Android · Apps
Set a daily usage limit that pauses an app when reached
App Timers let you set a daily time budget for a specific app; once the limit is reached the app's icon grays out and it can't be reopened until the timer resets at midnight or is manually paused for the day.
How to open App Timers
- Open Settings
- Tap Digital Wellbeing & parental controls
- Tap the usage dashboard ring chart to see per-app time
- Tap the hourglass icon next to an app
- Set the daily time limit in minutes
What you should know
- Set independently per app rather than as one global limit
- App icon dims and shows a warning banner as the limit approaches
- Timer resets automatically at midnight local time
- Can be paused for the current day from the Digital Wellbeing dashboard
Why it matters
Global screen time totals rarely change behavior on their own, but a hard limit on a specific app, like a social media or game app, creates a real interruption that prompts a conscious choice to keep going or stop. Setting timers on just the one or two apps that tend to consume disproportionate time is usually far more effective than trying to manage overall phone use in the abstract.
Best practices
- Target the one or two most time-consuming apps rather than setting timers on everything
- Set realistic limits that reduce but don't eliminate use, since unrealistic limits get abandoned quickly
- Review actual usage data before choosing a limit so it's grounded in real habits rather than a guess
- Use app timers alongside bedtime mode for a more complete usage routine
Common problems and fixes
- App reopens even after the timer expired
- Force-close the app fully, since an already-open session may continue briefly until the next check
- Timer resets earlier or later than expected
- Confirm the device's time zone and clock settings are correct, since the reset is tied to local midnight
- Can't find the option to pause a timer for today
- Open the Digital Wellbeing dashboard directly rather than the app's own settings
Tips and tricks
- Set a slightly tighter timer on weekdays and a looser one on weekends by adjusting it manually
- Pair with grayscale mode for the target app's icon as an extra visual deterrent
Frequently asked questions
Can I bypass a timer once it expires?
Yes, a temporary override option is usually available, though it's intentionally an extra step to discourage casual bypassing.
Do app timers work for pre-installed system apps?
Most core system apps like Phone or Settings are excluded from timers by design.
Is this different from the overall Digital Wellbeing dashboard?
Yes, the dashboard shows total usage across all apps, while timers are individual per-app caps.
Related settings
- Digital Wellbeing & Parental ControlsDigital Wellbeing shows exactly how much time you spend on your phone and in each app, with tools like app timers, Focus mode, and Bedtime mode to help rebalance that. The same dashboard connects to Family Link, letting a parent set screen time limits, app approval, and content filters on a child's supervised device.
- Notifications Per AppThis app-level screen lets you fine-tune notifications for one specific app, toggling individual notification channels such as promotions, messages, or reminders, and setting importance levels without affecting notifications from any other app.
- Family Link SupervisionFamily Link connects a child's supervised Google Account to a parent's device, allowing approval of app downloads, screen time limits, content filters, and location checks directly from Android Settings or the Family Link app.
More Apps guides for Android
- Apps & Default AppsThe Apps settings page lists every installed app along with its permissions, storage use, and battery impact, and lets you set which app opens automatically for tasks like browsing, messaging, or phone calls when more than one option is installed. This is also where you uninstall, disable, or force-stop an app directly.
- App InfoApp info is the dedicated settings page for a single installed app, showing its permissions, storage and cache usage, notification controls, battery behavior, and options to force stop, uninstall, or disable it.
- Special App AccessSpecial app access holds a set of sensitive, less-common permissions — like displaying over other apps, device admin access, or usage access — that aren't part of the normal runtime permission prompts.
- Unused AppsAndroid automatically detects apps you haven't opened in months and can revoke their runtime permissions or archive them — removing most of the app's files while keeping its icon and data so it can be quickly restored.
- Dual AppsDual apps (branded Dual Messenger on Samsung, App Cloner or Parallel Space on others) creates a second, independent instance of a supported app so you can stay signed into two accounts — like two WhatsApp numbers — on one phone at once.
- Permission ManagerPermission Manager organizes app permissions by category, such as Camera, Location, Microphone, and Contacts, so you can see and revoke access across all apps at once instead of checking each app individually.