Straight answers to parents' top questions about LockedIn: emergency access, privacy, location tracking, battery life, cost, and whether it helps.
Can I still reach my child in an emergency?
Yes. Schools can configure allowed contacts and emergency numbers, and parents can always reach the school office. If you need to reach your child directly, administrators can unlock an individual device within seconds.
What happens during a school emergency like a lockdown?
Emergency Mode instantly unlocks every student device on campus with one click. Students immediately receive critical notifications so they can call family, reach 911, and stay informed. First responders also get live status on each student — something physical phone pouches cannot provide.
Does LockedIn track my child's location?
No. LockedIn only detects when your child enters and leaves campus — that is it. There is no GPS tracking, no location history, and no way for the school or LockedIn to see where your child is at any other time.
Can LockedIn see my child's messages, photos, or browsing history?
No. LockedIn runs inside the phone's OS application sandbox. It has zero access to messages, photos, contacts, browsing history, or any personal content. It only monitors whether the phone is locked during school hours.
Does the phone stay locked after school?
No. LockedIn only locks phones during school hours while your child is on campus. Once the school day ends or your child leaves campus, the phone works completely normally.
Does my child have to install LockedIn on their personal phone?
Yes. Students install the app and sign in with their school email. It runs alongside their normal apps and only activates during school hours on campus.
Does LockedIn cost parents anything?
No. LockedIn is completely free for students and their families. Schools cover the cost.
Does LockedIn drain my child's battery?
No. LockedIn is designed to be lightweight. It sends a small heartbeat signal every 60 seconds during school hours, which has a negligible impact on battery life.
What if my child has a medical condition that requires their phone?
Schools can grant individual exceptions. Talk to your school administrator — they can whitelist specific apps (like glucose monitors or hearing aid controllers) or exempt a student entirely when needed.
Will this actually help my child's grades and mental health?
Research says yes. A London School of Economics study found phone bans improved test scores by 6.4% of a standard deviation, roughly five extra days of school a year, with the biggest gains, 14.2% of a standard deviation, among the lowest-performing students. Research from the University of Texas at Austin shows the mere presence of a phone reduces cognitive capacity, and a Norwegian study found that smartphone bans reduced bullying and cut girls’ visits to health professionals for psychological symptoms.
LockedIn for parents