Set a daily app timer with Digital Wellbeing
These steps follow Google’s Android Help documentation. Menu names can vary slightly by manufacturer and Android version.
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Digital Wellbeing & parental controls (or Digital Wellbeing).
- Tap App timers. On some phones, open the dashboard and tap the hourglass next to an app.
- Next to the app you want to limit, tap Set timer.
- Choose how much time you can spend in that app each day.
- Tap OK.
When you run out of time, the app closes and its icon dims, and you cannot use it again until the timer resets at midnight unless you edit or delete the timer.
Tip: if you cannot find Digital Wellbeing, search “Digital Wellbeing” in the Settings search bar. You can also turn on Show icon in the app list to open it like an app.
Make the limit harder to undo with a PIN
Removing a timer only takes a few taps, which is easy to do in a weak moment. Some Android versions let you add a separate PIN:
- Open Settings → Digital Wellbeing → App limits → App limits PIN.
- Turn on PIN for app time limits and unlock your phone.
- Enter and confirm a 4-digit PIN.
If someone you trust sets the PIN, the limit becomes much firmer.
Pause apps on a schedule with Focus mode
Focus mode is better than a timer for protected periods such as work hours.
- Open Settings → Digital Wellbeing → Focus mode.
- Select the apps you want to pause.
- Tap Turn on now, or Set a schedule to choose days and times.
While Focus mode is on, the selected apps cannot be opened and do not send notifications. Take a break temporarily unpauses them for a short period.
Limit apps at night with Bedtime mode
Settings → Digital Wellbeing → Bedtime mode turns the screen grayscale and silences notifications on a schedule or while charging. It does not block apps, but it makes them less appealing late at night.
Limits inside the apps themselves
Many apps have their own reminders: Instagram’s daily limit and break reminders, TikTok’s daily screen time and screen time breaks, and YouTube’s take-a-break and bedtime reminders. They are easy to dismiss but useful as a second layer. See the guides for Instagram and TikTok.
What Android’s built-in limits cannot do
App timers count total daily time. They do not cover:
- A maximum length for one session. A single 90-minute session uses the whole day’s allowance, after it has already happened.
- A limit on openings. Twenty quick checks may use little time but still fragment your day.
- A minimum break between visits. There is no built-in way to say “not again for 30 minutes”.
- A reason or plan before opening. The app opens straight to the feed.
- Different limits per time of day, beyond what Focus mode schedules provide.
Session limits, opening limits and breaks with Scroll Hush
Scroll Hush adds these controls for the apps you choose to monitor. You can set shared limits for all monitored apps or individual limits per app:
| Limit | What it does |
|---|---|
| Daily time | Total time per day in an app |
| Maximum session | Longest a single visit can last |
| Sessions per day | How many times you can open the app |
| Minimum break | Shortest gap between two visits |
| Quiet Hours | Periods when your restrictions apply |
| Grace period | A deliberate, recorded extension when you need it |
Each opening also starts with a planned time for that visit, which is your intention for one session, separate from the maximum you configured. Enforcement can be softer or stricter depending on your settings, and it depends on Android permissions and device behavior. See how Scroll Hush works.
Frequently asked questions
How do I put a time limit on an app on Android?
Open Settings → Digital Wellbeing → App timers, tap Set timer next to the app, choose a daily limit and tap OK.
Why did my app timer stop working?
Timers reset at midnight, can be removed from the same menu, and some work or school accounts do not support them. Check that the timer still exists and consider adding an App limits PIN.
Can I set a time limit for a single session on Android?
Not with Digital Wellbeing alone, which only sets daily limits. In-app break reminders on Instagram and TikTok, or a dedicated app such as Scroll Hush, can limit individual sessions.
Can I limit how many times I open an app?
Android does not offer an opening limit natively. Scroll Hush can limit sessions per day and require a minimum break between visits for monitored apps.