Screen time reduction features

• I accidentally blocked an app that I need to access immediately. How can I unblock it?

  Please reach out to our support team at hello@minimalistphone.com for assistance.Popular

• What does app hiding do? Which apps should I hide?

  The "App Hiding" feature in minimalist phone allows you to make certain apps less accessible, thus helping to reduce potential distractions and the urge to mindlessly open certain apps. When an app is hidden, its name is removed from the main list of apps on the home screen, meaning you have to go through a few more steps within the minimalist phone settings to access it. To open a hidden app or to unhide an app, go to minimalist phone settings (accessible via the gear wheel icon on the page witSome readers

• I keep extending the in-app time reminder instead of leaving the app. What can I do?

  If you find yourself regularly extending the in-app time reminder, we recommend trying the "Mindful launch Delay" or "Mindful extension Delay" features. These options can be enabled from the in-app time reminder dialog when initially setting the time you intend to spend in the app. Just click on the "down arrow" to access these settings. If, even with these adjustments, you're still finding it challenging to limit your time in certain apps, you might want to consider using the "Some readers

• How does minimalist phone work?

  minimalist phone is an application designed to help users gain more control over their smartphone usage, reduce screen time, and cultivate a more mindful digital lifestyle. Here's how it works: Custom Home Screen: minimalist phone replaces your typical home screen filled with colorful app icons with a clean, text-based layout. Each application is represented by a simple text entry rather than an icon. This discourages mindless app opening, based on unconscious learned behavior associatedFew readers

• What is the difference between minimalist phone in-app time reminder and Android built-in app time limit?

  minimalist phone's "In-app Time Reminder" and Android's built-in "App Time Limit" both aim to manage app usage, but their approaches differ significantly. Let's compare: minimalist phone's In-app Time Reminder: *1. Custom Time Selection: This feature prompts you to select a desired usage time each time you open an app, encouraging you to set mindful usage limits for every session. 2. Time Extension: Once your selected usage time expires, a popup offers the choice to either leave tFew readers

• What do “mindful launch delay” and “mindful extension delay” features do?

  The "mindful launch delay" and "mindful extension delay" features are designed to help you be more deliberate and intentional about your app usage. "Mindful launch delay" introduces a brief pause before an app launches, giving you a moment to consider if you really want to open it. This can be particularly helpful for apps that might be distracting or addictive. "Mindful extension delay" comes into play when your allotted time for using an app has run out. Before you can extend your time, thisFew readers

• What does Precision Mode do?

  Precision Mode is a feature designed to enhance the accuracy and reliability of the in-app time reminders and app blocking functionalities in minimalist phone. Here are the key benefits of using Precision Mode: Ensures Timely In-App Time Reminders: If you experience issues where in-app time reminders are not showing up or are delayed, Precision Mode can help resolve these problems, ensuring reminders are displayed on time. Prevents False In-App Time Reminders: Precision ModeFew readers

• For which apps does the in-app time reminder work?

  The in-app time reminder is active by default for social media apps and games. However, you can enable it for any app of your choosing. To do so, simply long press on the desired app in the list of all apps, then toggle the "Time Reminder" switch.Few readers

• Why doesn't the "Exit when time is over" feature work on my Xiaomi/Redmi phone?

  Unfortunately, many Chinese manufacturers, including Xiaomi and Redmi, use a modified version of the Android OS, leading to compatibility issues with apps designed for the standard Android OS by Google.Few readers

• Is there a way to disable the in-app time reminder for specific apps?

  Yes, the in-app time reminder is activated by default for all social media apps and games, but you can customize the settings for each app. To activate or deactivate the in-app time reminder for a specific app: Option 1: Long press on the app in the list of all apps, then select "time reminder" to adjust your preferences. Option 2: Go to minimalist phone settings (gear wheel on the page with all apps) → In-app time reminder → Apply to following apps and manage yourFew readers

• The time I selected for the in-app time reminder expires even when the app was not open the entire time. Why does this happen?

  The time set for the in-app time reminder is always "per session" and continues running even when the app is not open. This is by design. For example, if you set a social media app to 10 minutes and spend 5 minutes in the app, then click an advertisement that opens a browser, the session timer keeps running while you're in the browser. When you return to the social media app after 5 minutes in the browser, your session time is over, even though the app itself was only open for 5 minutes.Few readers

• Can I choose a custom amount of time for in-app time reminder?

  Yes! When opening an app with the in-app time reminder active, you’ll be prompted to choose your session length. Tap the down arrow to enter a custom time (e.g., “20min”), then select the “Use” button to open the app.Few readers

• I use the “exit when time is over” mode of the in-app time reminder, but the app is still visible in the recent apps after exiting. Why does

  On Android OS, one app cannot stop the process of another app; it can only move it to the background. This is why you may still see the app in the recent apps view after exiting.Few readers

General features

• Where can I find my hidden apps? How to unhide apps?

  To open a hidden app or to unhide an app, go to minimalist phone settings (accessible via the gear wheel icon on the page with all apps) -Home screen -Hidden apps.Popular

• After installing minimalist phone, my lock screen remained unchanged. Is this expected?

  The minimalist phone app doesn't modify your lock screen's content. It does, however, have the capability to set a new, matching wallpaper for your lock screen if you decide to enable this feature. You can do this by navigating to minimalist phone settings (accessible via the gear wheel icon on the page with all apps) -Display -Automatically set matching lock screen background -Enabled.Some readers

• I'd like to use an image as my wallpaper. What can I do?

  Currently, it's not possible to add an image as a background to minimalist phone as we aim to maintain a minimal user interface devoid of visual distractions for all users. However, there's an alternative you might want to try - you can set an image as your lock screen wallpaper. Just ensure that you first disable the automatic wallpaper setting in minimalist phone. To do this, go to the minimalist phone settings (gear wheel icon on the page with all apps), navigate to 'Display' -'AutomaticalFew readers

• I don’t want to see the permanent notifications from in-app time reminder and notification filter. What can I do?

  Unfortunately, the display of persistent notifications is a requirement set by the Android OS. Without them, the In-app Time Reminder Service or Notification Filter Service could be arbitrarily stopped by the operating system, causing these features to cease functioning. This is akin to when you're listening to music on your phone - the app also needs to display a notification, otherwise, it could be interrupted at any time. However, you do have the option to hide these notifications manually. SFew readers

• Can I modify which app is opened by the swipe-up gesture?

  The swipe-up gesture triggers the app currently designated to manage search actions. To change this, you'll need to clear the defaults in the settings of the app currently being opened. For instance, for Google, long-press on the app name (Google), then go to App Info, and choose 'Clear default'. If you don't find the 'Clear default' option, please follow these steps: Go to your device's Settings -Apps -Default Apps -Opening links. Find and tap the app that is being opened, then select 'CFew readers

• Does minimalist phone support the creation of folders for grouping apps?

  Yes, it does. To create a folder, simply long-press on any app in the all-apps list and select "Move to Folder". Additionally, you can add folders to your favorite apps. To do this, long-press on any folder and select "Add to Favorites".Few readers

• Scrolling through the app list to find the apps I need is time-consuming. Can you suggest a solution?

  There are a few solutions that might help. Firstly, you could activate the "Automatically Open Keyboard" option in the minimalist phone settings. To do this, go to the gear wheel icon on the page with all apps, navigate to 'Home screen' -'Automatically Open Keyboard'. If the app name isn't memorable for you, you can rename it to something more recognizable. Just long press on the app in the all apps list and choose "Rename". Advanced tip: you can even add emojis to the app name to make it morFew readers

• Can I rearrange the order of my favorite apps?

  Certainly! To reorder your favorite apps, simply long-press on any of the apps you wish to rearrange. Once you have long-pressed, you can easily reorder the apps by dragging and dropping them into your desired position. This intuitive drag-and-drop feature allows you to customize the order of your favorite apps according to your preference.Few readers

• I have enabled the "Automatically set matching lock screen background" feature, but nothing seems to happen. What could be the issue?

  It appears that your phone is encountering a common problem shared by certain Chinese phone models like Xiaomi, Redmi, or Huawei. These particular phones do not support the automatic changing of wallpapers, even when the "Automatically set matching lock screen background" feature is activated. This issue has been documented in a relevant discussion that can be found here. To work around this limitation, you canFew readers

• Can I create app shortcuts with minimalist phone?

  Absolutely! minimalist phone supports the creation of app shortcuts, offering you quick access not only to your favorite websites via Chrome or other supportive browsers but also to a wide range of actions or destinations within different apps, like specific locations in Google Maps. To add a shortcut, look for the “Add to home screen” option within the app you're using. It's important to note that the ability to create shortcuts will depend on the features supported by the third-party apps thFew readers