How Does BrightCanary Work? Setting Up the Best Parental Monitoring App for iPhone

Giving your child their first phone is a big step, and staying connected to their digital world is just as important. That’s why we built BrightCanary: a smarter, safer way to help parents guide, protect, and connect with their child across every app they use.

But how does BrightCanary actually work? In this guide, we’ll cover how to set up BrightCanary and what makes it the best parental monitoring app for iPhone users. Let’s dive in.

BrightCanary at a glance

BrightCanary uses a secure keyboard on your child’s iPhone or iPad to monitor what they type across apps like:

• Snapchat
• TikTok
• Instagram
• Discord
• Text messages (iMessage + SMS)
• Roblox, Reddit, WhatsApp, Pinterest, and more

You can also add your child’s Google account to monitor their activity across Google search and YouTube. If they encounter anything concerning, we’ll let you know.

Unlike other apps, BrightCanary doesn’t require you to guess which apps your child uses. If they type in it, we help you monitor it. 

How BrightCanary works

BrightCanary uses a secure iOS keyboard to capture what your child types — no passwords required for most apps. This allows us to monitor content across multiple platforms, while also taking steps to preserve your child’s privacy.

Here’s why parents love BrightCanary:

• Monitor what your child types in messages, DMs, comments, and search fields
• View AI-generated summaries of key conversations and emotional tone
• Get alerts for content related to bullying, self-harm, drugs, explicit messages, and more
• With Text Message Plus, you can also monitor full text message threads, including received texts, images, videos, and deleted messages

Did you know? BrightCanary's keyboard never captures passwords or sensitive login data. And unlike other monitoring solutions, you don’t have to plug your child’s phone into your computer or sync with your home WiFi network. 

How to set up BrightCanary

You’ll need your phone and your child’s iPhone or iPad for this one-time setup.

1. Create your child’s profile

• On your phone, create your child’s account with their name and birthdate
• Tap “Begin setup” to begin Keyboard setup
• You’ll see a 6-digit code

2. Link your child’s device

• On your child’s device, open BrightCanary
• Tap “This is a child’s device”
• Enter the code from your phone

3. Install the BrightCanary Keyboard

• On your child’s phone, follow the prompt to open iOS Settings
• Tap Keyboards and enable BrightCanary Keyboard
• Toggle Allow Full Access ON

For best results, make BrightCanary the default keyboard and delete all other keyboards (except Emoji). This helps ensure consistent monitoring across all apps.

How to set up Google and YouTube monitoring

This feature tracks search history, video views, and concerning content. Here’s how to set it up.

If they already have a Google account:

1. Tap “Connect.” Sign into your child’s Google account with their email address and password. 
2. Google may ask you to enter a security code. Enter the code when prompted.

If you don’t know your child’s logins, here’s how to ask for their passwords.

If you need to set up a Google account:

1. Tap “Need to create a Google account.” They’ll use this account for both Google search and YouTube.
2. Tap “Create a Google Account” and hit “Continue.”
3. Enter your child’s name and birthdate.
4. Create your child’s email address. Google will recommend a few available addresses, or you can create a custom address.
5. Choose a strong password. 
6. Enter your phone number so Google can send a verification code.
7. Log into your email account to verify that you are the parent managing your child’s Google account. Google may request to verify your account with a push notification or security code.

That’s it! Once you’ve created their Google account, make sure your child uses this information to log into Google and YouTube on their devices. Sometimes, Google's Additional Verification feature prevents BrightCanary from syncing data. Here's how to disable it.

It’s easier to monitor your child’s activity when they have their own Google account. For example, if they use your account to watch YouTube and you sync it with BrightCanary, our app might flag your activity.

If you haven’t already, this is a great opportunity to talk to them about how and why you’re using BrightCanary to keep them safe online. A digital device contract can help lay out rules and expectations for both of you.

How to set up Text Message Plus

You have two options to monitor text messages with BrightCanary. On our Protection plan, you can monitor all the text messages your child sends, and we’ll flag anything concerning in their texts. 

If you want more insights, upgrade to Text Message Plus. This plan gives you:

• Full visibility into the texts your child receives
• The ability to view images and videos
• Deleted text access and group chat information
• Plus all the features available on the Protection plan

We recommend Text Message Plus for kids who primarily use their Apple Watch to communicate with friends and family.

How to set it up:

You’ll need your device and your child’s device. 

1. On your device, enter your child’s Apple ID (the account info they use for iTunes and iCloud).
2. Approve the sign-in request that appears on your child’s device.
3. Enter their two-factor authentication code if prompted.

That’s it! New text messages may take a few hours to appear at first, and then you’ll start monitoring in real time.

To upgrade, tap Text Message Plus on your dashboard. 

Inside the BrightCanary app

We designed the BrightCanary app to give parents detailed insights about their child’s activity. Here are some things you can do, all from your phone.

Dashboard

Get an overview of what your child is typing and searching, all in one place. Any concerning content is flagged at the top of the dashboard. You’ll also see recent activity, interests, emotional insights, and topics you might want to discuss with your child.

Concerning content

We use AI to detect red flags, such as suicidal comments, drug content, and explicit messages. You’ll be able to view anything we detect and the app on which it occurred. 

Latest Keyboard input

View a transcript of your child’s latest keystrokes and the app they used.

Interests

Whether your child is talking about a new TV series or using slang they picked up online, you’ll get a summary of their interests and pop culture chats in this section.

Emotions

Get detailed summaries of your child’s emotional state based on their activity. You can even tap the quotes to see more context.

Ask the Canary

Not sure how to bring something up? Our built-in AI parenting coach gives you instant, age-appropriate advice on tricky topics like sexting, bullying, and more.

What makes BrightCanary different?

• Monitors every app your child uses on iOS — no need to guess where your child is spending time
• Works on iPhones and iPads
• Supports multilingual keyboards
• Doesn’t require additional setup after one-time Keyboard installation
• Compatible with Apple Watch with Text Message Plus
• Gives you peace of mind, without having to read every message

How to talk to your child about monitoring 

Monitoring should be a partnership, not a punishment. Here’s how to introduce BrightCanary to your child: 

• Frame it as safety, not spying. 
• Be honest about why you’re using it. 
• Make BrightCanary a condition of device use. If their child wants their own phone, they agree to parental monitoring.
• Let them know you respect their privacy, and show them how the app’s summaries can spark healthy, helpful conversations 

You can also use our free Digital Device Contract to help set expectations together

Ready to try BrightCanary? Download BrightCanary from the App Store and start your free trial today. Setup takes just a few minutes — and you’ll gain real peace of mind for years to come.

Frequently asked questions

How does BrightCanary work on iPhone?

Unlike other parental monitoring apps, BrightCanary was designed for iOS devices. That means we show features that other apps don’t, like full text message conversations and the messages your child sends on apps like Snapchat and Discord. Here’s how BrightCanary compares on Apple devices.

Does my child know if I’m using BrightCanary?

You need your child’s device during setup, but unlike other child safety apps, we don’t slow down your child’s phone performance. However, we recommend that parents use BrightCanary in collaboration with their kids. 

Explain why you’re using BrightCanary, how you’ll use it, and why it’s important to help keep them safe. Some of our parents make BrightCanary monitoring a requirement if a child wants their own phone and add it to their family’s digital device contract.

Is BrightCanary legit?

Yup. We’re real people with families behind this app! BrightCanary was founded in 2022. Based in Seattle, we’re a small team of parents who want to help parents guide, protect, and connect with their kids as they learn how to navigate the digital world. Learn more about our story.

Check out more questions at our FAQ.

The bottom line

Parenting in the digital age can feel like an uphill battle. Fortunately, parental monitoring apps like BrightCanary are tools you can add to your parenting toolbox. And a growing number of experts recommend monitoring your child’s online accounts, from the American Psychological Association to the U.S. Surgeon General. 

Remember, parental monitoring is just one piece of the puzzle — it’s just as important to have regular conversations with your child about their online activity and how to handle what they see online. 

Download the BrightCanary app from the App Store today and start your free trial!

For more parenting tips, here’s how to help your child use social media responsibly. Subscribe to our newsletter for parenting news, advice, and resources twice a month.