01
Pair your family Mac
Open the Family tab in Vettly Family, choose iPhone Bridge, and generate a one-time pairing code.
Mac-assisted iPhone safety
iPhone safety signals, with the limits stated clearly.
Vettly Bridge checks a visible Finder backup on your family Mac. Recent incoming messages are checked locally first, and only focused safety candidates are sent for review.
macOS 14 or later · Included with Vettly Plus · Standard unencrypted Finder backups
Vettly Bridge
Mac-assisted iPhone safety signals
Bridge is ready
Your selected Finder backup stays on this Mac. Bridge checks again when a newer backup is available.
Local first
Focused patterns are checked before upload.
No message feed
Parents receive a safety moment, not an archive.
Setup takes about 10 minutes
Three visible steps. No hidden access.
02
Choose a Finder backup
Connect the iPhone, create a standard unencrypted Finder backup, then grant Bridge read-only access to that folder.
03
Keep Bridge ready
Enable launch at login. Bridge checks immediately at launch and every 30 minutes while you are signed in.
Privacy boundary
A safety bridge, not a surveillance tunnel.
The design keeps the full backup local and the parent experience focused on a specific moment.
Backup stays local
Vettly never uploads the complete Finder backup.
Focused candidates only
Ordinary conversation does not leave the Mac.
No backup passwords
Encrypted backups are detected, never unlocked by Vettly.
Guidance, not browsing
Parents get context and Conversation Coach guidance.
Common questions
Exactly what Bridge does and does not do.
Can Vettly Bridge read live iMessages?
No. Apple does not give third-party iPhone apps silent access to iMessage. Bridge checks a Finder backup that the family deliberately creates and selects on a Mac.
Does the backup leave my Mac?
No. Bridge reads the backup locally. It sends only new messages that match focused safety patterns for Vettly review. The complete backup is never uploaded.
Can parents browse every message?
No. Parents receive a focused safety moment and Conversation Coach guidance. Vettly does not create a searchable message archive or continuous parent feed.
Does Bridge support encrypted Finder backups?
The first release supports standard unencrypted Finder backups. Encrypted backups are detected and Bridge explains what needs attention. It never requests or uploads a backup password.
What does Vettly Bridge cost?
Bridge processing and proactive iPhone safety signals are included with Vettly Plus. Vettly Plus includes a 14-day trial where available.