> ## Knowledge Base Index
> Fetch the complete knowledge base index at: https://controlplus.crisp.help/sitemap.xml
> Use this file to discover available pages before exploring further.
> Pure-Markdown content can be obtained by appending a '.md' suffix to the content URLs listed in the sitemap (without the trailing slash).

# Getting Started With Control+ — How to Make Everything Work Properly

Welcome to Control+! This guide walks you through the most important setup steps to make sure your protection is fully active and working correctly from the start.

⚠️ Many protections require permissions and settings to be enabled manually on your phone. If setup is incomplete, some features may not work properly.

## Step 1 — Download and Log Into the Correct Account

If you did not receive a download link, install the official Control+ app directly from the App Store or Google Play.

Open the app and choose **Log in**, not Sign up. Use the same email address associated with your purchase. If the app appears to ask you to create a new account, select **Log in** with your existing email to access your active subscription.

If you purchased through Apple, use **Continue with Apple**. If you purchased through Google, use the same Google account used during purchase. If you cannot access the account, a temporary password can be issued for the purchase email; change it after logging in.

## Step 2 — Complete Your Profile

After logging in:
- Open the Control+ app and follow the on-screen setup prompts.
- Open your **Profile** and complete all requested fields, including your name, email address, date of birth or age, phone number, and home address.
- Confirm your email address.

Completing your profile is required to activate Dark Web Monitoring and Data Broker Removal. Some protections may remain inactive until your profile is fully completed.

## Step 3 — Enable Call Protection

Call Protection helps identify and block spam calls, robocalls, and scam callers.
- Open the Control+ app and go to the **Home** screen.
- Tap **Call Protection** under **Your services**.
- If it shows **Inactive**, tap **Set up** and follow the on-screen instructions.
- Restart your phone once after enabling to allow protections to initialize.

iOS users in the US can also enable **Call Screening**, which silences and screens unknown callers with an AI secretary — see *How to Turn On Call Screening* for the full setup.

⚠️ On some devices, the names of settings may vary slightly.

## Step 4 — Enable SMS Protection (iOS only)

SMS Protection helps filter scam texts, phishing links, and spam messages.
- Open the Control+ app and go to the **Home** screen.
- Tap **SMS Protection** under **Your services** and tap **Set up**.
- Then go to your iPhone **Settings → Messages → Unknown & Spam**.
- Enable **Filter Unknown Senders** and select **Control+** as your filtering app.

If the app still shows setup as incomplete:
- Restart your device.
- Reopen the app and check permissions again.

## Step 5 — Enable Browsing Protection (iOS & Android)

Browsing Protection checks the websites you open — in Chrome, Safari and in-app browsers like Instagram or Facebook — and blocks dangerous ones.
- Open the Control+ app and go to the **Home** screen.
- Tap **Browsing Protection** under **Your services** and tap **Set up**.
- Follow the on-screen prompts:
  - **iPhone:** allow Control+ to \[CONFIRM: add VPN configurations / install DNS settings] when iOS asks.
  - **Android:** turn on Control+ in **Settings → Accessibility** \[CONFIRM: exact path], and allow the \[CONFIRM: VPN/DNS] connection request if asked.
- Allow notifications so you receive website alerts.

See *How to Turn On Browsing Protection* for full steps.

## Step 6 — Understand Data Broker Removals

One of the core features of Control+ is removing your personal information from online databases and data broker sites. The app works by:
- Scanning exposure databases to locate where your information appears.
- Submitting removal requests to each broker on your behalf.
- Continuously monitoring for new exposures throughout your subscription.

⚠️ This process is gradual — not instant. Many brokers take days, weeks, or longer to process individual removal requests. It is completely normal for the app to show **In Progress** or low percentages for some time. This will update gradually as brokers respond.

## Step 7 — Identity Protection Monitoring

Identity Protection continuously monitors your email addresses and phone number against known breach databases and dark web sources. If a new exposure is detected, you'll receive an alert so you can take action quickly.

To add additional email addresses for monitoring:
- Go to **Home → Identity Protection → Edit your emails**.

You can add up to 3 additional email addresses.

## Step 8 — Keep the App Active

For best results:
- Keep the app installed and up to date.
- Keep all protections enabled. On the Home screen, check **Your services** and set up every available feature, including Data Broker Removal, Breach/Data Leak Monitoring, Email Protection, Call Protection, SMS Protection, and Browsing Protection. Call and SMS Protection availability depends on the device; SMS Protection is iOS only.
- On iPhone, select Control+ as the relevant call or SMS filtering/protection app when prompted. For SMS filtering, go to **Settings → Messages → Unknown & Spam**, enable **Filter Unknown Senders**, and select **Control+**.
- Restart your phone after enabling protections so the settings can initialize.
- Allow notifications so you receive alerts promptly.
- Avoid disabling app permissions (including Accessibility on Android).

Control+ continues working in the background over time — the longer it runs, the more effective your protection becomes. You do not need to keep the app open or manually run scans. The app may not change visually after setup; check the status of each service rather than expecting the main screen to look different.

If you continue receiving spam calls or messages, or find a scam website that wasn't blocked, please share the numbers, links or screenshots with our support team. Every report helps improve blocklists and scam detection for all users.

## ✅ Quick Setup Checklist

Before reaching out to support, run through this checklist:
- Logged into the correct email and account
- Profile fully completed
- Call Protection enabled
- SMS Protection enabled and configured (iOS only)
- Browsing Protection enabled (Accessibility permission on for Android)
- Phone restarted after setup
- Notifications allowed
- Latest version of the app installed