Ally guide
3 min read · Checked August 18, 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
Explicit content shows up on your screen.
The gate
On Guard steps in before you go further.
One text
Your ally is told it happened. Never what.
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 explicit content is gated on your device, a text if defense is turned off or On Guard is uninstalled, and a lapse alert if a device goes quiet.
- 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 active ally gets his own text, and 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 "protection lapsed" or "Gone quiet"?
A device that has not checked in for three days or more, or one where defense was switched off. Your ally gets a lapse alert. Nothing about billing ever reaches him: a payment problem is between you and the store.
Can an ally text back?
Not through On Guard. The only replies the On Guard number understands are HELP and STOP. He texts you on your own thread.
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. 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 lapse 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 August 18, 2026 against the shipping app. If something here no longer matches what you see, email team@stayonguard.app.
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