Setting up the child app (Android)
How to install, pair and grant permissions to the SafeCircle Android app on your child's device.
The SafeCircle child app runs in the background on the child's Android phone. It doesn't show alerts to the child — everything goes to the parent dashboard. Setup takes a few minutes and has five screens, labelled SETUP 1 OF 5 to SETUP 5 OF 5.
The step counter in the app skips SETUP 3 OF 5: you go from step 2 straight to step 4. This is expected.
Requirements
- Android 11 or later
- An internet connection
- A pairing code (6 digits) or QR code from the dashboard — see parent dashboard setup
- Access to the Google Play internal testing track — see Join the beta
Install the app
On the child's phone, open the SafeCircle listing in Google Play and tap Install. On the phone the app is named SafeCircle Child.
During the beta the app is only visible to accounts in the SafeCircle Testers Google group that have opted in to the testing track. If you can't find it, see Join the beta.
The first time you open it, a Closed Beta screen asks you to confirm I'm a beta tester and won't share this app and I understand distribution is prohibited and may result in legal action. Tick both and tap Continue.
Read the privacy note
On SETUP 1 OF 5 (You're in good hands.), read the note: only a safety summary is sent, and the actual messages never leave the device. Tick I understand and agree, then tap Continue.
Pair with the parent dashboard
On SETUP 2 OF 5 (Connect with your parent.), choose how to pair:
- Scan QR code — scan the QR code shown in the dashboard.
- Enter 6-digit code — type the code manually in 6-digit code, then tap Confirm.
When pairing succeeds the app moves on, and the dashboard shows Device connected.
Pairing codes are valid for 5 minutes and work once. If one expires, generate a new one in the dashboard.
The screen also shows a Hold phones together (NFC) option. It isn't active yet — use the QR code or the 6-digit code.
Grant the permissions
On SETUP 4 OF 5 (Two quick permissions.):
- On Android 13 and later, tap Allow next to Notifications. The app uses notifications for download progress and its own status messages.
- Tap Open Settings to open Android's Accessibility settings, find SafeCircle Protection (the app calls it SafeCircle), tap it and enable the toggle.
- Come back to the app. It continues automatically as soon as it detects that the Accessibility Service is on.
Without the Accessibility Service the app can't see conversations and no alerts are sent. Android may turn the permission off after a reinstall — if the app asks again, enable it again. See Permissions.
Finish
On SETUP 5 OF 5 (Downloading your shield.) the app prepares its detection engine. When it's done it shows All set. and opens the status screen, which shows MONITORING ACTIVE and Protected.
The first time, the app starts in Basic mode, which scans for keywords and needs no download. To use the more accurate on-device AI model, see Basic mode and the AI model.
What the child sees
- The Home screen with the protection status, and a Settings screen. There is no alert list and no message history.
- A short notification while a model downloads, and — when a newer AI model is available — a SafeCircle update available notification.
- An entry named SafeCircle Protection in Android's Accessibility settings, which Android describes as monitoring conversations to detect safety risks and notify the parent.
Everything the app detects goes to the parent. Talk with your child about what is monitored and why before you set it up.
After setup
The app runs in the background; there is nothing to open day to day. Open it to check the status: MONITORING ACTIVE means protection is running. Settings lets you change the theme, see which detection mode is active and report a bug.
To stop monitoring, uninstall the app on the child's phone and revoke the device in the dashboard — see Children and devices. A reinstalled app has to be paired again with a new code.