At a time when we depend more and more on our smartphones, it is important to be mindful of how you use your phone. Android offers a powerful feature called Digital Wellbeing that gives you insight into your phone usage and tools to limit it. In this article you will discover everything about Digital Wellbeing and how you can use it for a healthier balance.

What is Digital Wellbeing?

Digital Wellbeing (called "Digitaal welzijn" on Dutch-language phones) is a collection of tools and settings developed by Google to help you build a healthier relationship with your phone. The feature gives you detailed information about how much time you spend on your phone, which apps you use most, how often you unlock your phone and how many notifications you receive.

Besides insight, Digital Wellbeing also offers tools to limit your usage. You can set daily time limits for apps, turn on a Bedtime mode that helps you sleep better, and use Focus mode to block distractions when you need to concentrate.

Finding and opening Digital Wellbeing

To use Digital Wellbeing, you first need to know where to find it. The location can differ slightly depending on your Android version and phone brand.

On stock Android

Go to Settings > Digital Wellbeing & parental controls. You will immediately see a dashboard with your usage statistics for today.

On Samsung phones

Go to Settings > Digital Wellbeing and parental controls, or search for 'Digital Wellbeing' in the search bar of the settings.

Adding a shortcut

You can add a Digital Wellbeing shortcut to your Quick Settings. Swipe down from the top of your screen, tap the pencil icon to edit tiles, and add the Digital Wellbeing tile.

Understanding the dashboard

The Digital Wellbeing dashboard is the heart of the feature. Here you can see at a glance how much time you have spent on your phone today, shown in a pie chart.

Screen time

Total screen time shows how many minutes or hours your screen was on. Tap this section to see a detailed breakdown per app and per hour of the day.

Notifications

This number shows how many notifications you have received today. A high number of notifications can point to apps that demand too much of your attention. You can see which apps send the most notifications and mute them if you want.

Unlocks

The number of times you have unlocked your phone gives insight into how often you reach for it. Frequent unlocks can point to habitual behavior or phone addiction.

Setting app timers

One of the most powerful features of Digital Wellbeing is the ability to set daily time limits for apps. As soon as you reach the limit, the app is paused for the rest of the day.

Setting a timer

In the dashboard, tap the app you want to set a limit for. Tap 'App timer' and set the time you want, for example 30 minutes or 1 hour. Tap OK to activate the timer.

What happens when time is up?

When you reach the limit, the app icon turns gray and you can no longer open the app. You receive a notification that your daily limit has been reached. The timer resets automatically at midnight.

Bypassing the timer

You can always decide to ignore the timer by going to the Digital Wellbeing settings and turning the timer off temporarily or permanently. This takes a conscious action, which helps you make deliberate choices.

Turning on Bedtime mode

Bedtime mode helps you put your phone down and sleep better. When this mode is active, your screen changes to grayscale, notifications are muted and Do Not Disturb is turned on.

Setting up Bedtime mode

Go to Digital Wellbeing > Bedtime mode. You can turn the mode on manually or set a schedule. For example, set Bedtime mode to start every evening at 22:00 and end at 7:00.

Why grayscale?

The gray screen is not a bug but a feature. Colors on your screen, especially blue light, can keep your brain awake. A grayscale screen makes your phone less appealing and helps you fall asleep faster.

Using Focus mode

Focus mode is ideal for moments when you need to concentrate, such as during work, study or family time. In this mode you can pause specific apps that distract you.

Setting up Focus mode

Go to Digital Wellbeing > Focus mode. Select the apps you want to pause, such as social media apps, games or news apps. Tap 'Turn on now' or set a schedule.

Taking a break

Sometimes you need a short break, even during Focus mode. You can take a break of 5, 15 or 30 minutes, after which Focus mode is automatically turned back on.

Optimizing Do Not Disturb

Do Not Disturb is a related feature that mutes notifications. Combined with Digital Wellbeing, you can create a calmer phone experience.

Setting a schedule

Go to Settings > Sound > Do Not Disturb. Set schedules for times when you do not want to be disturbed, such as during meetings, at night or during meals.

Allowing exceptions

You can allow certain contacts or apps to break through Do Not Disturb. For example, set calls from favorite contacts to always come through, even when Do Not Disturb is on.

Parental controls

Digital Wellbeing also includes parental control tools through Family Link. With these you can monitor and limit your children's phone usage.

As a parent, download the Family Link app and link your children's devices. You can then set screen time limits, approve or block apps, and see your child's location.

Daily limits

Set how much time your child may spend on the device each day. You can also set times when the device locks automatically, for example during school hours or at night.

Tips for successful digital wellbeing

Setting up Digital Wellbeing is the first step, but sticking with it is the real challenge. Here are some tips for success:

Start small

Do not set limits that are too strict and that you will not meet anyway. Start with a realistic goal, such as 30 minutes less per day, and cut back gradually.

Analyze your patterns

Review your Digital Wellbeing statistics every week. Which apps take up the most time? At what moments do you reach for your phone most often? Use these insights to make targeted improvements.

Replace screen time with other activities

Freeing up time by using your phone less only works if you spend that time well. Plan activities such as reading, exercising or time with family to fill the freed-up time meaningfully.

Conclusion

Digital Wellbeing on Android is a valuable tool for using your phone more mindfully. By gaining insight into your habits and using tools to limit your usage, you can find a healthier balance. Whether you set app timers, turn on Bedtime mode or use Focus mode, every step helps you take back control of your digital life.

Frequently asked questions

Can I turn off Digital Wellbeing completely?

Yes, you can turn off individual features such as app timers, Bedtime mode and Focus mode separately. Statistics are collected by default, but in some cases you can also limit data sharing in the settings.

Does the app timer reset automatically every day?

Yes, app timers reset automatically at midnight. You start each day with a new time limit for every app you have set a timer for.

Does Digital Wellbeing also work on Samsung phones?

Yes, Samsung phones have Digital Wellbeing built in. You can find it under Settings > Digital Wellbeing and parental controls. The features are similar to stock Android, although Samsung sometimes offers its own additions.

Can I see how much time I spent on my phone last week?

Yes, in the Digital Wellbeing dashboard you can view your screen time for the past seven days. Tap the screen time chart to see daily and weekly statistics.

Looking for WordPress hosting? View our offer.