Where to Find Screen Time Settings on Android
Android calls screen time tracking Digital Wellbeing, and the settings live in your phone's main Settings app. Open Settings, scroll down to find Digital Wellbeing & parental controls (the exact name varies slightly by phone maker and Android version), and tap it. You'll see a dashboard showing how much time you've spent in each app today.
If you don't see Digital Wellbeing in your Settings menu, your phone may be running an older Android version or your manufacturer may have renamed the feature. Samsung phones call it Digital Wellbeing and parental controls. Google Pixel phones use the same name. If you still can't find it, search "screen time" in your Settings search bar at the top — most Android phones have a search function that will point you to the right place.
Once you're in Digital Wellbeing, you'll see your total screen time for today, a breakdown by app, and options to set limits. The main controls you'll use are App timers (to limit individual apps) and Bedtime mode (to restrict phone use during set hours).
Key Takeaways
- Digital Wellbeing is built into Android and found under Settings > Digital Wellbeing & parental controls on most phones.
- App timers let you set a daily limit for any single app, and the app closes when time runs out.
- Bedtime mode turns off notifications and dims your screen during hours you choose, making it harder to use your phone at night.
- You can pause app timers for a day or remove limits entirely if you change your mind.
- If you set a PIN, others cannot change your limits without entering the code.
Setting a Daily Limit for a Single App
Tap App timers in the Digital Wellbeing menu. You'll see a list of all your apps. Find the one you want to limit — for example, Instagram or TikTok — and tap it. A circle with numbers around it will appear. Drag the circle clockwise to set how many hours and minutes you want to allow per day. If you want 45 minutes, drag until the circle shows 0:45.
Once you set the timer and confirm, that app will close automatically when you hit the time limit each day. The timer resets at midnight. If you try to open the app after time runs out, you'll see a message saying your time is up, and you won't be able to use it unless you pause the timer for that day.
You can set timers on as many apps as you want. Most people start with social media apps, messaging apps, or games — the ones they spend the most time on. You can see which apps take the most time by looking at the main Digital Wellbeing dashboard before you set timers.
Using Bedtime Mode to Limit Phone Use at Night
Tap Bedtime mode in Digital Wellbeing. Turn it on by tapping the toggle switch. Then set a start time (when you want the mode to turn on) and an end time (when it turns off). For example, you might set it to start at 10 p.m. and end at 7 a.m.
When Bedtime mode is active, your phone's screen turns grayscale (black and white instead of color), notifications are silenced, and the home screen is hidden. You can still make emergency calls and use the alarm. The grayscale screen and silent notifications make your phone less appealing to use, which is the point — it's a gentle push to put the phone down.
If you need to use your phone during Bedtime mode, you can tap the screen to turn color back on temporarily, but you'll have to do it each time. This friction — the extra step — often stops people from mindlessly scrolling at night. You can turn off Bedtime mode entirely by going back to the same menu and toggling it off.
Pausing or Removing Limits You've Set
If you set an app timer and want to pause it for a day, open Digital Wellbeing, tap App timers, find the app, and look for a Pause today button. Tap it, and the timer won't count down for the rest of that day. The timer starts again tomorrow at midnight.
To remove a timer entirely, tap the app in App timers and drag the circle all the way to zero, or look for a delete or remove option (this varies by phone). Confirm the removal, and the app will no longer have a time limit.
For Bedtime mode, straightforward toggle it off in the Bedtime mode menu. You can turn it back on anytime. Neither pausing nor removing limits requires you to restart your phone.
Setting a PIN to Lock Your Screen Time Changes
If you share your phone with family members or want to prevent yourself from changing limits on impulse, set a PIN. In Digital Wellbeing, look for Settings or a gear icon, then find PIN or Parental controls. Tap it and create a four-digit code. Write it down somewhere safe — if you forget it, you may need to reset your phone.
Once a PIN is set, anyone trying to pause a timer, remove a limit, or turn off Bedtime mode will have to enter the PIN first. This is useful if you're setting limits for a child or if you want to make sure you stick to your own limits without being able to easily override them.
You can change or remove the PIN anytime by going back to the same menu and entering your current PIN. If you forget the PIN, you'll need to go to your phone's main Settings, find Accounts or Google, and sign in with your Google account to reset it — the exact steps vary by phone model.
What Happens When an App Timer Runs Out
When you hit the time limit on an app, the app closes when ready and you're sent back to your home screen. You'll see a message saying something like "Your time is up for Instagram" or "Daily limit reached." The app icon may also show a small timer or warning symbol.
You can still see the app on your phone and open it again if you pause the timer for that day. Pausing is quick — usually one tap — but it's a moment where you have to make a conscious choice instead of just opening the app out of habit. That pause is often enough to break the automatic reach-for-your-phone pattern.
The timer resets at midnight, so you get a fresh limit every day. If you use 30 minutes of a 45-minute limit, you have 15 minutes left for the rest of the day. At midnight, the counter goes back to 45 minutes.
Checking Your Screen Time Report
The main Digital Wellbeing dashboard shows you a pie chart or bar graph of how much time you spent in each app today. Tap on any app to see more detail — how many times you opened it, when you used it most, and how much time you spent. This information helps you decide which apps to set timers on.
You can also see your screen time for the past week or month by tapping a date selector at the top of the dashboard (this option is available on most newer Android phones). Watching your usage over time often shows patterns — for example, you might notice you spend more time on your phone on weekends or in the evening.
This report is for your own information only. It doesn't change your limits or affect how your phone works. It's just a way to see what's actually happening instead of guessing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set different screen time limits for different days of the week?
Standard Digital Wellbeing doesn't offer day-by-day limits — timers explore every day and reset at midnight. However, some third-party apps in the Google Play Store offer more detailed scheduling. If you need limits that change by day, search "screen time scheduler" in the Play Store and read reviews before installing.
What if I can't find Digital Wellbeing on my phone?
Older Android phones (before version 9) don't have Digital Wellbeing built in. Check your Android version in Settings > About phone. If you're on Android 8 or earlier, you can read a third-party screen time app from the Google Play Store instead. Some phone makers also offer their own screen time tools — check your phone's Settings menu for anything labeled "wellness," "parental controls," or "usage."
Can I set screen time limits for someone else's phone?
Yes, if you set up parental controls. In Digital Wellbeing, look for Parental controls or a family setup option. You'll need the other person's phone and your own device to link them. The exact steps depend on your phone model, but Google's Family Link app (available in the Play Store) is the standard tool for managing screen time on family members' phones.
Does turning off my phone reset the app timer?
No. App timers are tied to your Google account, not your phone's power state. If you turn your phone off and back on, the timer picks up where it left off. The only way to reset a timer is to pause it for the day or remove it entirely.
What's the difference between app timers and Bedtime mode?
App timers limit how long you can use one specific app per day. Bedtime mode limits when you can use your entire phone by making it less appealing during set hours. You can use both at the same time — for example, a 30-minute Instagram timer and Bedtime mode from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.