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Gabb Messenger for Kids

Gabb Messenger for kids lets your child send texts, voice messages, pics, & Safe Video Calls. Manage contacts, requests, blocking, & more.

Updated yesterday

What is Gabb Messenger for kids? 📨

➡️ This article covers how to use the Gabb Messenger app for kids. If you want to learn about how to use Gabb Messenger on a parent’s smartphone, check out this article.

Gabb Messenger is the default texting app on all Gabb phones, allowing your child to connect with friends & family in a safe environment. Your child can send text messages, group texts, emojis, voice messages, pictures, & videos using Gabb Messenger.

Kids can also make Safe Video Calls to contacts who also have Gabb Messenger installed on their iOS or Android phone.

Setting up Gabb Messenger ⚙️

Add a contact 👥

Follow these steps to add a contact on your Gabb phone:

  1. Open the Gabb Messenger app on the Gabb phone.

  2. Tap Contacts at the bottom of the screen.

  3. Tap the person icon 👤 in the upper-right corner.

  4. Fill out the contact’s information, then tap Save.

Select the Favorites icon ⭐ at the bottom of the screen to add this contact to your Favorites list.

Send a text message 📨

To send a text message from your Gabb phone, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Gabb Messenger app on the Gabb phone.

  2. Tap Messages at the bottom of the screen.

  3. Tap the pencil icon ✏️ in the upper-right corner.

  4. Tap on the contact you want to send a text message to.

  5. Write a message, then tap the arrow icon ➡️ to send the message.

Your child can share videos up to 30 seconds long, & send up to five images per text.

Send a voice message 🗣️

You child can record and send voice messages from their Gabb phone. Here's how:

  1. Open the Gabb Messenger app on the Gabb phone.

  2. Tap Messages at the bottom of the screen.

  3. Tap the contact you want to send a voice message to.

  4. Tap the plus sign ➕ to the left of the Write a message box, then tap the microphone icon.

  5. Record your voice message, then tap the arrow icon ➡️ to send it.

Voice messages can be up to 15 minutes long.

Copy & paste a message 🔗

Copy a message

  1. Open the Gabb Messenger app on the Gabb phone.

  2. Find the message you want to copy, then press and hold on it.

  3. Tap Select Message.

  4. Tap the check mark ✔️ next to the message you want to copy.

  5. Tap the Copy icon in the upper-right corner (third icon from the right).

Paste a message

  1. Open the message you want to paste the text in.

  2. Press and hold in the Write a Message box.

  3. Tap Paste.

Join channels 🌐

Channels allow your child to stay up to date with all things Gabb, from news to weekly wallpapers. Here’s how to join a channel:

  1. Open the Gabb Messenger app on the Gabb phone.

  2. Tap Channels at the bottom of the screen.

  3. Browse our channels.

  4. When your child finds a channel they want to join, tap View > Join Channel.

Mute conversation 🔕

Need to silence notifications for a conversation? Follow these steps to mute the conversation:

  1. Open the Gabb Messenger app on the Gabb phone.

  2. Press & hold on the conversation you want to mute, then tap Mute notifications.

To unmute a conversation, press & hold on the conversation, then tap Unmute notifications.

Requests tab 📲

If your child receives a text from an unknown number it will appear in the Requests tab with a red dot 🔴 indicating they have a message request.

Open the Gabb Messenger app on the Gabb phone, then tap Requests tab.

  • Tap Add, then fill out the contact details to add the number to your Contacts List.

  • Tap Block to block the number & remove the message.

Managing contacts 👥

Your child can edit, remove, or block contacts right from their Gabb phone.

Edit a contact 📝

To edit a contact:

  1. Open Gabb Messenger from your Gabb phone.

  2. Tap Contacts at the bottom of the screen.

  3. Tap on the contact you want to edit.

  4. Tap the three dots in the upper-right corner, then tap Edit contact.

  5. Make changes to the contact, then tap Save.

Remove a contact ➖

Follow these steps to remove a contact:

  1. Open Gabb Messenger from your Gabb phone.

  2. Tap Contacts at the bottom of the screen.

  3. Tap on the contact you want to remove.

  4. Tap the three dots in the upper-right corner, then tap Remove contact.

Block a contact ❌

Need to block a contact? Here's how:

  1. Open Gabb Messenger from the Gabb phone.

  2. Tap Contacts at the bottom of the screen.

  3. Tap on the contact you want to block.

  4. Tap the three dots in the upper-right corner, then tap Block contact.

Safe Video Calling 🤳

Gabb Messenger allows your child to make Safe Video Calls to other people who have Gabb Messenger installed on their phone.

Video calls can only be made to contacts who have Gabb Messenger installed on their phone & have video calling enabled. If the contact does not have Gabb Messenger installed on their phone, your child will not be able to make video calls to that person.

Make a video call

  1. Open Gabb Messenger from your Gabb phone.

  2. Tap Contacts at the bottom of the screen.

  3. Tap the camera icon next to the contact you want to make a video call to.

  4. Tap Start call.

  5. To end the video call, tap the red phone icon.

‼️ Gabb ensures safe video calling by detecting nudity on video calls. If we detect nudity during the video call, we'll end the call, video calling will be locked, and you'll get a notification from the Gabb Messenger app on your smartphone.

Gabb Messenger troubleshooting 🚨

Can't send or receive messages

If your child can't send or receive messages to/from another child, follow these steps:

  1. Make sure that both your child and the recipient have Gabb Messenger installed on a Gabb phone.

  2. Make sure that a parent has enabled video calling for each child. This must be done from the Gabb Messenger app on a parent's smartphone.

  3. Add the contact as an approved contact (if you have that feature enabled).

  4. Make sure both kids are logged in to their Gabb ID app & connected to WiFi. 🛜

Child can text unapproved contacts

If your child can text people who aren’t in their contacts, you might not have parent-managed contacts turned on.

Here’s how to make an approved contacts list:

  1. Log in to the Gabb Messenger for parents app.

  2. Tap Contacts at the bottom of the screen.

  3. Tap the profile icon 👤 of the child you want to add an approved contacts list to.

  4. Select Parent-Managed from the Contact Management drop down.

  5. Tap the blue plus sign ➕ in the bottom-right corner.

  6. Add your contact:

    1. Create New Contact: Enter contact details manually.

    2. From Child's List: Approve from your child's existing contact list.

Can't make video calls

To/from a contact

If your child can't make video calls to/from a contact, follow these steps:

  1. Make sure that both your child and the recipient have Gabb Messenger installed on their phone. Another person can use Gabb Messenger from a Gabb phone, or Gabb Messenger from their iOS or Android device.

  2. Make sure that a parent has enabled video calling for each child (if applicable). This must be done from the Gabb Messenger app.

  3. Add the contact as an approved contact (if applicable).

  4. Make sure both kids are logged in to their Gabb ID & connected to WiFi. 🛜

Video calls can only be made to contacts who have Gabb Messenger installed on their phone & have video calling enabled. If the contact does not have Gabb Messenger installed on their phone, your child will not be able to make video calls to that person.

To/from a parent

If your child can't make video calls to/from a parent, follow these steps:

  1. Make sure that your child has Gabb Messenger installed on their Gabb phone.

  2. Make sure your child is logged into their Gabb ID app & their phone is connected to WiFi. 🛜

  3. Download the Gabb Messenger iOS or Gabb Messenger Android app on your smartphone.

  4. Use the Gabb Messenger app to make a video call to your child:

    • Open Gabb Messenger on your (parent's) 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 place a video call.

Deleting settings not being followed

You can set up one of three different deleting settings:

Instantly

Messages can be permanently deleted from Trash

After 30 days

Messages are permanently deleted from Trash after 30 days

Never

Deleted messages always remain in the Trash

Here’s how to change your child’s deleting settings:

  1. Log in to the Gabb Messenger app on your smartphone.

  2. Tap on your child’s profile icon, then tap Controls. 🎛️

  3. Tap Deletion Settings.

  4. Select the radio button next to the deleting setting you want. It will update automatically.

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