Ally guide
3 min read · Checked September 17, 2026
Ally FAQ
Straight answers about allies, from the shipped build only: how many, who, what they see, what they never see, how to remove one, and what happens when a device goes quiet or you uninstall.
On this page
The short version
How the ally loop works
You
A known adult site opens on your screen.
The gate
On Guard steps in before you go further.
One text
Your ally gets the app, the device and the time. Never the site.
Your ally
A text back, a call, a catch-up. That is the whole job.
The loop is human on both ends. On Guard is the part in the middle that makes the moment visible without exposing it.
- An ally is a person you choose. He gets one short text when a known adult site is opened on your device, with the app, the device and the time, in a group text with you where that is available, a text if On Guard is uninstalled, signed out or a device is retired, and a text if a device goes quiet for 7 days.
- He never gets the site, the image, a screenshot, your history, or anything from the suggestive tier.
- You can have more than one ally, remove any of them, and he can step out any time.
- Everything below is how the shipped app behaves today. If a screen no longer matches, tell us.
Questions
How many allies can I have?
More than one. There is no fixed cap. Each alert text goes to one of them, chosen at random, and each ally has his own thread with you; allies never share a thread with each other. One invite link covers all of them within its 7 days.
Can my wife be my ally?
Yes. Any adult with a mobile number can accept the invite. Many men choose a brother or a friend first and add a spouse later; some do the reverse. Pick the person you will actually answer.
How do I remove an ally?
In the app, open Allies, open his card, and choose "Remove as your ally". He gets a text saying he was removed, and no more check-ins reach him.
Does my ally see my history?
No. He sees the check-in text when one fires and, if he has the app, whether each of your devices is standing guard and when it was last seen. There is no history, no list, and no count.
What is a lapse alert or "Gone quiet"?
A device that has not checked in for 7 days. You get a warning at day 5 with a link to your devices; at day 7 your ally gets a text naming the device and the date. If defense is switched off on a device, your ally gets an alert in the app instead. Nothing about billing ever reaches him: a payment problem is between you and the store.
Can an ally text back?
In the group text, yes: you are both in it, so his reply reaches you. To a single text from On Guard, the only replies the number understands are HELP and STOP.
Does the suggestive tier text my ally?
No. A suggestive detection is a nudge on your screen only. It never leaves the device and never reaches an ally.
How many texts can go out in a day?
At most three check-in texts per day, and one per half-hour burst; with the other notices, up to 8 messages a day. Past that, the gate still shows on your screen and the event is still recorded; no further text is sent that day.
Does my ally need an On Guard account or the app?
He accepts the invite on the web: sign in, verify email and phone, tap Accept Invite. That creates his account. He does not need the app for the texts; the app adds the standing-guard view and the defense-off alert.
What happens if I uninstall On Guard?
Your allies get a text: "{your name} uninstalled On Guard from {device}." The uninstall sheet in the app shows you the exact message before you confirm. Quitting loudly is the point.
Can I see what my ally will get without bothering him?
Yes, on builds that include it: Settings → Test your guard → Block test. The TEST text lands on your own phone. No ally is texted by a test.
Does the invite link expire?
Yes, after 7 days. "New link" makes a fresh one and retires the old, so a link that got forwarded stops working.
Checked September 17, 2026 against the shipping app. If something here no longer matches what you see, email team@stayonguard.app.
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