Google's Digital Wellbeing App Is Built Into Android but Often Overlooked
Google's Digital Wellbeing app has over 10 billion installs but often goes unnoticed, despite offering screen-time tracking, app timers and focus tools.
Engadget reported on Oct. 26 that the app is Google's built-in usage-tracking tool and carries a 4.1-star rating from 1.49 million reviews. It shows a daily chart of screen time, device unlocks, notifications received and the apps used most. Users can tap an app to see how much time they spent in it that day.
Digital Wellbeing also lets users set app timers that cap daily usage for specific tools. When a timer runs out, the app's icon dims and the app closes for the day; timers reset at midnight. Timers can be applied to groups of apps, such as social media.
Not every Android phone ships with Google's exact app. Samsung Galaxy phones use Samsung's own version, and Huawei has also shipped its own alternative, Engadget reported. Google requires Android manufacturers to include screen-time and parental-control tools at the top level of Settings, but allows them to use either Google's app or their own equivalent. The apps generally offer the same features, with brands adding extras of their own.
Samsung's version compares time spent playing games with time spent on social media, productivity and finance apps. It can also track how much time a user spends on the phone while driving or walking.
Within Digital Wellbeing, Bedtime mode fades the screen to grayscale and sets Do Not Disturb on a schedule, an effort to encourage users to put down the phone before bed. Focus mode pauses distracting apps with one tap and blocks notifications from them.
Samsung adds modes such as Work mode through Modes and Routines. When Work mode is enabled, the phone is set to vibrate only and power saving is turned on. Users can choose to turn the mode on automatically within a certain time period or when they open an app such as a company message tool. They can select a time interval and weekdays, and can trigger the mode at their office if GPS is turned on. Other modes and routines can be set for situations including the theater, driving, exercising, relaxing and gaming, and users can create their own.
Engadget said users should try the app, evaluate how much time they spend on their phone and see how it can help.