Support
Frequently asked questions and how to get help
Getting Started
How does Cribside work?
Cribside turns your Apple devices into a baby monitor. One device acts as the Monitor (camera + microphone near the baby) and other devices act as Receivers (parent watches and listens). Everything streams directly over your local WiFi network.
What devices do I need?
You need at least two Apple devices: one for the Monitor and one for the Receiver. Cribside works on iPhone and iPad as both monitor and receiver, Mac and Apple TV as receivers, and Apple Watch for crying and fussing notifications. macOS is receiver-only — it cannot act as a monitor.
Do both devices need to be on the same WiFi?
Yes. Both the Monitor and Receiver devices must be connected to the same WiFi network. Cribside streams directly between devices over your local network and does not use the internet.
Do I need an internet connection?
No. Cribside works entirely over your local WiFi network. It does not require an internet connection. You can even use it with a Personal Hotspot in a hotel room or cabin.
Setup & Connection
How do I pair devices?
On the Monitor device, tap "Start Monitor." A 4-digit PIN will appear on screen. On your Receiver device, the Monitor will appear in the discovery list. Tap it and enter the PIN to connect.
Can multiple people watch at once?
Yes. Up to 5 Receiver devices can connect to a single Monitor at the same time. Both parents can watch from different rooms or devices.
The Receiver can't find the Monitor. What should I do?
Make sure both devices are on the same WiFi network. Check that the Monitor is running and showing a PIN. Try toggling WiFi off and on. If you're on a corporate or public network, local network discovery may be blocked by the network administrator.
Audio & Video
Can I listen in the background?
Yes. Audio continues to play when you switch to another app or lock your screen. You'll hear your baby even while using other apps.
What is sound detection?
Cribside monitors the audio level from the nursery and alerts you when it detects fussing or crying. You can configure the sensitivity to match your environment. The receiver shows real-time audio level bars so you can see nursery activity at a glance.
Privacy & Security
Is my video sent to the cloud?
No. Cribside has no cloud servers. Video and audio stream directly between your devices over your WiFi. Nothing ever leaves your home network. There is no server to send it to.
Is the stream encrypted?
Yes. Video and audio streams are encrypted with DTLS 1.2 using AES-256-GCM, and the control channel uses TLS 1.3. Key exchange uses X25519, and session keys are derived using HKDF and strengthened with your PIN. Even on your local network, everything is protected.
Does Cribside collect any data?
No. Cribside collects zero data. No analytics, no crash reports, no tracking. See our Privacy Policy for full details.
Purchasing
Is there a subscription?
No. Cribside is a one-time purchase of $4.99. Every feature is included. There are no subscriptions, no in-app purchases, and no ads.
Can I use it on all my devices?
Yes. Your purchase applies to your Apple ID. Download Cribside on any iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV signed in with the same Apple ID at no extra cost.
Apple TV
How do I use Cribside on Apple TV?
Download Cribside from the App Store on your Apple TV. It launches directly in receiver mode. Use the Siri Remote d-pad to enter the PIN shown on your monitor device. Once connected, you can use the volume up/down buttons on the remote to adjust audio.
Can Apple TV act as a monitor?
No. Apple TV works as a receiver only. It displays the live video and audio feed from a monitor device (iPhone or iPad).
Picture-in-Picture
How do I use Picture-in-Picture?
On iOS, tap the PiP button while viewing the live feed. The video shrinks to a floating window that stays visible while you use other apps. You can resize, reposition, or close it using the standard system PiP controls.
Apple Watch
What notifications appear on Apple Watch?
When your iPhone is connected as a receiver, crying and fussing alerts are automatically relayed to your Apple Watch as time-sensitive notifications. No separate Watch app is needed — it works through your iPhone's companion relay.
Video & Audio Controls
Can I zoom in on the video?
Yes. Pinch to zoom up to 5× on the live video. Pan around when zoomed in. Double-tap to reset to the default view.
Can I boost the volume?
Yes. The receiver volume can be boosted up to 200%, which is helpful when your phone speaker is across the room.
Connection
What happens if the connection drops?
Cribside automatically reconnects. Session tokens are stored securely in your device's Keychain, so no re-authentication is needed after brief disconnects. The app uses exponential backoff to reconnect without flooding your network.
Does macOS work as a monitor?
No. On macOS, Cribside works as a receiver only. You can watch and listen to the live feed, but the monitor role (camera and microphone) requires an iPhone or iPad.
Still need help?
We're here to help. Send us an email and we'll get back to you.
support@cribside.app