Phonewell

Child's first phone

Sensible limits on time and content, a bedtime, and a phone you can always locate.

5 settingsAbout 21 minutes in all

In this order

  1. Set healthy limits on your child’s phone

    Google’s free Family Link lets you approve apps, set daily screen time and see where your child’s phone is, from your own phone.

    Family Link, about 10 minutes, on Samsung, Pixel and Xiaomi
  2. Set your own daily limit for an app

    Pick an app that eats your time and give it a daily limit. When the time is up, the app pauses until tomorrow.

    App timers, about 2 minutes, on Samsung and Pixel
  3. Let your phone wind down with you at night

    At bedtime the phone goes quiet and grey, so it stops pulling you back in, while the people who matter can still reach you.

    Bedtime mode, about 4 minutes, on Samsung, Pixel and Xiaomi
  4. Find, ring or lock a lost phone

    If your phone goes missing, you can see it on a map, ring it at full volume or lock it from another device.

    Find Hub, about 3 minutes, on Samsung, Pixel and Xiaomi
  5. Stop ads in almost every app

    One setting points your phone at AdGuard's free filtering service, which blocks most ads and trackers in apps and browsers. There is nothing to install and no account.

    Private DNS ad blocking, about 2 minutes, on Samsung, Pixel and Xiaomi

Not every step exists on every phone. Each guide shows only the brands we have steps for, and Phonewell skips what your model doesn't have.

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