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To limit game time, use your phone’s built-in controls: on iPhone, go to Settings > Screen Time > App Limits > Add Limit and choose Games or specific games; on Android, go to Settings > Digital Wellbeing > App timers and set a timer for each game. Parents can also set child-specific limits through Apple Screen Time or Google Family Link.
Choose the control that fits your phone
| Control | What it can limit | Timing | Parent setup |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone Screen Time | Games category or selected individual games | App Limits can be customized by day | Select the child in Screen Time before configuring limits |
| Android Digital Wellbeing | One app per timer | Timers reset at midnight | For a child, use Family Link or available on-device parental controls |
Apple’s App Limits instructions and Google’s Digital Wellbeing instructions describe the standard routes. Android menu names and steps can vary by device.
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Set a daily game limit on iPhone
- Open Settings > Screen Time > App Limits.
- Tap Add Limit.
- Choose Games to limit the category, or expand Games and select only the games you want to include. If you select multiple categories or apps together, the allowance applies to that selection.
- Tap Next, set the time allowance, then tap Add.
To give games different allowances on different days, use Customize Days while setting the limit. For a child’s iPhone, open Screen Time and select the child under Family before adding the App Limit. Apple’s App Limits guide and child Screen Time guide provide the setup details.
Screen Time also includes usage information, schedules, and related controls. Apple says settings and reports can sync across iPhone, iPad, and Mac when Share Across Devices is enabled; this is a syncing option, not a guarantee that every device or account configuration is managed automatically. See Apple’s Screen Time overview.
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Set an app timer for a game on Android
- Open Settings > Digital Wellbeing. If you do not see the option, search Settings for “Digital Wellbeing” or “app timers.”
- Open App timers.
- Choose the game, tap Set timer, select the time allowance, then tap OK.
- Repeat for each other game you want to limit; Digital Wellbeing timers apply to individual apps.
When the allowance runs out, “the app closes and its icon dims,” according to Google Android Help. The timer resets at midnight. Google says you can delete the timer to use the app again before it resets. Some work or school accounts may not support app timers, and steps can vary by device.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Set game limits for a child
On an iPhone
Open Settings > Screen Time, select the child under Family, then configure App Limits for the Games category or selected games. Apple’s child Screen Time instructions explain managing a child’s settings.
On Android with Family Link
- Open the Family Link parent app and select the child.
- Go to Screen time > Time limits > App limits.
- Choose the game, tap Set limit, select the hours and minutes, then save.
Google also documents on-device parental controls that can include app limits, daily limits, downtime, and blocked apps. The available route depends on the device and family setup; see Google’s Family Link app limits guide and Android parental controls guide.
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- Phone Lock Box for Screen Time Control – Lock phones away to reduce screen addiction and help kids and teens stay focused during homework, study time, family meals and bedtime routines.
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If the limit is not working as expected
- Android menu labels differ: Search Settings for Digital Wellbeing or app timers; Google notes that steps vary by device.
- The Android game opens again: A Digital Wellbeing timer starts a new day at midnight. Deleting the timer allows access before that reset.
- You want to limit only certain iPhone games: Expand the Games category during setup and select specific apps rather than applying the allowance to the whole category.
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