Setting Up and Managing Screen Time on Android

Screen time management is an essential aspect of maintaining a healthy and balanced digital lifestyle. With Android's built-in features, you can easily set up and manage screen time limits for yourself or your family members. In this tutorial, we will guide you through the process of setting up and effectively managing screen time on Android devices.

Prerequisites

• An Android device running Android 9.0 (Pie) or later versions.

Step 1: Access the Digital Wellbeing Feature

1. Open the Settings app on your Android device.
2. Scroll down and tap on "Digital Wellbeing & Parental Controls".

Step 2: Enable Digital Wellbeing

1. In the Digital Wellbeing & Parental Controls menu, tap on "Digital Wellbeing".
2. If it's your first time accessing this feature, tap "Get started".
3. Grant the necessary permissions for Digital Wellbeing to function properly.

Step 3: Setting Up Screen Time Limits

1. Under the Dashboard section, you will see a graph representing your app usage. Below the graph, tap on "Set up" under the "Screen time" category.
2. On the next page, you will see a list of your apps and the amount of time spent on each one. Tap on the app you want to set a time limit for.
3. Select the daily time limit by dragging the slider to the desired duration. You can also opt for "Unlimited" or "Set custom limit" based on your preference.
4. Repeat steps 2-3 for each app you wish to set time limits for.

Step 4: Setting Up a Wind Down Schedule

1. Wind Down helps you establish healthy bedtime habits by activating grayscale mode and enabling Do Not Disturb. To set it up, go back to the Dashboard section.
2. Scroll down and tap on "Bedtime mode".
3. Tap on "Turn scheduling on" and set the desired start and end time for Wind Down mode.
4. Customize the settings by enabling or disabling grayscale mode, allowing certain apps to stay active, or adjusting other preferences.

Step 5: Managing App Usage

1. From the Dashboard section, tap on "See all activity".
2. Now you can view detailed insights into your app usage patterns. Tap on individual apps to explore metrics like the number of notifications received or the amount of time spent on each app.
3. If an app appears to be excessively used, you can set app timers to limit your time spent on it. To do this, tap on the app and select "Create timer" or "Set limit" depending on your Android version. Set the desired duration and tap "OK".

Step 6: Setting Up Parental Controls

1. Android allows you to set up parental controls to manage and restrict your child's access to certain apps and content.
2. In the Digital Wellbeing & Parental Controls menu, tap on "Parental controls".
3. Tap "Get started" if it's your first time setting up parental controls.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to create a parental control PIN and add the child's account.
5. Customize the settings based on your requirements, such as setting screen time limits, managing app access, or content filtering.

Congratulations! You have successfully set up and learned how to manage screen time on your Android device. Take advantage of the Digital Wellbeing tools to maintain a healthy and balanced relationship with your phone or help your family members develop healthy digital habits. Enjoy being in control of your screen time!