Skip to main content

Screen Time Schedules & Limits

Fami Hero offers powerful controls to balance device usage, lock devices immediately, and develop healthy digital boundaries. This guide covers how to view usage charts, use the Instant Lock feature, set daily limits, configure scheduled downtime, customize specific app permissions (Blocked Apps and Always Allowed), and explains the child's app-blocking overlay.

⚡ 1. Instant Lock (Emergency Device Lock)​

Instant Lock is an emergency control that allows parents to lock the child's device immediately from the Parent Dashboard. It overrides all active daily limits and schedules, making it perfect for when you need your child's immediate attention (e.g., dinner time or family conversations).

How it Works:​

  1. Open the Fami Hero Parent App and view the main Dashboard of your child's profile.
  2. Locate the prominent Instant Lock card near the top of the dashboard.
  3. Toggle the switch ON (active blue/cyan state).
  4. The Parent App transmits an instant command to the child's device via WebSockets.
  5. The child's device locks immediately and displays the full-screen "Device Locked" overlay, showing a large lock icon and the message "Device is Locked".
  6. To unlock, simply toggle the switch OFF from your dashboard.

Parent App Screen: Dashboard Instant Lock Toggle

Caption: Activating the Instant Lock switch from the parent dashboard to restrict device access instantly.

📊 2. Usage Time Charts & App Activity​

Parents can easily monitor their child's screen time activity in real time directly from the parent dashboard:

  • Usage Time Chart: The Screen Time tab displays a bar chart representing the daily average active usage for the last 7 days, giving a quick visual representation of screen time trends.
  • See All App: Tap the See All App link directly below the chart to view a detailed breakdown of individual app usage times, helping you identify which apps are consuming the most time.

Parent App Screen: Usage Time Chart

Caption: Reading the 7-day usage time chart and tapping 'See All App' for detailed activity.

⏱️ 3. Daily Time Limits​

A daily time limit sets a maximum allowable active usage time per day for specific apps or app categories. Once reached, the child's device automatically restricts access to those apps.

How to Configure Daily Time Limits:​

  1. Select your child's profile and tap the Screen Time tab.
  2. Scroll down to the Time rules section and tap Daily Time Limits.
  3. Toggle the App limits switch ON.
  4. Tap the Add limit button at the bottom (or tap an existing limit such as Chrome or Social to modify it).
  5. Select the specific apps or app categories you want to limit, set the duration (e.g., 2m, 1h), and select the repeat frequency (e.g., Every Day).
  6. Tap Save to apply the limits instantly to the child's device.

Parent App Screen: Setting Daily Time Limits

Caption: Configuring daily time limits for specific app groups or categories in the Parent App.

🛌 4. Scheduled Downtime​

Scheduled Downtime locks the device entirely during specific hours (such as bedtime, study hours, or school schedules), regardless of how much daily screen time is remaining. During Downtime, the child cannot open any apps except for those designated in the Always Allowed list.

How to Configure Downtime:​

  1. Navigate to the Screen Time tab in the Parent App.
  2. Scroll to the Time rules section and tap Scheduled Downtime.
  3. Toggle the Activate Downtime switch ON.
  4. Tap the Add Downtime button at the bottom.
  5. Configure the downtime parameters:
    • Name: (e.g., Bedtime or School Hours).
    • Start Time: (e.g., 9:00 PM).
    • End Time: (e.g., 6:00 AM).
    • Repeat: Select specific days of the week.
  6. Tap Save to apply the schedule.

Parent App Screen: Scheduled Downtime

Caption: Creating a scheduled downtime to restrict device access during bedtime or study hours.

🚫 5. Specific App Permissions (Blocked & Always Allowed)​

Instead of locking the entire phone, parents can customize permissions for individual apps. This is ideal for blocking distractive games and social media while keeping educational tools, navigation, and emergency communication accessible.

App Permission States:​

  • Blocked Apps: These apps will always be blocked. This has the highest priority and overrides all other rules, including allowed apps. Opening a blocked app immediately triggers the full-screen "App Blocked" overlay.
  • Always Allowed: These apps will always be available, even during scheduled downtime or when other daily time limits are exceeded. This is highly recommended for school-related or emergency apps like phone, maps, and calculators.

How to Configure App Permissions:​

  1. Open the child's profile and tap the Screen Time tab.
  2. Locate the App permissions section.
  3. To configure Blocked Apps:
    • Tap Blocked Apps.
    • Locate the app you want to restrict in the Choose Apps list and tap the red + button.
    • To unblock an app, tap the red X button next to its name in the Blocked Apps list.
  4. To configure Always Allowed Apps:
    • Tap Always Allowed.
    • Locate the app in the Choose Apps list and tap the blue + button.
    • To remove an app from always allowed list, tap the red X button next to its name in the Allowed Apps list.

Parent App Screen: Blocked Apps

Parent App Screen: Always Allowed

Caption: Configuring specific app rules: Blocked Apps list (left) and Always Allowed list (right).

📲 The Child Overlay Experience​

When a daily cap is reached, a curfew starts, Instant Lock is activated, or a blocked app is launched, the Fami Hero Kids app immediately displays a full-screen blocking overlay over other apps.

[!NOTE] This overlay relies on the Display Over Other Apps permission enabled during setup. If this permission is active, the child cannot minimize, close, or bypass the block screen using the Home or Recent Apps keys.

The block screen displays:

  1. A clear message explaining why the app is blocked (e.g., "Time Limit Reached", "Bedtime Curfew Active", or "Device Locked by Parent").
  2. The remaining time until the device unblocks (only available during scheduled Downtime curfews).
  3. A Go Back or Okay button to return to the child's home screen.
  4. A Request More Time button (only available when daily app limits are exceeded).

The screen also features a friendly 3D mascot illustration at the top.

Child Device Screen: App Blocked / Time Out Overlay

Caption: Screen display seen by the child when a blocked app is launched, a curfew is active, or the daily limit is exceeded.

⏭️ Next Step​

If your child needs to use the device past the active limits, they can submit a request. Continue to Extra Time Requests to see how this process works.