Gabb Messenger
What is Gabb Messenger?
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.
Gabb Messenger uses smart filtering to flag and block explicit content, links, harmful words, & harmful emojis. If we detect inappropriate content, we’ll flag or block it, & then you’ll get a notification from the Gabb Messenger Parent app on their smartphone.
Gabb Messenger can only be installed on Gabb Phones. Gabb Watches do not support Gabb Messenger.
Blocking & Flagging
Gabb uses multiple levels of filtration to determine if a message may be potentially harmful or inappropriate. Messages may be blocked, flagged, or both. Here’s how it works:
⛔ Blocked: High confidence that the message contains harmful content and we block it from the child on their device.
🚩 Flagged: Potentially harmful content has been detected in the message and we forward it to the you in the Gabb Messenger Parent app.
Flagged content is still visible to the child on their device unless it is also blocked.
What is flagged and what is blocked?
- All received media from unknown numbers.
- After the number is added as a Contact, the messages will display.
- After the number is added as a Contact, the messages will display.
- Outgoing images that may have pornographic content.
- These are prevented from being sent by the child.
- Any potentially harmful outgoing text messages.
- Links received from Contacts (these are not clickable).
- Texts received from Contacts containing potentially offensive/harmful language.
- Any image received that may have pornographic content.
- Links received from unknown numbers.
- After the number is added as a contact, the link will displayed.
- After the number is added as a contact, the link will displayed.
- Texts received from unknown numbers containing potentially offensive/harmful language.
- After the number is added as a contact, we display the message.
Although Gabb Messenger filtration blocks and flags inappropriate or harmful content with a high level of accuracy, it is ever improving. We encourage families to have regular conversations about digital safety.
Setting up Gabb Messenger
Gabb Messenger is the default messaging app on all Gabb phones & comes pre-installed on the phone. Parents must download the Gabb Messenger Parent app on their smartphone to set up parental controls & make/receive video calls.
For kids
- Open the Gabb Messenger app on the Gabb phone.
- Select Contacts at the bottom of the screen.
- Select the person icon in the upper-right corner.
- Fill out the contact’s information, then select Save.
Select the Favorites icon at the bottom of the screen to add this contact to your Favorites list.
- Open the Messenger app on the Gabb phone.
- Select Messages at the bottom of the screen.
- Select the pencil icon in the upper-right corner.
- Select a contact to send a text message to.
- Write a message, then select the arrow icon to send the message.
You can share videos up to 30 seconds long & up to five images per text.
- Open the Messenger app on the Gabb phone.
- Select Messages at the bottom of the screen.
- Select the contact you want to send a voice message to.
- Tap the plus sign to the left of the Write a message box, then select the microphone icon.
- Record your voice message, then select the arrow icon to send the voice message.
Voice messages can be up to 15 minutes long.
Copy a message
- Open the Messenger app on the Gabb phone.
- Find the message you want to copy, then press and hold on it.
- Tap Select Message.
- Select the check box ✔️ next to the message you want to copy.
- Select the Copy icon in the upper-right corner (third icon from the right).
Paste a message
Open the message you want to paste the text in, press and hold in the Write a Message box, then select Paste.
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:
- Open the Messenger app on the Gabb phone.
- Select Channels at the bottom of the screen.
- Browse our channels. When your child finds a channel they want to join, select View, then Join Channel.
- Open the Messenger app on the Gabb phone.
- Press & hold on the conversation you want to mute, then select Mute notifications.
- To unmute a conversation, press & hold on the conversation, then select Unmute notifications.
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. Here’s how to manage your message requests:
- Open the Messenger app on the Gabb Phone, then select the Requests tab.
- Open the message.
- Select Add and fill out the contact details to add the number to your Contacts List.
- Select Block to block the number & remove the message.
For parents
Link your Gabb Messenger Parent app to your child’s Gabb Messenger app on their Gabb Phone by following these steps:
- Download the Gabb Messenger Parent app onto the parent’s smartphone using the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
- Sign into Gabb Messenger Parent using the parent’s Gabb account login information (the same username and password used to log in to your Gabb account online).
- Enable push notifications so you get notified instantly about flagged and blocked content.
Don’t see your child’s phone in the Gabb Messenger Parent app? Make sure your child is logged into the Gabb ID app on their Gabb device, then select Settings > Troubleshooting > Sync Settings from their Gabb Messenger app.
Managing contacts and deletion settings
Add & manage contacts from the Gabb Messenger app. Your child can add, remove, or block contacts. Parents can approve contacts and manage message deletion settings from their Gabb Messenger Parent app.
For kids: Managing contacts
- Open Gabb Messenger from the Gabb phone.
- Select Contacts at the bottom of the screen.
- Select the contact you want to edit.
- Tap the three dots in the upper-right corner, then select Edit contact.
- Make changes to the contact, then select Save.
- Open Gabb Messenger from the Gabb phone.
- Select Contacts at the bottom of the screen.
- Select the contact you want to remove.
- Tap the three dots in the upper-right corner, then select Remove contact.
- Open Gabb Messenger from the Gabb phone.
- Select Contacts at the bottom of the screen.
- Select the contact you want to block.
- Tap the three dots in the upper-right corner, then select Block contact.
For parents: Managing contacts and deletion settings
Parents must have the Gabb Messenger Parent app installed on their smartphone to control & monitor the child’s Gabb Messenger.
Manage approved contacts from the Gabb Messenger Parent app to restrict your child from contacting phone numbers not on the approved contacts list.
This feature is only available for parents using the Gabb Messenger Parent app on iOS. Managing approved contacts is coming soon to Android.
If your child has a Gabb Phone or Gabb Phone Plus, the approved contacts list will only apply to texting—not phone calls. Contact management via Gabb Messenger Parent applies to texts and calls on the Gabb Phone 4, Gabb Phone 3 Pro, and Gabb Phone 4 Pro
Set up an approved contacts list
- Log in to the Gabb Messenger Parent app.
- Select Controls at the bottom of the screen.
- Select the profile of the child you want to add controls to.
- Select Contact Management.
- Select the slider next to Parent-managed, then build your approved contacts list.
Use Gabb Messenger Parent to control the deletion settings for your child’s messages. You can allow your child to delete messages instantly, after 30 days, or never.
Follow these steps to set up deletion settings for your child:
- Log in to the Gabb Messenger Parent app from your smartphone.
- Select Controls at the bottom of the screen.
- Select the profile of the child you want to manage deletion settings for.
- Select Deleting Settings.
- Select the radio button next to the deletion setting you want. Your selection will be saved automatically.
Gabb keeps a record of your child’s texts & calls made from their Gabb Phone. You can review the text log or call log for your child’s device by logging into your Gabb account.
Here’s how to look at your child’s text & call logs:
- Log in to your Gabb account here →
- Select View Details next to your child’s profile.
- Scroll down to the Call Logs section (to review the call history), or to the Text Logs section (to review the texting history).
If you want to download a copy of the Logs, select the Download Logs button.
Text logs do not show the content of text messages—they show:
• If the message was sent or received
• Date & time the message was sent or received
• To/from phone number
Safe video calling on Gabb Messenger
Gabb Messenger allows your child to make safe video calls to other Gabb Messenger users using a Gabb phone. You can make a video calls to your child using the Gabb Messenger Parent app. If you don’t have the Gabb Messenger Parent app installed on your smartphone, download it from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Video calls can only be made to contacts who have Gabb Messenger installed on their Gabb phone & have video calling 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.
Make a video call
- Open Gabb Messenger from your Gabb phone.
- Select Contacts at the bottom of the screen.
- Select the camera icon next to the contact you want to make a video call to.
- Select Start call.
- Select the red phone icon to end the video call.
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 Parent app.
Troubleshooting
Having issues with Gabb Messenger? Look for your issue below 👇
Make sure your Gabb Messenger app is up to date. Learn how to check for updates here →
- Log in to the Gabb ID app on the Gabb phone using your child’s login credentials.
- Log in to your Gabb account here and verify that your Gabb Phone is active.
- If the device is active, continue to the next step.
- If the device is not active, go to gabb.com/activate to activate the device, then continue to the next step.
- Log in to the Gabb Messenger Parent app on your smartphone.
- Connect the Gabb phone to WiFi, or have at least three bars of cellular service.
- Open Gabb Messenger on the Gabb phone.
- Select Settings at the bottom of the screen.
- Select Troubleshooting.
- Select Sync Settings.
- Log in to the Gabb ID app on the Gabb phone using your child’s login information.
- Log in to the Gabb Messenger Parent app from your smartphone.
- Enable notifications for Gabb Messenger Parent on your smartphone.
- Sync your Gabb Messenger settings:
- Open Gabb Messenger on your Gabb Phone.
- Select Settings.
- Select Troubleshooting.
- Select Sync Settings.
Video calls can only be made to contacts who have Gabb Messenger installed on their Gabb phone & have video calling 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.
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 Gabb ID & connected to WiFi.
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 Gabb ID app & their phone is 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.