Where to Find Screen Time on Your Samsung Device
Samsung devices track how much time you spend on your phone or tablet through a built-in tool called Digital Wellbeing. You can see your total screen time, which apps you use most, and how many times you unlock your device each day. The information is usually available within a few taps from your settings menu.
The exact path depends on which version of Android your Samsung runs, but the feature has been standard on Samsung phones and tablets since Android 9. If you have a recent device—anything from the last three or four years—you will have access to this tool.
Key Takeaways
- Open Settings, then search for "Digital Wellbeing" or find it under Apps or Display to see your screen time broken down by app.
- Your total screen time appears at the top of the Digital Wellbeing screen, updated throughout the day.
- You can set app timers to limit how long you spend in specific apps before they lock you out for the rest of the day.
- Screen time data resets at midnight each day, so you see a fresh count every morning.
- If Digital Wellbeing does not appear in your settings, your device may be running an older Android version that does not include the feature.
Step-by-Step: Opening Digital Wellbeing on Your Samsung
Start by opening the Settings app on your home screen or in your app drawer. Tap the search icon at the top (it looks like a magnifying glass) and type "Digital Wellbeing" into the search box. Samsung will show you the Digital Wellbeing option—tap it to open the screen time dashboard.
If the search does not find it, try scrolling through Settings manually. Look for a section called Apps, Display, or Device Care. Digital Wellbeing is sometimes nested under one of these categories instead of appearing as its own menu item. Once you find it, tap to open the main screen time view.
The first screen you see will show your total screen time for today at the top in large text. Below that, you will see a list of every app you have used, ranked by how much time you spent in each one. The time is displayed in hours and minutes—for example, "2h 34m" for two hours and thirty-four minutes.
Understanding What the Screen Time Data Shows
The total screen time at the top of Digital Wellbeing is the combined time your screen has been on and you have been actively using your device. This does not include time when your phone was locked or the screen was off. If you spent thirty minutes reading an article in your browser, that counts toward screen time. If your phone sat on your desk for an hour with the screen off, that does not.
Below the total, each app shows how long you spent in it. Tapping on any app name will show you more detail—how many times you opened it that day, and a graph showing when during the day you used it most. This can help you spot patterns, like whether you tend to use social media more in the morning or evening.
The Unlocks number shows how many times you picked up your phone and unlocked it. This is separate from screen time and can be useful if you want to understand how often you reach for your device, even if you only use it briefly each time.
Setting App Timers to Limit Your Usage
Digital Wellbeing lets you set a daily time limit for any app. Once you hit that limit, the app will lock and show a message saying your time is up. You can still force it open by tapping "Open anyway," but the timer creates a friction point that can help you use the app less.
To set a timer, open Digital Wellbeing and find the app you want to limit in the list. Tap on the app name, then look for a timer icon (usually a circle with a clock inside). Tap it and set the number of hours and minutes you want to allow each day. The timer will reset at midnight.
You can set different limits for different apps. For example, you might allow yourself two hours of social media but only thirty minutes of a game. The timers are a suggestion to yourself, not a hard lock—you can always override them—but many people find that having to make a conscious choice to override a timer helps them use their phone more intentionally.
Viewing Your Screen Time History and Trends
Digital Wellbeing shows you today's screen time by default, but you can also look at your usage over the past week. At the top of the screen, you will see tabs or a dropdown menu that let you switch between Today, This week, and sometimes This month. Tap the week view to see your average screen time across the last seven days and which days you used your device most.
This longer view is useful if you want to spot trends. Maybe you notice you use your phone much more on weekends, or that your screen time has been creeping up over the past few weeks. Seeing the pattern can help you decide whether you want to make changes.
The week view also shows which apps took up the most time across all seven days, so you can see whether a particular app is consistently your biggest time sink or whether your usage varies day to day.
What to Do If Digital Wellbeing Is Not Showing Up
If you cannot find Digital Wellbeing in your settings, your Samsung device may be running an older version of Android. Digital Wellbeing was introduced in Android 9, so phones and tablets running Android 8 or earlier do not have it built in.
You can check your Android version by opening Settings, scrolling to the bottom, and tapping About phone (or About tablet). Look for the line that says Android version. If it says 8 or lower, Digital Wellbeing is not available on your device.
If you have Android 9 or higher and still cannot find Digital Wellbeing, try restarting your device. Sometimes the settings menu needs a refresh to show all available options. If it still does not appear after a restart, the feature may have been disabled—you can try opening the Play Store, searching for "Digital Wellbeing," and tapping Enable if that option appears.
Using Focus Mode and Bedtime Mode Alongside Screen Time Tracking
Digital Wellbeing includes two additional tools that work alongside screen time tracking: Focus mode and Bedtime mode. Focus mode lets you silence notifications from specific apps during certain times, so you can use your phone without constant interruptions. Bedtime mode dims your screen and limits notifications in the evening to help you wind down before sleep.
These tools do not reduce your screen time, but they can change how you experience the time you do spend on your device. For example, you might use your phone for an hour before bed, but with Bedtime mode on, the experience is less stimulating and you may fall asleep more easily.
You can set up Focus mode by opening Digital Wellbeing, tapping Focus mode, and choosing which apps to silence. Bedtime mode is usually found in the same menu. Both can be scheduled to turn on automatically at specific times each day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does screen time include time when my phone is locked?
No. Screen time only counts the minutes your screen is actually on and you are actively using your device. If your phone is in your pocket or sitting on a table with the screen off, that time does not count toward your total, even if apps are running in the background.
Can I see screen time for other people on my Samsung?
Digital Wellbeing only shows your own usage. If you want to monitor a child's screen time, Samsung offers a separate tool called Samsung Kids or Kids Home, which is designed for parental controls and includes screen time limits. That tool requires you to set it up on the child's device with a PIN.
What happens when I hit my app timer limit?
The app will show a message saying your time is up and will become less responsive. You can still tap "Open anyway" to keep using it, but you have to make that choice consciously. The timer resets at midnight, and you start fresh the next day.
Does screen time reset every day?
Yes. Your total screen time and all app timers reset at midnight. When you wake up and unlock your phone the next morning, the counter starts at zero again. The week and month views show your average across multiple days, but the daily count is always fresh.
Can I turn off Digital Wellbeing if I do not want to track my screen time?
You can disable notifications from Digital Wellbeing, but the tracking itself runs in the background on most Samsung devices. You can open Settings, find Apps, search for Digital Wellbeing, and tap Disable if you want to turn it off completely, though this is not recommended if you want to understand your usage patterns.