.

For most services, BrightCanary captures only what your child types using the BrightCanary Keyboard. (Here's how to set it up.) You will be able to view Google searches and YouTube views if you set up Google and YouTube monitoring with your child’s account logins.

Text Message Plus subscribers also get access to the text messages their child receives, as well as photos, videos, deleted texts, and group chats.

Is content monitoring 100% accurate?

We try hard to make BrightCanary as accurate as possible. We use advanced artificial intelligence systems to classify the images, video, and text your children watch and post. But it's possible those systems could miss something or incorrectly alert you about content that isn’t actually worrisome. While BrightCanary is a valuable tool for parents, it's not a replacement for the work of parenting a child.

Will BrightCanary capture passwords or sensitive information?

No. BrightCanary only monitors what your child types in messaging, search, and social media apps.

What categories of content will BrightCanary alert me about?

Our app flags concerning content, such as drug references, adult messages, or self-harm content. You may receive some false alerts, but we’re continuously working to improve this. We’d love to hear from you about how it’s working at feedback@brightcanary.io.

What will my child think about me using BrightCanary for content monitoring?

We designed BrightCanary to encourage ongoing dialogue between parents and kids about their online activities and text messages. Most children are open to using BrightCanary once they understand its purpose and how it works. Some parents choose to make using BrightCanary a condition for allowing their child to have their own device. Our approach allows families to tailor the level of supervision to fit their needs, all while maintaining your child’s privacy. Our activity summaries give you the insights you need, and you can easily view the full transcript if you need more information.

How do I set up the BrightCanary Keyboard?

We have a detailed setup guide in the app and on our website. To get started, you’ll need your phone and your child’s phone. Follow these Keyboard Setup steps, and use the in-app support tool to let us know if you have any questions!

Why do I need my child's login information for certain services?

For most services, you don’t need your child’s username or password to begin monitoring with BrightCanary. The exceptions are Google, YouTube, and upgraded text message monitoring. We ask that you log into Google and YouTube so we can provide more detailed information about what your child is searching on Google and watching on YouTube. With our Text Message Plus plan, we ask that you log into your child’s iCloud account so we can provide more comprehensive text monitoring: full conversations, including group chats and deleted texts, as well as images and videos sent via text message. If you don’t have your child’s passwords, we recommend explaining why you’re using BrightCanary and making password-sharing a condition of device use. Here’s how to ask for your child’s passwords.

Why should my child have their own account for platforms like Google and YouTube?

Some parents allow their kids to share accounts, like watching YouTube videos on the parent’s account. However, as your child gets older, they will want to follow their own favorite creators and even post content of their own. Having their own account makes it easy to use parental monitoring settings and apps like BrightCanary — so you can better guide and protect your child on these services. Learn more about why your child should have their own YouTube account.

Do I have to install anything on my child’s phone?

Yes. In order to monitor what your child types on every app they use, install the BrightCanary Keyboard on their phone. Here’s how to do it. If your child only uses an Apple Watch, you won’t be able to install a keyboard on their device. Instead, we recommend signing up for Text Message Plus. That will allow you to monitor the texts they send and receive.

How do I ask my child for their passwords?

First, help your child understand how monitoring is important for their online safety. Then, show your child how BrightCanary flags concerning content on Google, YouTube, and text messages (when you upgrade to Text Message Plus). Ask your child to share their passwords with you so you can use BrightCanary to keep them safe. Many parents make monitoring and password sharing a condition for allowing their child to have a device. Learn more about asking your child for their passwords.

My child doesn’t have emojis anymore.

Apple devices use an emoji keyboard. If you accidentally delete emojis during setup, you can bring them back on your child’s device:

Go to Settings > General > Keyboard
Tap Keyboards > Add New Keyboard
Search for Emoji and add it

While you're in there, double-check the list of keyboards and confirm your child has only installed the BrightCanary Keyboard and Emoji keyboard.

My child installed a new keyboard and now BrightCanary doesn’t work.

If your child installs a new keyboard or deletes the BrightCanary Keyboard, the BrightCanary app won’t receive new data. We’ll let you know if that happens so you can take a look at your child’s device.

Can I add more than one Google account for each child, or do I need to make a new "child" account for them?

If you want to monitor more than one Google account, you’ll need to add another child profile in BrightCanary. For example, one profile monitors your child’s personal Google account, and the other monitors their school account. You can create as many profiles as you need with your BrightCanary subscription.

How do I prevent my child from deleting BrightCanary?

We recommend removing BrightCanary from your child's home screen and preventing them from deleting apps. Here's how to do it: To prevent your child from deleting apps:

Tap “Open Settings” on your child’s device
Navigate to the main Settings screen
Tap “Screen Time”
Tap “Content & Privacy Restrictions”
Tap “App Store Purchases”
For “Deleting Apps,” tap “Don’t Allow”
Go back to "Screen Time" and scroll to "Lock Screen Time Settings" to create a unique passcode

To remove BrightCanary from your child's home screen:

Hold down the icon until the menu appears
Tap “Remove From Home Screen”

If we stop receiving data from your child's phone, we'll let you know.

How do I set up text message monitoring?

To monitor texts with our Protection plan, install the BrightCanary Keyboard on your child’s device. Once you connect their device to the BrightCanary app, you’ll be able to monitor what they type and send on their iPhone and iPad. We also offer more comprehensive text message monitoring with our Text Message Plus plan, which allows you to view full conversations, group chats, deleted texts, and images and videos sent via text. Text Message Plus is also great for kids who exclusively use Apple Watch. To set up text monitoring on the Text Message Plus plan, you’ll need:

Your child’s Apple ID email and password
Your child’s iPhone (or another Apple device where they’re logged in)

Follow the setup guide in the app. Apple may ask for a two-factor authentication code from your child’s device. Enter this when prompted. Learn more about how to set up BrightCanary text message monitoring. Note: If your child frequently texts with their Apple Watch, we recommend upgrading to the Text Message Plus plan.

Why do I need to have my child’s device to set up text monitoring?

You need your child’s device in order to install the BrightCanary Keyboard. This is a one-time installation. Once it’s set up, you don’t need to do anything else with your child’s device. If you’re using the Text Message Plus plan, you will need your child's device to authorize the sign-in attempt. This one-time access is required to allow sign-in permissions. Apple may also send a two-factor authentication code to your child’s device during the login process, which you’ll need to type into the BrightCanary app on your phone. After setup, you won't need access to your child's device for ongoing text monitoring.

Will my child know I'm monitoring their phone?

We strongly recommend that parents talk to their kids about how they'll use BrightCanary monitoring. Hiding monitoring from your child is likely to be viewed as a violation of trust.

The BrightCanary Keyboard looks and behaves like the default keyboard on your child’s iPhone or iPad. It won’t interrupt their experience on their iPhone. Note if you’re on the Text Message Plus plan: After setting up BrightCanary text message monitoring, your child's iCloud account may receive an email from Apple indicating that a device has logged into their account (that’s us).

We encourage parents to maintain open communication and a partnership with their child. Make it clear that monitoring is a condition of your child using their device, and the level of supervision they need will change as they grow older and demonstrate greater responsibility.

How do I set up a Google/YouTube account to connect with BrightCanary?

Follow our easy setup guide here.

Can I share BrightCanary with my spouse/co-parent?

Yes. When you create an account with BrightCanary, you have access to Family Viewing. This feature allows you to share BrightCanary with another parent or guardian.

How does Family Viewing work?

With BrightCanary, you can invite another parent or guardian to monitor your child’s activity. Viewers can’t make account changes, but they’ll receive reports just like you. Family Viewing is a free feature.

Do I need another subscription for each of my children?

No, one subscription to BrightCanary will cover your whole family.

I got a new phone. Do I need to buy a new subscription?

Nope! Just re-download BrightCanary from the App Store. You may need to re-connect your child’s accounts. If you run into any trouble, please email us at support@brightcanary.io for help.

Does the BrightCanary app monitor text messages on iPhone and iPad?

Yes. You’ll be able to monitor the text messages your child sends on Apple devices and view summaries of their activity. Text Message Plus subscribers can also view images and videos they send and receive via text, deleted messages, and group chats.

Can I see my child’s contacts?

You can see who is texting your child, but you won’t be able to view their entire contact list. However, if you have Apple Screen Time enabled, you can view, edit, add, or remove your child’s contacts. Here’s how to do it.

Can I see deleted text messages?

Yes, Text Message Plus subscribers can see deleted texts within the chat thread, marked as "deleted.” This feature is not available with our Protection plan.

How often are text messages updated?

Texts are processed in real time on both the Protection and Text Message Plus plans.

Does BrightCanary only monitor iPhone messages? Or does it show all iMessage and SMS texts, including from Android phones?

BrightCanary monitors all text messages your child sends, whether they’re texting Apple or Android users. Text Message Plus subscribers can see full text conversations, including texts from Android users.

I’m not seeing all the text messages that my child has sent or received.

For Protection plan users: You can monitor the texts your child sends, but not the ones they receive. If BrightCanary isn’t collecting any data, make sure that the BrightCanary Keyboard is still enabled on your child’s device as the default keyboard. If the Keyboard is enabled but the app isn’t updating, reach out to our support team using the button in the BrightCanary app (or email support@brightcanary.io). For Text Message Plus users: Text message monitoring relies on an Apple feature called Text Message Forwarding. If you haven’t seen messages in a few days, there are a couple of possible causes.

Ensure that Text Message Forwarding is on. You can check this setting on your child’s phone by opening the Settings app, then tapping Messages and Text Message Forwarding. Make sure the BrightCanary server is set to “on.”
Disable Messages in iCloud. This feature can delay how quickly BrightCanary is able to update messages. Follow these steps to disable Messages in iCloud.
Make sure your child hasn’t changed the password for their Apple ID.
Check to make sure they have not removed the BrightCanary server from the list of devices with access to their Apple ID information. This list is found by opening Settings on their device, then tapping iCloud (their name) at the top of the screen. Scroll down, and you should see a list of devices with access to their Apple ID, including their iPhone and/or iPad, as well as a BrightCanary server.

If you do not see a BrightCanary server in the list, email support@brightcanary.io for help getting things set up again.

Can I monitor my child’s text messages if they have an Android phone?

Currently, BrightCanary does not support text message monitoring for kids on Android devices.

Does BrightCanary work if my child uses iOS? Android? A computer?

Our keyboard-based monitoring system requires that your child uses an iPhone or iPad. For kids who exclusively use an Apple Watch, we recommend using our Text Message Plus plan to monitor text messages. We don’t currently support monitoring on Android devices or computers.

Does my child know if I’m using BrightCanary?

They won’t receive any BrightCanary notifications, and the BrightCanary Keyboard looks and behaves like the default keyboard on your child’s iPhone or iPad. However, we recommend using BrightCanary in collaboration with your child, maintaining transparency and open communication about safe device use and boundaries. Note: If you set up Google or YouTube monitoring or Text Message Plus monitoring, your child will receive some notifications during account setup, like sign-in attempt alerts. After that, BrightCanary won’t send any notifications to your child or interfere with their phone use.

Does BrightCanary monitor Snapchat? TikTok? Discord? Roblox?

Yes. BrightCanary monitors the text your child types on Snapchat, TikTok, Discord, Roblox, and all the other apps they use, including messages and comments. We don’t currently monitor the content that appears on their feeds. Text Message Plus users can view the texts their child sends and receives, as well as images, videos, deleted texts, and group chats.

Can I see activity from YouTube Kids?

Yes, BrightCanary monitors YouTube Kids. For the most accurate monitoring, ensure your child is logged into their Google account when they’re browsing YouTube Kids.

Will BrightCanary report on incognito mode?

Yes. When the BrightCanary Keyboard is enabled, BrightCanary will monitor your child’s activity in web browsers, including incognito mode. Remember: BrightCanary doesn’t replace regular check-ins and conversations about online safety.

Will my child be able to use a VPN to bypass BrightCanary?

No. Our keyboard-based monitoring technology is different from other parental monitoring apps and cannot be bypassed using a VPN.

What is 2-factor authentication and why does signing into iMessage ask for it?

For Text Message Plus subscribers: Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a secure way for companies like Apple to protect accounts. When attempting to log into an iCloud account, such as connecting your child's iMessage account to BrightCanary, Apple will send a code to your child's iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch. When you set up text monitoring with Text Message Plus, you need to enter this code into the BrightCanary app to continue the login process. In addition to your child's iCloud password, this code verifies to Apple that the login attempt is coming from you or your child.

How does BrightCanary work with Apple Screen Time or Google Family Link?

BrightCanary is a great companion for Apple Screen Time and Google Family Link, and we encourage every parent to consider using those free tools to help maintain a safe and healthy relationship between your child and their favorite apps. Screen Time and Family Link can show you how much time your child spends on Instagram, but BrightCanary can let you know if they’re texting something concerning.

Help me configure Apple Screen Time on my child's iOS device.

Apple Screen Time is a free tool on iOS and MacOS devices to set up rules on when your child can use apps and websites on their device. It also allows you to block adult-oriented websites from their device. Learn how to set up parental controls on your child’s iPhone.

Help me configure Google Family Link on my child's Android device.

Google Family Link is a free tool on Android and on ChromeOS devices to set up rules on when your child can use apps and websites on their device. It also allows you to block inappropriate websites from their device. AndroidAuthority has a great tutorial on how to set up Google Family Link for your child.

Help me configure Microsoft Family Safety for my child’s Windows computer and/or Xbox.

Microsoft Family Safety is a great tool for users of Windows PCs and Xbox that lets parents set up rules on when your child can use apps, websites, and games, and who they can communicate with on Xbox Live. Here’s Microsoft’s guide to setting up Family Safety.

Have a question we haven’t answered?

Reach out to us at support@brightcanary.io.