How do we use video calling?

JoBruun · 2024-05-15T20:13:35+00:00

There was an error rendering this rich post.

Supposedly Gabb has a "Safe Video Calling" feature. How are we supposed to get that to work? Feeling a little frustrated not knowing how to facetime my child

Find more posts tagged with

GabbMessenger

SafeVideoCalling

Accepted answers

Robert Dean

Hi there Jo,

Sorry you're feeling frustrated. Never fun trying communicate with your child and not being able to. Here are steps and info on using Safe Video Calling:

Make sure your child is using a Gabb phone (Gabb Phone 3 Pro etc). Video calling is not available on Gabb watches at this time.
Make sure your child is logged into a Gabb ID inside the Gabb ID app on their device.
Download the Gabb Messenger Parent app (available for iOS on the App Store or Android in the Google Play Store). Login using your Gabb Account credentials - the same username and password you use when logging in online at gabb.com/account.
In the Gabb Messenger Parent app, tap Controls and toggle Safe Video Calling on or off.

The video call settings may take a few hours to sync but you can expedite this process by going to Settings > Troubleshooting > Sync Settings in your child's Gabb Messenger app on their device.

In addition to Safe Video Calling, the Gabb Messenger Parent app will notify you if high risk content (explicit images, links or harmful words from from unknown contacts etc) are being sent or received. For more info on features of Gabb Messenger see our Gabb Messenger product page.

-Bob

All comments

Robert Dean

Hi there Jo,

Sorry you're feeling frustrated. Never fun trying communicate with your child and not being able to. Here are steps and info on using Safe Video Calling:

Make sure your child is using a Gabb phone (Gabb Phone 3 Pro etc). Video calling is not available on Gabb watches at this time.
Make sure your child is logged into a Gabb ID inside the Gabb ID app on their device.
Download the Gabb Messenger Parent app (available for iOS on the App Store or Android in the Google Play Store). Login using your Gabb Account credentials - the same username and password you use when logging in online at gabb.com/account.
In the Gabb Messenger Parent app, tap Controls and toggle Safe Video Calling on or off.

The video call settings may take a few hours to sync but you can expedite this process by going to Settings > Troubleshooting > Sync Settings in your child's Gabb Messenger app on their device.

-Bob

joshua1980

YEs my child can video call like 8 people all the sudden and can video call me I would change some things but it's ok

RHagen

Hello! We recently got the Gabb Phone 4 for our daughter. Im the account owner and Im the only person with the option to video call. My wife downloaded the gabb messenger app but doesn't get the option. How do we get this to work?

Reagan - Gabb

Hello @RHagen

Your post was merged into this one as others have experienced a similar question.

Video calls can only be made to the Primary Contact and other Gabb Phones who have Gabb Messenger installed and enabled. If the contact does not have Gabb Messenger installed on their device your child will not be able to make video calls to that person. Children can make video calls to parents who have the Gabb Messenger Parent app installed on their smartphone.

Here are some troubleshooting steps to follow if you are unable to video call:

To/from a parent:

Make sure that your child has Gabb Messenger installed on their Gabb phone.
Download the Gabb Messenger Parent app on your smartphone.
Make sure your child is logged into their GabbID app & connected to WiFi.
Use the Gabb Messenger Parent app to make a video call to your child:
- Open the Gabb Messenger Parent app on your smartphone.
- Select the video camera icon at the top of the screen.
- Select the video camera icon next to the child you want to call.

To/from another child:

Make sure that both your child and the recipient have Gabb Messenger installed on a Gabb phone.
Make sure that a parent has enabled video calling for each child. This must be done from the Gabb Messenger Parent app.
Add the contact as an approved contact (if applicable).
Make sure both kids are logged in to their GabbID & connected to WiFi.

Hope this helps!

-Reagan

RHagen

We have tried all of the above but the option still does not pop up to video call from my wifes. It also doesn't give the option on the Gabb phone

Reagan - Gabb

Hi @RHagen,

Please note that video calls can only be made to the Primary Contact (not a Guardian contact) and other Gabb Phones who have Gabb Messenger. Approved contacts that are not Gabb Phones are unable to video call at this time.

Sorry for any confusion! Our team is working to make this a possibility in the future.

Thank you!

-Reagan

Psch0813

I'm the primary contact and yet cannot video call my child. When he calls, it will pop up on my phone. I hit the button to answer and nothing happens. My phone acts like it is connected but it's not and it continues to ring on my child's phone.

Reagan - Gabb

@Psch0813,

Sorry to hear you're experiencing some trouble with the video calling. Here are some troubleshooting steps to follow:

Update Parent Messenger app
1. Ensure your Parent Messenger app is on the most recent update in the Apple Store or Google Play Store
2. You can delete and redownload the app to force an update
Sync your device
1. Ensure your child’s device is logged into Gabb ID.
2. Make sure your child’s device is connected to WiFi or data.
3. Open the Gabb Messenger app on the child’s device.
4. Navigate to Settings > Troubleshooting > Sync Settings

Please note, it can take up to 4 hours for the child’s device to sync with the parent app for the first time. Manually syncing through the troubleshooting menu can expedite this process.

Hope these troubleshooting steps help!

-Reagan

User42

New user here, and I am a little confused. I see from a previous thread that it’s still a ‘work in progress’ to allow Gabb phones to Facetime with Guardian accounts. We only have 1 phone.

Does that mean these phones can technically only make video calls with 1 person? their primary acct?

I was under the assumption my child’s friends could download a Gabb app (from their app stores), and then Facetime together. That was how the safe video call feature was explained to me. Is this not the case?

Is there a roadmap for when these key features will be implemented? thanks.

Reagan - Gabb

Hello @user42

Great questions! At this time, video calls can only be made to the Primary Contact and other Gabb Phone users who have Gabb Messenger downloaded. We hope to expand of this feature in the future.

You can learn more about video calling in Gabb Messenger here in our Help Article:

https://gabb.com/support/software/gabb-messenger-user-guide/#h-safe-video-calling-on-gabb-messenger

Hope this information helps!

-Reagan

Jkltg915

My kid only having the capability to video chat me and not my husband while he’s on shift or her grandparents or any friends is disappointing. None of her typical friends have a gabb and none of her grandparents have a gabb. We got this phone due to the video chat option only to find out that I’m the only one who can video chat her which is totally unnecessary since I’m with her all of the time. She is 14 with Down syndrome and knows she is missing out but can’t have a phone conversation clearly without someone seeing her and she can’t text well yet. She was so excited to get a phone and be like her peers only to wind up with a $30/month camera. I’m hoping my feedback for the capabilities for the special needs community is considered. Sure I could get my kid an iPhone and make this possible but then a world that she shouldn’t be exposed to would be at her fingertips. Please pass the info along. I’ll be checking if the bark phone has this capability currently. I’d like to stay with gabb since I’ve been with them since the beginning but if it no longer fulfills the needs of our family we’ll have to switch.

Gabb Product

Hello all!

Great news! You can now make and receive safe video calls from friends and family who have Gabb Messenger installed on their phone! The Gabb Messenger is available to download from the Apple App Store & Google Play Store. Your child must send a one-time link to their friend or family member with an invite to join Gabb Messenger. They can only send a link to someone who is already a contact. Learn how to Manage Contacts HERE👈

For parents

The parent experience will remain the same. The Gabb Messenger Parent app will now be called Gabb Messenger. Download & log in to the updated Gabb Messenger app on your smartphone using your existing credentials (not your child’s). This allows you to have access to all of the Gabb Messenger parental controls. Enable Safe Video Calling by following these steps:

Open Gabb Messenger (on parent phone)
Select Controls (bottom right corner)
Toggle Save Video Calling on
Follow the message with the Sync Settings steps on the Gabb Phone

For kids

Kids can send a one-time link to friends & family to invite them to use Safe Video Calling on Gabb Messenger. This person must already be a contact in your child’s phone.

Here’s how to send a link to a friend or family member:

Open the Gabb Messenger app on your Gabb Phone
Select Contacts
Select the blue video camera icon next to the contact you want to send a Safe Video Calling invite.
1. The camera icon will have a link icon in it. This indicates contacts where Safe Video Calling is currently locked. These are the contacts you’ll need to send an invitation to.
Send the link to your contact. They must click this link to accept your invitation to Gabb Messenger Safe Video Calling.

After the friend or family member completes the sign-up process your child will be able to make or receive Safe Video Calls to/from that contact.

For friends & family

Follow these steps to sign up for Gabb Messenger as a friend or family member after receiving the one-time link from the child:

Click the one-time link sent by the child.
Download the Gabb Messenger app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Open Gabb Messenger and select Continue.
Enter & verify your phone number. We’ll send you a code via text message. Enter this code into the Gabb Messenger app.
Enter your first & last name, then select Next.
Take a selfie, then select Next.
Select I understand to agree to our safety monitoring, then select Accept.
Enter the child’s contact details.
Select the blue video camera icon to start a Safe Video Call.

You can learn more in our Help Article HERE👈 We hope you are as excited about this as we are!

-Gabb Product Team

Ember123

I’m a teenager and my boyfriend has a gabb phone while I have an iphone, i would like to video call him while we play minecraft so i can actually see his face and hear his voice. I downloaded the gabb messenger app but it doesn’t show that he invited me when he has multiple times, i’ve reached out the support people and they haven’t gotten back to me after a week. every time i log into the gabb messenger app it tells me i need a gabb contact to invite me, i just wanna play minecraft with him 😭😭😭 please parents of this website help an innocent gay teenager in need thank you!!!!!! the first photo is a screenshot of what shows when i log into the app and the second one is what shows when he tries to invite me. again thank you!!!!!

Reagan - Gabb

Hi @Ember123,

Your post was merged into this one as others have asked a similar question! The steps and Help Article to help answer your question are posted above your comment from @Gabb Product. Check it out!

-Reagan

BenDunlap

My daughter and her cousin have Gabb phones. They have each tried sending the other the invite link to a video call, but when either one taps the video link in Gabb Messenger, nothing happens.

So we tried having her cousin send me an invite link so my daughter could do a video call with her using my Android phone. I do have Gabb Messenger and I am able to video-call my daughter's Gabby phone. But when I tap the invite link from her cousin, I am sent to the Google Play app. When I click Open to launch Gabb Messenger, the app just opens and nothing else happens.

How can we get Gabb-to-Gabb video calling working?

Reagan - Gabb

Hi @BenDunlap,

Thank you for sharing this experience. We'd love to help clarify to make this a smoother experience. When two Gabb Phones are trying to video call each other, the invite link is not part of the process. The invite link is only for the Friends & Family experience who are non-Gabb Phone users. Video calling between two Gabb users, can do so by following these steps:

Ensure the Gabb Phone numbers are approved contacts on both Gabb Phones.
Ensure both Gabb Phones are logged into Gabb ID.
Confirm that video calling is enabled for each Gabb Phone through the parent Gabb Messenger app.
- Select Controls (bottom right corner)
- Toggle Save Video Calling on
- Follow the message with the Sync Settings steps on the Gabb Phone

Our team has been made aware of the experience regarding attempting to video call between the parent phone and friends Gabb Phone. Update on this will be posted to this thread as soon as we have received word. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

-Reagan

JustinErwin

How do i verify my phone number on gabb messenger so i cam video call my son? There’s always this error the code entered is not correct ?

Reagan - Gabb

Hi @JustinErwin,

Sorry to see you're having some trouble getting logged into the Gabb Messenger app from the invitation to Video Call. To troubleshoot this, please follow these steps:

Delete the Gabb Messenger app from your parent phone
Re-Download the Gabb Messenger app to your parent phone
Have the Gabb Phone user re-send the Video Call invite

Hope this helps!

-Reagan

Akcarl1

I just got the phone daughter. We have added contacts and I have approved them from the gab parent app. We know that each contact has to download Gabb Messenger on their phone in order to make video calls. On my daughter’s phone, There is no video icon next to any of the contacts. So there is no way for my daughter to send the contacts a link for them to connect with her for the video chat. Please advise.

Reagan - Gabb

Hi @Akcarl1,

Sorry to hear you're experiencing some trouble with the video calling feature on your Gabb Phone 4. Your post was merged into this one as others might experience a similar issue and can look at these troubleshooting steps for assistance.

Since your Gabb Phone 4 is not displaying the video link icon in Gabb Messenger, here are a few troubleshooting steps to help:

Check for multiple Gabb ID profiles in parent MyAccount
1. Log into your MyAccount at Gabb.com
2. Select Dashboard
3. Select View Details
4. Ensure only one Gabb ID username is assigned to the line
Ensure your Gabb Phone 4 is logged into Gabb ID
1. Open the Gabb ID app on the Gabb Phone 4 and ensure you are logged in
Reset to the Gabb Phone 4:
1. Open Settings App -> System -> Reset Options -> Reset Wifi & Bluetooth
2. Open Settings App -> System -> Reset Options -> Reset App Preferences -> Reset Apps
3. Open Settings App -> System -> Reset Options -> RESET SETTINGS
Sync Gabb Messenger Settings on Gabb Phone 4:
1. Open Gabb Messenger on Gabb Phone 4
2. Select Settings in the bottom right corner
3. Select Troubleshooting
4. Select Sync Settings

If you are still not seeing the video calling link after following these steps, please contact our Customer Support by Live-Chat through www.gabb.com, or by phone call at 385.235.6646 Monday-Friday from 7:00 a.m-6:30 p.m., MT or Saturday from 7:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. MT. They can look further into your account to see if further troubleshooting is necessary.

Thank you!

-Reagan

Heatdem16

Let me start off with, I understand technology and am not challenged. I have done all the troubleshooting this entire thread has suggested. We are both signed in, I have the app, both up to date, blah blah blah. I am the primary contact. The lock is no longer on the video icon and I have enabled video calling (days ago). When he goes to call me it will ring and come through, I go to answer and it won't connect. Then when you try to do it again, the video icon is no longer blue, it's grey. Or says video chat not available. I've tried video calling from my phone, no avail. I've restarted both phones, and like I said, I've tried all trouble shooting this thread offers. Help!

Neva

My daughter and her friend were video calling when it randomly stopped and said that it was terminated and video call option was on pause. It also said that the parent can fix it but I can't figure out how. How do I unpause my daughters video call option?

Quick Links

Gabb Help Center

Explore articles and tutorials to answer your product questions.

Visit Help Center

Gabb Status Page

Information about issues, planned maintenance and their status.

Visit Status Page