[COMPLETED] ⏱ App Limit / Time Limit / Budget use of distracting apps

Feature Requests 👀
,
#10

Feature Requested By: Anonymous
Number of Votes: 1
View Original Post: Timer on apps · Opal Feedback

It would be great to be able to add daily timers to apps (example: 30 minutes of Instagram a day) and once that limit is reached the app will become blocked as if it were on a session.

2 Likes
#11

Feature Requested By: Kenneth
Number of Votes: 34
View Original Post: Time Limits · Opal Feedback

What about a way of restricting how many hours I can unlock, or making me wait a bit before unlocking?

3 Likes
#12

Feature Requested By: Farhad Pocha
Number of Votes: 27
View Original Post: Allow for a daily Budget · Opal Feedback

Let me allow myself 45 minutes of Instagram, 30 minutes of dating apps, etc. And tell me when I go over the budget

#13

Comment By: Neeks

This is the one feature that would convince me to switch from trial to annual subscription… being able to set a time limit and then automatically go into Deep Focus once I hit the limit.

2 Likes
#14

Feature Requested By: Felipe
Number of Votes: 1
View Original Post: Opal Timer · Opal Feedback

There should be an option to set a timer, and when time’s up, Opal starts blocking your selected apps.

#15

We should be able to set an app limit for the entire day. For example I want to be able to only use instagram for 1 hour throughout the entire day and when i’ve used it i’m done. Instead i can only set to not use it through whatever time i set

1 Like
Opal Team Updates 📰
#16

The main reason I need opal is because the apple time limit is too easy to bypass, and I need an opal block screen when time is up. Right now opal only has blocked apps for a certain time of day instead of time limits.

#17

Thanks for sharing this. Can you elaborate on why you think Time Limits is better vs Sessions? How do you use Time Limits today on screen time? for categories or apps? for a few apps?

#18

I used to have this amazing app on android that would allow a certain app for a certain number of minutes per hour.

I feel like this was the best for me out of all features i have used for both android and apple screen time blocking apps. For example, i used to allow snapchat to be used for 4 minutes every hour. Every hour that timer would reset. This way I would get to choose when i want to use snapchat during the hour and also instead use it in a faster way instead of just sitting on the app for a long period.

Another way this can be done is by allowing an app to have a certain amount if minutes it can be used in a day. For example i had YouTube locked to a maximum one hour for the day. So it was my choice when to use and how budget the hour for the whole day. This helped prevent binge watching.

To get something similar to this in your app i have set up multiple recurring sessions every hour with 2-3 5 min sessions to allow me to use my blocked apps.

However with my features stated above i can choose when i want to use my blocked apps but still have a time limit. Otherwise i have to wait until the session ends to get to use the blocked apps.

My main goal is to reduce my time in social media apps but not block them all day. I want to have the ability to use them for important situations but still have a timer to prevent me from staying on the app too long.

Thanks and i hope you can make these changes. Me and my friends have been looking for an app that does this for years.

1 Like
#19

Thanks for sharing this! Time limits is a popular request, so I added your message to this thread.

How do you feel about this other solution that was suggested by the community? "Medium Focus" Protection: Set fixed number of Breaks, no cancellation - #6 by kenneth

#20

We are working on this @here
Here are some early designs we’re building => @Anton

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#21

Hi! Just downloaded the app and I am really missing the feature to block apps based on time usage instead of just sessions.

I work as a freelancer / content creator and my working hours is different from each day.

#22

Thanks for sharing this! we are actually just working on this now. What do you think of the designs below?

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#23

A post was split to a new topic: App Open Limit / Block apps after X opens

#24

This is now in the app! Hope you enjoy.

#25

I use this feature a lot but I still feel it is missing the x minutes per hour feature .

I have my app limit set to 15 min and then blocked for 45. But if I use 14 minutes during the day and then I want to use it before bed I will only get 1 minute and then it blocks for 45 minutes.

I think the 15 mins resets every day anyway but it would be nice to customize the reset window.

3 Likes
#26

If a certain configurable amount of screen time for the day or week or whatever configurable amount of time is exceeded, a session would then begin.

1 Like
#27

This is exactly the primary feature I want. I want to be able to use Instagram for 5 minutes every hour. The way it’s currently set up I will just continue waiting for the time limit to count down to give myself a break which just keeps wasting more time.

#28

You can set an app limit for 5 minutes which will block the app(s) for a duration of 1 hour.

#29

Analyzing the Feature Request

Key Points:

  • Time limits within a schedule: Ability to set specific time limits for apps during different parts of the day.
  • Impulse control: Need for a feature to prevent binge usage of apps.
  • Schedule-based usage: Desire to limit app usage based on predefined time blocks.

Potential Challenges:

  • App detection and tracking: Ensuring accurate identification and tracking of app usage.
  • Customization: Allowing users to create highly personalized schedules.
  • Enforcement: Implementing effective mechanisms to prevent users from exceeding time limits.

Proposed Solution: Scheduled App Limits

Core Functionality:

  • Schedule creation: Users can create custom schedules with multiple time blocks.
  • App selection: Users can choose which apps to include in the schedule.
  • Time limit setting: For each app, users can set a specific time limit within each time block.
  • Real-time monitoring: The app will track app usage and notify users when they are approaching their limits.
  • Enforcement: If a user exceeds their limit, the app can implement various strategies, such as:
    • Blocking app access: Temporarily preventing the user from using the app.
    • Notifications: Sending reminders or alerts to discourage excessive usage.
    • Visual cues: Providing visual indicators (e.g., progress bars) to show remaining time.

Additional Features:

  • Pause/resume: Allow users to temporarily pause or resume their schedule.
  • Exceptions: Enable users to set exceptions for certain situations (e.g., work, emergencies).
  • Customization: Offer options for customizing the appearance and behavior of the app.
  • Integration with other features: Consider integrating with other productivity features like task management or goal setting.

Technical Considerations:

  • App detection: Use Android’s built-in APIs or third-party libraries to accurately identify and track app usage.
  • Enforcement mechanisms: Implement robust mechanisms to prevent users from circumventing time limits (e.g., disabling notifications, using alternative apps).
  • User experience: Design a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate and understand.

Conclusion:

By implementing a “Scheduled App Limits” feature, Opal can address the specific needs of users like Lara who struggle with impulse control and excessive app usage. This feature would provide a valuable tool for managing digital well-being and promoting healthier app habits.