Guides
Getting Started
Parent Dashboard vs. Child App
Parents use the web Dashboard (phone, tablet, or computer) to set limits, lock devices, and view play time. Children use the native GamerGuard app on their device. It enforces session locks, daily limits, and bedtime — using Apple Screen Time on iOS and usage monitoring on Android.
Your First 5 Minutes
1. Create a Family Circle and add a child profile. 2. Go to Devices → Add New Device and generate a 6-digit code. 3. Open GamerGuard on your child's device and enter the code. 4. Grant permissions (Screen Time on iOS; Usage access + overlay on Android). 5. Edit the device to set daily limits and optional bedtime.
After an App Update
Force-close GamerGuard on parent and child devices, then reopen to load the latest dashboard. On iOS, if blocking or sync still feels wrong after a web update, rebuild and reinstall the child app from Xcode — native Screen Time code is bundled in the app, not loaded from the web.
Smart Monitoring
Viewing Daily Play Time
On Devices, each card shows Today's play: minutes used, daily limit, and a progress bar. The parent sees time used (e.g. 36 min of 2h). The child app shows time left today as the big number — same data, opposite labels. Dashboard → Analytics shows trends by child over seven days. There is no live per-app breakdown (e.g. Roblox vs. Minecraft) on the parent dashboard today.
Remote Lock & Emergency Stop
Lock one device: Devices → Lock on the device card. Lock all children: Dashboard → Emergency Stop (top right). Games should stop within a few seconds. This is not a timed "pause until dinner" — tap Unlock or turn off Emergency Stop when you are ready. On iOS, allow notifications on the child app for the fastest lock while they are in another game.
How Gaming Sessions Work
By default the child device is session locked — games are blocked. The child enters their session PIN (if set) to unlock and start playing. Time counts against their daily limit while the session is active. They can End Session in the app, or you can Lock them remotely. Optional sleep lock ends the session when the screen turns off.
Daily Limits & Bedtime
Devices → Edit (pencil) → Limits: weekday/weekend minutes and optional "not before" start time. Edit → Bedtime: downtime window (e.g. 9 PM – 7 AM). Dashboard → Schedules: rules for which days and times gaming is allowed. Bonus minutes from fulfilled rewards apply for today only and expire at midnight.
iOS vs. Android
iOS requires picking apps in Apple's Screen Time picker inside GamerGuard (shield icon on the child device). Usage while gaming updates in ~5 minute steps — Apple's Screen Time granularity. Android requires Usage access and Display over other apps; you may see a persistent "GamerGuard is Active" notification while monitoring runs.
Family Circles
5-Step Circle Setup
1. Family Circles → Create Circle. 2. Add Child (name, optional session PIN for unlocking play). 3. Devices → Add New Device → 6-digit code on the child app (not on the circle page). 4. Settings → Family Security → Parent Passcode (for changing managed apps on iOS). 5. Devices → Edit for limits/bedtime; Settings → Content Safety and the iOS app picker for blocked games.
What Is a Family Circle?
A private group of parents and child profiles. Circles hold missions, rewards, co-parent invites, circle-wide content rules, and Emergency Stop for every linked device. Physical devices are paired separately under Devices and assigned to a child.
Child Profiles & Session PIN
Add Child creates a profile with auto-generated avatar, points, and optional maturity level. Optional 4-digit session PIN: the child enters it on their device to start a gaming session. This is not the Parent Passcode. Assign each linked device to a child in Devices → Edit.
Session PIN vs. Parent Passcode
Session PIN (set in Add Child): child unlocks a gaming session. Parent Passcode (Settings → Family Security): required on the child device when a parent changes which apps are managed in the iOS Screen Time picker. Remote lock, limits, and Emergency Stop use the web Dashboard — not the Parent Passcode on the child phone.
Missions, Points & Bonus Time
Kids do not only play when they earn missions. You set daily limits; missions earn points and fulfilled rewards add bonus minutes for that day only. Verify missions on Dashboard → Missions; Fulfill redemptions on Dashboard → Rewards. Badges and streaks update when you verify missions.
Circle Settings (Gear Menu)
On a circle card, open the gear icon: Content Filters, Purchase Approvals, Social Controls, and Privacy & Invites. Content filters align with Settings → Content Safety. Purchase and social settings are stored as circle preferences — enforcement varies by platform. Native parent app may also offer Select Apps to Block.
Inviting Other Parents
Family Circles → Invite Adult. The invitee must already have a GamerGuard account. Co-parents share missions, rewards, device locks, and Emergency Stop. Privacy & Invites controls whether only the Owner or all members can send invites.
Emergency Stop
Dashboard → Emergency Stop locks every child device in the circle within a few seconds. Use it when all gaming must stop now. Lock one device only: Devices → Lock. Turn Emergency Stop off when normal rules should apply again.
Privacy & Invites
Family Circles → gear → Privacy & Invites: private invite-only circles and invite policy (owner-only vs. all members). GamerGuard does not read messages, track GPS, or sell family usage data. There is no parent toggle for per-app live history — you see daily totals on Devices.
Linked Devices
Pairing a Device
Devices → Add New Device → name the device → copy the 6-digit code. On the child device, open GamerGuard and enter the code before it expires. Once paired, the app remembers the device and opens the Child Dashboard automatically.
Content Safety & Blocked Apps
Settings → Content Safety: blocked app IDs for the whole circle and web filter level (strict / moderate / none). Devices → Edit → Apps: device-specific restricted apps. On iOS you must also select apps in the Screen Time picker on the child device — Apple only allows blocking apps you explicitly choose.
How Blocking Works
When locked (session lock, parent Lock, Emergency Stop, bedtime, or daily limit reached), GamerGuard applies OS-level shields on iOS or blocking overlays on Android for managed apps. GamerGuard itself stays accessible so the child can enter a PIN or you can recover settings.
Online & Last Synced
Each device card shows Active if it checked in within the last 15 minutes, plus last synced time. If a device stays Offline, open GamerGuard on the child device and confirm Wi‑Fi and permissions.
Missions & Rewards
Creating Missions
Dashboard → Missions: assign chores like homework or cleaning. Children mark them complete; you verify to award points.
Extra Screen Time Rewards
Children redeem points for rewards in the child app. You Fulfill pending redemptions on Dashboard → Rewards to grant bonus minutes for today — they expire at midnight and do not carry over.
FAQ
Pair device → Devices → Add New Device.
Lock all children → Dashboard → Emergency Stop.
Parent passcode → Settings → Family Security.