Most pairing problems come down to one of five things: an expired code, a typo, no internet on one of the phones, a wrong clock, or AlvaKids not yet installed. Work through the steps below in order and the connection usually goes through on the next try.

Diagnosing a failed pairing code step by step

1. Generate a fresh code

A pairing code is only valid for 15 minutes. If you waited too long, it has already expired.

In the parent app, open the child's profile and tap Add child (or Re-pair) to mint a new 6-digit code, then enter it on the kid phone right away.

2. Check for typos

The code is six digits, no letters. Read it back slowly and watch for the easy mix-ups: 0 and O, 1 and I, 5 and S. Re-type the whole code rather than fixing one digit.

3. Confirm both phones are online

Pairing needs the internet on both devices. Open any website on each phone to confirm. If one is on Wi-Fi that has dropped, switch it to mobile data (or back) and try again.

4. Fix the date and time

If the clock on either phone is wrong, the secure handshake fails. On each device open Settings > System > Date & time and turn on Set time automatically and Set time zone automatically.

5. Make sure AlvaKids is installed

Pairing happens inside the kid app, AlvaKids, not the parent app. If it is not on the child's phone yet, install it from Google Play (Android 10 or higher), open it, and tap I have a pairing code.

Still stuck?

Restart both phones and start fresh: generate a new code and enter it within the 15-minute window. The child's name you typed during setup appears automatically once pairing succeeds.