To manage your family's mobile iOS and Android devices when they leave the home, you must install and set up the Circle Parental Controls app onto those devices. This article will show you how to do this for both iOS and Android devices.
Watch the video below to get started. If you need a bit more help, we've written out more detailed instructions further down with the steps to follow if you're running into trouble.
Minimum requirements for setting up the Circle Parental Control app
The Circle app can only be installed on iOS and Android devices and must meet the minimum system requirements noted below:
- iOS devices must run iOS version 11 or greater
- Android devices must run version 6.0 or greater
Note: Chromebooks and Amazon Kindle Fire devices will not be able to install the Circle Parental Controls app, but instead should be managed using Circle Home Plus at home.
You can see our complete requirements here.
Get started in the "Parent" app
You can add a mobile "Kid" device to a Profile on Circle when you set up their family member profile in Circle or after setup from that family member's profile settings. In either case, once the device is enrolled, a secure VPN (or "Virtual Private Network") will be created on the device so that it can be managed wherever it goes.
To start the setup process after setting up your family members' profiles:
- Open your Circe Parental Controls app on your "Parent" device.
- Select the family member who will be using the device you want to register, and tap Devices,
- At the bottom of the devices screen for that profile, tap Add mobile device.
- You will see the screen below. Follow the in-app steps from here.
- When you get to a screen asking you to scan a QR code, be sure to allow Camera permission if prompted. If you accidentally decline permission for the Circle app to use your Camera, go to your Parent device's settings to allow them.
- The installation steps from here will depend on whether you are setting up an iOS or Android kid device. Use the correct section below to proceed.
Adding Circle to an iOS "Kid" device
- Download the Circle Parental Controls app on the kid device.
- Open the app and tap Get Started.
- Accept the terms and conditions.
- Tap Set up kid app and proceed through the prompts until the phone displays a QR Code.
- In the Parent app, go to the appropriate profile, tap Devices >> Add mobile device.
- Tap Continue and scan the QR code displayed on the kid device with the parent device.
- In the parent app, tap Add mobile device and Finish.
- In the kid app, tap Install VPN >> Allow, and enter the phone's passcode if requested.
- Continue through the prompts, tapping Continue and Allow when appropriate. Be sure to allow the Circle app to send notifications and use location services to ensure that Circle features will work properly on that device.
Adding Circle to an Android "Kid" device
- Download the Circle Parental Controls app on the kid device.
- Open the app and tap Get Started.
- Accept the terms and conditions.
- Tap Set up kid app and proceed through the prompts until the phone displays a QR Code.
- In the Parent app, go to the appropriate profile, tap Devices >> Add mobile device.
- Tap Continue and scan the QR code displayed on the kid device with the parent device.
- In the parent app, tap Add device and Finish.
- In the kid app, tap Continue, Install Local VPN, and Activate.
- Continue through the prompts, tapping Continue and Allow when appropriate. Be sure to allow the Circle app to send notifications and use location services to ensure that Circle features will work properly on that device.
- Finish by tapping Let's Go!
And that's it! The mobile device can now be managed from this Profile.
Quick Note: If you are seeing the same device listed twice after installing the Circle app and VPN on a mobile device, there's no need to worry. Circle will combine those entries soon! Learn more about this here.
Managing Devices at Home
If you want to manage your in-home devices, like an Xbox or a laptop, you'll need to install a Circle Home Plus device on your home Wi-Fi. There is no need to install the Circle app on those Wi-Fi devices, just Circle Home Plus!
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