Being cut off in the middle of something important, fun, or interesting isn’t something anyone enjoys – and screen time is no exception. As parents, we know it’s important for kids to understand limits and boundaries, but we also know not all screen time is created equal.
How kids use their devices goes beyond screen time: letting them listen to music in the background as they work, check in with mom or dad when they’re out the house, or supporting their wellbeing with health tools. Shutting them off from these resources once screen time’s up can be frustrating.
New for Android users, Always allowed is our latest feature introduced to ensure access to those much-needed apps while others stay blocked.
What is Always allowed?
The digital world isn’t black or white – while we might want to set a healthy limit on screen time to help reduce endless content streams, keep tabs on gaming activity, or shut off social feeds, there’s no denying that children still need access to digital tools that can help make their lives (and yours) much easier! As time goes by, you can add or remove apps from your child’s Always allowed list, giving kids and teens a more age-appropriate experience and keeping up with your family’s changing needs.
Always allowed helps you navigate those gray areas by giving kids access to apps that are important to their learning and development, tools that help them stay in touch and connect with others, or simply apps that they enjoy using – it’s your call.
How to set up Always allowed
Getting started is simple. With the latest update, you can make sure your kids’ key apps are always accessible*:
Open the Rules section
Head to your Parent Dashboard and go to your child’s Rules. This is where you control app access and screen time limits.
Go to Games & apps
Tap on Games & apps to see all the apps installed on your child’s device.
Choose the apps to allow
Pick the app you want your child to keep using, such as Spotify for music or an educational app for homework, and check ‘Always allowed’. The app will now stay accessible even during downtime events like Routines or Family pause.
Use the filter for easy management
If you have multiple Always allowed apps, filtering makes it easy. Open the filter menu in Games & apps and select Always allowed. You will see only the apps you have approved.
*Always allowed is currently available on Android devices only.
