I finally fixed my kid's screen time by switching to this dedicated launcher

Although Android’s built-in Digital Wellbeing has existed for years, I feel it’s a bit of a mixed bag.

It’s supposed to be the right tool for managing screen time, and I agree it’s really effective for many users in curbing their screen time and keeping them from getting glued to their screens.

However, the feature often adds usability friction, especially on shared Android devices.

When you’re sharing a phone or tablet with your kids, it feels like you’re just putting up a temporary solution. While you fix one problem, another one appears.

I’ve been down this endless loop for quite some time. I’ve slapped app timers on games and restricted the Google Play Store to keep my 7-year-old from consuming the intended free time I set.

But every time I wanted to use my own tablet, it was personally a chore to turn off many of the safeguards I’d set in Digital Wellbeing.

On my Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE, I’ve tested plenty of paid apps and launchers. Nothing quite hit the spot without demanding a monthly subscription fee or a one-time payment.

That was until I stumbled upon Before Launcher | Go Minimal.

Although I was skeptical at first, eventually I found it to be a game-changer for managing my son’s screen time.

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By  Sanuj Bhatia

Reality with an Android shared device

Android’s built-in tools aren’t enough

Like many parents, I’m not planning to hand over a separate device to my son until a certain age, or when he’s old enough to be responsible.

Still, I’m not giving up easily and just handing out a phone or tablet. And if I do, I intend to use Family Link to manage apps and screen time and to oversee his accounts.

But until that time comes, I feel it would be ideal to share a device with him.

In my case, I let him use my Galaxy Tab S10 FE, which he does mostly for homework and online activities.

However, supervision is always a challenge for parents. It’s inevitable that he spends more screen time than planned.

Even worse, my wife and I find that he’s already hooked on games and YouTube Shorts after just a brief lapse in supervision. It feels entirely counterproductive.

I’ve used Digital Wellbeing, but it’s a headache when I need to jump on the tablet and manually reset timers in the settings.

It slows me down and, frankly, makes me want to reach for my laptop or Google Pixel instead.

I thought about using Android’s guest mode to curb his usage, but the lack of time-management features like app timers made that a non-starter.

It wasn’t quite a dead end, but I was definitely looking for a better way.

Fortunately, I found Before Launcher a fantastic solution that strikes the perfect balance between parental control and usability through a minimalist interface.

Not all launchers are created equal

You don’t need to break the bank to get the crucial features

Initially, I tried the usual recommendations like Kids Place by Kiddoware, but quickly ruled it out after a quick spin.

The app’s free tier is barebones, plus it locks some essential functions behind a paywall, including the screen timer and advanced tamper protection.

Unless you’re managing an army of kids, shelling out $5 a month or paying a one-time large chunk of money doesn’t sit right with me.

Eventually, I made the jump to Before Launcher.

It doesn’t offer built-in screen time controls, but its minimal UI is a breath of fresh air. My plan was simple: declutter the home screen and hide app access. And it worked.

This forced me to curate a specific list of apps to be allowed on the home screen while hiding the app drawer, search tool, and everything else.

There’s also a nifty feature to filter out app notifications, ensuring the notification section is bereft of distracting details.

It’s clean and functional, and it keeps my son from quickly or accidentally going down random apps and settings.

Admittedly, it added safety measures that kept my son from launching games, YouTube, and the Play Store, while offering a refreshingly minimal interface.

You also don’t need to get the Pro plan, as many crucial features are free.

If you want extended customizations, it only costs a few bucks for a one-time purchase, rather than a recurring monthly subscription, compared to other launchers.

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By  Anu Joy

Before Launcher isn’t a perfect solution

But pairing it with app timers makes it a solid tool

Is it foolproof? Not quite. If I have the Samsung DeX shortcut in Quick Settings, and my kid toggles it on, it could potentially unhide the dock and app drawer.

However, cleaning up the Quick Settings menu by hiding shortcuts such as DeX and Settings is an effective way to bypass the launcher.

I’d argue it works best for younger kids who aren’t knowledgeable enough to navigate system menus.

Additionally, if you feel that Before Launcher doesn’t provide enough control over limiting apps and screen time for your kids, I recommend using the timer in Digital Wellbeing as an extra layer of security.

For instance, if my son ever bypasses the launcher, his screen time will still be monitored, and that’s usually enough to keep him in check.

Truth be told, Before Launcher isn’t an effective app usage tracker and screen-time control app. But if you pair it with Android’s built-in tools, it’s more than a solid alternative.

More importantly, it beats other launchers as its core features are absolutely free.