How to Check Screen Time on Android

This article explains how to enable Digital Wellbeing & parental controls on Android 10 and up. It also outlines how to set app timers, bedtime mode, focus mode, and parental controls.

How to Set Up Digital Wellbeing on Android

Android’s Digital Wellbeing feature tracks your daily screen time, notifications, and phone unlocks. The Digital Wellbeing feature is accessible through your device’s settings. You need to enable it as it’s not on by default. Here’s how to set it up. 

1. Open Settings.

2. Tap Digital Wellbeing & parental controls.

3. Tap the three-dot menu on the top right and select Manage your data.

4. Toggle on Daily device usage.

   The circle graph on the Digital Wellbeing screen shows which apps you’ve been using. Inside the circle, you can see your total screen time, and underneath that, how many times you’ve unlocked and how many notifications you’ve received.

5. Your smartphone will now log app usage, notifications, and device unlocks.

   You can also access Digital Wellbeing via an app shortcut. Scroll down on the main screen and toggle on Show icon in the app list.

Keep Your Screen Time in Check

The Digital Wellbeing app has two types of tools to help you reduce screen time and distractions: Ways to disconnect and Reduce interruptions.

Ways to disconnect include app timers, bedtime mode, and focus mode. The Reduce interruptions sections has shortcuts to app notification management and Do Not Disturb mode.

How to Set Up App Timers

To cut down on screen time, you can set a daily timer for the apps you use the most, so you don’t get stuck down the Instagram rabbit hole or playing a game when you should be working or interacting with others. Once you’ve hit the limit, you’ll get a notification that the timer ran out, the app icon will grey out, and you won’t be able to open it until after midnight unless you turn it off manually.

1. Tap Dashboard.

2. You’ll see a list of the apps you use most frequently. Tap an app to view screen time, notifications, and times opened on a daily or hourly clip. Tap the hourglass icon next to an app to set a timer.

   You can also add a timer by tapping App Timer on the app info page.

3. Set a time limit (all timers reset at midnight) and tap OK.

4. To remove a timer, tap the garbage can icon next to it.

How to Set Up Bedtime Mode

Bedtime mode helps you wind down by silencing your phone and turning the screen grayscale, so you’re not staying up late scrolling through social media or reading.

You can set up the bedtime mode based on a schedule or when you plug in the phone to charge before heading to bed. In both scenarios, you set a sleep time and wake time.

Tap Customize to have Do Not Disturb to turn on when you go to sleep and choose whether the screen goes grayscale.

How to Use Focus Mode

Focus mode lets you temporarily pause apps manually or on a schedule. You can choose the time and day of the week or multiple.

From here, you can also take a break from focus mode if you need some time to goof around.

How to Reduce Interruptions in Digital Wellbeing

In the Reduce Interruptions section, you can manage app notifications and turn on do not disturb mode.

Manage Kids' Screen Time With Parental Controls

The last section is for parental controls. You can manage a child’s account if you are the default parent account on their device. 

Set Up Parental Controls On Your Phone

You can start setting up parental controls from the Digital wellbeing settings page, but then you'll need to install Family Link, a Google app. The app requires that both you and your child have a Google account.

1. Go to Settings > Digital wellbeing & parental controls.

2. Tap Set up parental controls at the bottom of the screen.

3. Tap Get started on the next screen.

4. Tap Parent.

5. You’ll see a prompt to download the Family Link app. Download it and follow the on-screen prompts.

Set Up Your Child's Phone

You'll need to link your email accounts on your child's phone before you can manage their screen time and other settings.

1. On your child’s phone, go to Settings > Digital wellbeing & parental controls.

2. Tap Set up parental controls at the bottom of the screen.

3. Tap Get started on the next screen.

4. Tap Child or teen.

5. Tap add or create account for your child if it doesn't show up on the screen. Once you've added it, select it from the list. Then follow the on-screen prompts.