The simplest way to limit gaming on a phone is a built-in app timer. On iPhone, use Screen Time’s App Limits and set a daily limit on the Games category or one specific game. On Android, set an app timer in Digital Wellbeing. For a child’s phone, Apple’s Family Sharing and Google’s Family Link let you set the limits from your own device. The timers work better if you also switch off the game features built to keep you playing, like notifications and streaks.
How to limit games on iPhone with Screen Time #
- Open Settings and tap Screen Time. Turn it on if you haven’t.
- Tap App Limits, then Add Limit.
- Tick the Games category to limit every game at once, or expand it and choose a single game.
- Tap Next, set the daily time, and choose which days it applies to.
- Turn on Block at End of Limit if you want the game to stay locked when time runs out.
- Tap Add.
When the time is up, the game shows a limit screen. Without a passcode, anyone can tap to ignore it for a minute, 15 minutes, or the rest of the day, which is fine if you just want a nudge. For a firmer limit, set a Screen Time passcode, and if you’re trying to rein yourself in, have someone else choose it.
Downtime is the other useful setting. It blocks everything except the apps you allow during a schedule you pick, such as 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., which is a simple way to stop late-night “one more game” sessions.
How to limit games on Android with Digital Wellbeing #
- Open Settings and tap Digital Wellbeing & parental controls.
- Tap the chart or Dashboard to see how long you’ve spent in each app.
- Find the game and tap the timer (hourglass) icon next to it.
- Set a daily time and tap OK.
When the timer runs out, the game’s icon turns gray and it won’t open until midnight, unless you go back and remove the timer. Bedtime mode turns the screen grayscale and silences notifications on a schedule, and Focus mode pauses the apps you choose whenever you switch it on. Menu names vary a little by brand, so search Settings for “Digital Wellbeing” or “app timer” if you can’t find them.
Setting limits on a child’s phone #
- iPhone and iPad: set up Family Sharing, then set up Screen Time for your child from your own phone. You can set App Limits, Downtime and content ratings, and turn on Ask to Buy so purchases need your approval.
- Android: install Google Family Link on your phone and link your child’s account. You can set a daily limit, limits for individual apps, a bedtime, and approvals for new downloads.
Setting limits from your own device means your child can’t change them without your passcode or account. Talking about the limit first helps too. A timer that’s agreed on causes far fewer arguments than one that appears out of nowhere.
Why games are hard to put down #
Timers help, but many games are designed to make stopping feel costly. Knowing the tricks makes them easier to ignore. We explain the psychology behind them in why mobile games are so addictive. These are the ones that most often keep people playing past their limit:
| Hook | How it keeps you playing | What to do about it |
|---|---|---|
| Daily streaks and login rewards | Missing a day feels like losing something | Decide in advance that streaks don’t matter, or skip games built on them |
| Energy that refills while you’re away | A notification says you’re “full” again | Turn off the game’s notifications |
| Team chests, guild events, “send a life” | Stopping lets your friends down | Play solo, or tell your team you’re taking a break |
| Limited-time events | A countdown makes today feel urgent | Remind yourself there will be another event |
| Instant restart and revive offers | The next try starts before you decide to stop | Set a stopping rule before you start |
The social features deserve a special mention. Asking friends for lives or joining a team event feels friendly, but it also makes quitting awkward, because other people are waiting on you. If a game’s group features stress you out, mute its chat and play at your own pace.
To turn off a game’s notifications, go to Settings, then Notifications on iPhone, or Settings, then Apps on Android, pick the game, and switch them off. It’s the single most effective change for most people. For games designed without any of these timers, see our list of mobile games without energy systems.
Stopping rules that work #
A timer is a backstop. A rule you set before you start is what actually ends most sessions:
- Stop on a win. Quit after a new best, a medal or a finished level, while you feel good about it.
- Three strikes. If three tries in a row go worse than usual, you’re tired, and more tries will only frustrate you.
- Tie it to something else. One game while the kettle boils, not “until I’m bored.”
- Keep the phone out of bed. Charging it in another room does more than any setting.
Arcade games like our own Flappy Kittens (Flappy Cat on Google Play) run on the instant restart. A crash puts you back at the start in about a second, which is exactly what makes “one more run” so easy. It has no energy, no streaks and no events, and it pauses the moment you leave the app, so you can stop mid-run. Its one reminder, a daily notification, can be switched off in the game’s settings. A good rule for it is to stop when you earn a new medal. Medals come at 8, 18, 35, 60 and 100 points, so there’s always a natural finish line.
When is it more than a habit? #
Most people who feel they play too much just need a nudge. The World Health Organization does recognize gaming disorder, but it’s a narrow diagnosis, and the WHO stresses that it affects only a small proportion of people who play games.
If gaming is hurting your sleep, work, school or relationships and you can’t cut back on your own, talk to a doctor or a counselor. For the positive side of playing, see our look at casual gaming and mental health.
Frequently asked questions #
Can I put a time limit on just one game? #
Yes. In Screen Time’s App Limits on iPhone, expand the Games category and pick a single game. On Android, set an app timer on that game in Digital Wellbeing. Both work without limiting your other apps.
What happens when an app timer runs out? #
On iPhone you see a limit screen, and you can ignore it unless a passcode is set with Block at End of Limit. On Android the game’s icon turns gray and it stays paused until midnight, unless you remove the timer.
How do I stop my child from changing Screen Time settings? #
Set up Screen Time or Family Link from your own device through Family Sharing or Google’s family group, so the settings are controlled by your account. Use a passcode your child doesn’t know, and keep their phone’s software up to date.
How much gaming is too much? #
There’s no single number that fits everyone. A better test is what gaming pushes out. If it’s cutting into sleep, schoolwork, your job or time with people, it’s time to cut back, however many minutes that is.