How to set up the BrightCanary Keyboard

To start monitoring your child’s activity across every app they use, you’ll need to install the BrightCanary Keyboard on their device. This secure keyboard helps you stay informed, and the one-time setup is easy.

You’ll need:

• Your iPhone with the BrightCanary app installed
• Your child’s iPhone or iPad

Follow the steps below for a quick walkthrough.

1. Link your devices

On your phone (parent's device):

1. Open the BrightCanary app
2. Tap “Begin Setup”
3. You’ll see a 6-digit code

On your child’s device:

1. Open the BrightCanary app
2. Tap “This is a child’s device”
3. Enter the 6-digit code from your phone
4. Tap “Next”

2. Enable the BrightCanary Keyboard

This is how BrightCanary monitors what your child types across apps like Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, and Discord.

On your child’s device:

1. Tap “Open Settings” from inside the app
2. Tap Keyboards
3. Turn on BrightCanary Keyboard
4. Toggle “Allow Full Access” to ON

Can BrightCanary see my passwords or credit card info?

No. We designed the keyboard so that it cannot access password, credit card, URL, or email address fields.

Apple shows the same warning for all third-party keyboards, whether they have taken these precautions or not.

3. Delete all other keyboards, except Emoji

This step ensures BrightCanary works across every app your child uses.

1. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards
2. Tap Edit in the top right corner
3. Delete the English keyboard and any other existing keyboards, except Emoji

BrightCanary types and autocorrects just like any other keyboard. If you ever need to restore other keyboards, you can do that under “Add New Keyboard.” For the most accurate monitoring, we recommend keeping BrightCanary as the only active keyboard.

4. Keep BrightCanary on your child's device

This step is optional, but highly recommended to prevent your child from deleting the BrightCanary app.

Prevent your child from deleting the BrightCanary app

1. On your child’s device, go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions
2. Tap iTunes & App Store Purchases
3. Tap Deleting Apps > Don’t Allow

Heads up: To lock these settings and prevent your child from changing them, go back to Screen Time, then scroll to Restrictions. Tap Lock Screen Time Settings and set a unique passcode to secure your settings.

Remove BrightCanary from your child's home screen

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

If we stop receiving data from your child's device, we'll let you know so you can take a look at their settings.

🎉 That’s it! You’re all set. Once your child starts typing, you’ll see summaries and updates in your BrightCanary app.

Frequently asked questions

1. 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:

1. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard
2. Tap Keyboards > Add New Keyboard
3. Search for Emoji and add it
4. Double-check the list of keyboards and confirm your child has only installed the BrightCanary Keyboard and Emoji keyboard

2. My child installed a new keyboard.

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.

3. Why have keystrokes stopped working?

If your child deletes the BrightCanary app, deletes the BrightCanary Keyboard, or installs a new keyboard, BrightCanary won't be able to detect what they type.

4. How do I prevent my child from disabling the BrightCanary Keyboard?

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.

Still need help? Tap the Support button in the app or email us at support@brightcanary.io. We’re here for you.