Note: ScreenKin currently uses the Truple app for Android monitoring. While ScreenKin is developing its own dedicated apps, the Truple app provides the underlying technology for Android devices.

On Android 11+, the monitoring app no longer uses the Screencast permission so it no longer interferes with streaming services. You should be good to go.

For Android 10 or lower, the instructions below will show you how to use the auto-pause settings to get streaming to work while using the monitoring app.

Notice: Getting Hulu to work with Auto-Pause

The latest version of the Hulu app requires the Restart on Pause feature in order for auto-pause to work for Hulu. Unfortunately on some devices this opens up loopholes, so it's disabled by default. If you wish to enable it, do the following:

1. Log in to your ScreenKin parent dashboard
2. Navigate to device settings and select the device you want to configure
3. Look for the Auto-Pause Apps section and click Modify
4. Check the Restart on Pause box for the Hulu app
5. Save your changes
6. Restart the child's device and explicitly open the Truple app to force an immediate sync of the new device settings
7. Now when Hulu is opened, the monitoring app will automatically disable the screen capture permission and restart. Once that has occurred, streaming can begin. If Hulu is exited, the screen capture permission will launch again automatically.

We recommend you experiment to ensure the behavior functions properly on the device. The key is ensuring the screen capture permission restarts itself consistently after exiting the Hulu app.

Video Guide

We've had several parents ask for more details regarding auto-pause, so instead of attempting to explain it further through text we created a video describing how it works.

Background

Some apps (like Hulu, NFL, etc.) won't allow viewing of certain copyrighted videos when the monitoring app is running. Previously the only solution was to log in to your parent dashboard and disable monitoring while the problematic app was in use. Now you can designate apps as an "auto paused" app from your ScreenKin parent dashboard.

Auto-pause can also be used as an additional safety measure to prevent screenshots from being captured from banking, healthcare, or other apps containing private information.

How does it work?

When an app that has auto-pause enabled is opened, the monitoring app will shut down the screen capture permission while that app is in use. This allows viewing of videos or accessing content that was previously blocked. When the app that caused the pause is closed, the monitoring app will restart the screen capture permission (On newer versions of Android this means the user will be prompted to re-grant the screen capture permission again).

How do I use this?

1. Ensure the Truple android app is updated (minimum version is 0.4.51 / 4051)
2. Log in to your ScreenKin parent dashboard to modify your auto-pause settings in the device configuration

Does this open up loopholes?

It can. You should only enable auto-pause for apps that you trust completely. You don't have to use auto-pause if you don't want to. You can manage which apps are set to auto-pause from your ScreenKin parent dashboard.

As an added safety measure, two new events are recorded on the Event Timeline: App paused and App resumed. The monitoring app will still capture events while the screen capture portion is paused.

Have a question? Suggestion? Just want to say thanks for this feature? Reach out at support@screenkin.com. We'd love to hear from you.