Clarity
Their companion
A spare iPhone or iPad, even an old one from a drawer. It stays in their room, on charge.
Download Clarity, open it, and tap This will be the companion.
Download on theApp StoreSet-up guide
Two devices. One free app.
Clarity runs on two devices: a spare iPhone or iPad that stays with the person you care for, and your own iPhone. Download Clarity on both, then link them with a 6-digit code. It takes a few minutes, and you only do it once.
Your phone
Your own iPhone. Every family member who wants to call or send messages uses their own phone.
Download the same app, open it, and tap I’m family.
Download on theApp StoreThe 6-digit code on their companion links the two. Family members need an iPhone for now; Android is on the way.
Reading this on a computer? Point your iPhone’s camera at the code to open Clarity in the App Store.
Watch first
The whole set-up, in about two minutes.
Before you start
A spare iPhone or iPadKept up to date, and able to run Clarity from the App Store.
A charger and a standSo it stays switched on, somewhere easy to see.
Their home Wi-FiFor calls and messages. The day clock and reminders work without it.
Part 1 · On their companion
Make the spare device their companion.
This is all you need for the day clock and reminders. No account, no sign-in.
Choose “This will be the companion”
Download Clarity from the App Store and open it. On the welcome screen, tap This will be the companion. When it asks to send notifications, tap Allow, so their reminders can chime.
Their clock appears
The day, the part of the day, the date and the time. Now tap Set up: the faint words in the bottom-right corner, kept small so they don’t tap it by accident.
Part 2 · Still on their companion
Switch on family calls.
Do this with them, so they see what will happen and agree to it.
Open Family video calls
Scroll down past the message, reminders and call button to Family and safety, then tap Family video calls. Read “How a call works” together.
Name it, agree, turn it on
The name box says “Home”. Change it to something family will recognise, like “Mum’s iPad”: it’s what they see on their Call button. Tick the box to agree, then tap Turn on family calls. Tap OK for the camera, then the microphone.
Leave the code on screen
A 6-digit code appears under “Add a family member”. Leave this screen open. The code works once, for 10 minutes. If it runs out, tap Show a new code.
Part 3 · On your own iPhone
Link your phone.
Each son, daughter or grandchild who wants to call does this once, with a fresh code each.
Choose “I’m family”
Download the same free app on your iPhone, open it, and tap I’m family.
Sign in with Apple
Once only. It proves to the companion that it’s really you.
Your name, then the code
Type your name: it’s what their screen shows when you call, like “Sam is calling”. Type the 6 digits from their companion, then tap Connect to the companion. Your phone now shows a big Call button, and your name appears on the companion under “Who can call”. On the companion, tap ‹ Set up then Done to go back to their clock.
Part 4 · Try it
Make your first call.
Tap Call
Tap Call Mum’s iPad. The first time, tap OK for the camera and microphone. Their companion chimes and shows “Sam is calling” for three seconds.
You’re connected
Nothing for them to press. If they can still choose for themselves, set it to ring with one big Answer button instead: on the companion, Set up then Family video calls.
Part 5 · Between calls
Send a message, a voice note or a photo.
All from the same screen on your phone, under the Call button.
A message or a voice note
Type a few words and tap Send: their clock chimes, shows it in big letters and reads it out loud. Or tap Record a voice message, speak, and tap again to send: it plays in your own voice. They can tap it to hear it again.
A photo
Tap Send a photo and choose one. It fills their screen, with anything you typed underneath. They tap Done to go back to the clock.
Leave it on
Calls and messages arrive while Clarity is open on the companion with its screen on. Clarity keeps the screen awake; just leave it on charge.
Optional: lock it to Clarity
So it can’t be closed by accident. On the companion: Set up, then Keep Clarity on screen for a two-minute guide.
If something isn’t working
Quick fixes.
The code doesn’t work
Each code works once, for 10 minutes. On the companion, tap “Show a new code” and type the new one straight away.
My call doesn’t connect
Clarity must be open on the companion with its screen on, and on Wi-Fi. If the companion was restarted, open Clarity on it again.
Someone else is on a call
A companion takes one call at a time. Try again when they’ve finished.
Can more than one person call?
Yes. Each family member installs Clarity on their own iPhone, chooses “I’m family”, and links with their own fresh code from the companion.
We have Android phones
Not yet: family members need an iPhone for now. An Android version is planned.
How do I remove someone?
On the companion: Set up, Family video calls. The list of who can call is there, and anyone can be removed with one tap.