Brightwheel works to support as many platforms as possible, and is accessible on most iOS and Android phones, tablets, and web browsers, giving each program the freedom to use the devices that make the most sense for their business.
To get the most out of the brightwheel app and ensure you have access to the most recent features, we recommend using a device that supports the most recent operating systems of iOS 17 on Apple devices and Android 14 on Android devices.
Recommended Devices
For administrators who are considering purchasing program devices to use brightwheel on, our "best value" recommendation is the:
Lenovo Tab M11 - this tablet has a quality rear/front camera and up to 10 hours of battery life, which is great for all day classroom use and check-in capabilities.
We've also outlined some additional Affordable Tablets and Mobile Devices we recommend for programs!
💡 While purchasing devices can be an upfront investment, selecting a high-quality option offers valuable benefits. A reliable device will not only enhance your overall experience with brightwheel but also provide a longer lifespan, saving costs long-term.
brightwheel does not receive any compensation for clicks or traffic to the products recommended.
Mobile Device Compatibility
The minimum operating system requirements are:
iOS 16 on an Apple device
Android 9 on an Android device
🚩 Older devices that don’t meet these requirements are not compatible with brightwheel due to security and functionality concerns. If you are already using brightwheel on a device running an OS older than the requirements listed above, we recommend updating to the latest version. If you are unable to update to the latest version on your device, you will eventually be unable to utilize the brightwheel app and will need to purchase a device that meets these minimum requirements.
Please be aware that the brightwheel mobile app is not available on Microsoft tablets, such as the Microsoft Surface.
Web Browser Compatibility
It's important to keep browsers up-to-date to ensure data security and integrity. We recommend using the latest possible browser version that your device supports, ideally using Chrome, Edge, or Firefox. To use brightwheel, browsers must support TLS 1.2 and higher.
The version information for a browser is visible by locating the About section in the browser’s settings.
🚩 Brightwheel is not compatible with Internet Explorer browsers.
ℹ️ While Safari can be used if it's updated to the newest version, we generally recommend against using Safari to access brightwheel. Safari updates are dependent on the ability to update the computer's software, which means you might not always be able to update Safari to a version that is compatible with brightwheel.
Amazon Fire Tablet Devices
Our Android app works on some versions of the Amazon Fire tablet, but it doesn't update automatically or include newer features. Therefore, we recommend using a device with the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Brightwheel does not recommend using the mobile app on Amazon Fire Tablet Devices, but if there is no other option, Amazon Fire tablet users can still access limited brightwheel features by downloading the app onto the device as outlined below.
Use this link to download brightwheel onto your Amazon Fire Tablet
For further instructions on how to download, install, and access the Android app on Amazon Fire devices, watch the quick, tutorial video to the right! |
Google Chromebooks
While certain Chromebooks have the capability of installing Android apps through the Play Store, this will vary from device to device. In addition, there is no 100% guarantee that all features will work the same as the brightwheel app is not designed specifically for this device.
For these reasons, we do not recommend using Chromebooks for the brightwheel app. Instead, we advise using a device that meets the qualifications listed above.
If you have purchased Chromebooks already, you can check out the articles below from Google that overview how to check if the Chromebook OS is compatible to download Android apps and how to download apps to the device: