Frequently asked questions

Quick answers before you install. For the full pairing walkthrough, sign in and open Settings → Setup guide in the parent dashboard.

Getting set up

• Which phones does TurnItOff work on?

  Child devices must be Android. The child app installs on your child's Android phone or tablet.

  Parents can use any modern browser (including Safari on iPhone) or the Android parent app. You do not need an Android phone yourself — the web dashboard at turnitoff.app/app works from a laptop, iPad, or iPhone.

• How do I pair a child's phone to my account?

  Install TurnItOff on the child's Android device. The app shows a QR code. On your parent phone or browser, open the dashboard, add a child device, and scan that QR code. Pairing takes about a minute.

  Full walkthrough after you sign in: Settings → Setup guide

• What permissions does the child app need?

  TurnItOff guides you through each permission during setup:

  • Display over other apps — shows the lock screen overlay when a pause or schedule is active.
  • Accessibility — keeps protection running in the background and helps prevent bypass while locked.
  • Battery optimization off — so lock commands still work when the screen is off or the phone has been idle.
  • Phone (calls) — lets incoming calls through during a lock so your child can still answer you or emergency calls. TurnItOff uses phone state only to detect ringing/in-call/idle and does not read call history, contacts, or phone numbers.

  On Samsung and some other brands there is an extra Unrestricted battery step — the app walks you through it.

Using TurnItOff

• Does pause work when I'm in another room or on Wi‑Fi?

  Yes. Pause and resume commands are sent over the internet, so you can lock the screen from your couch, office, or browser — you do not need to be on the same Wi‑Fi network.

  The child's phone needs a data connection (Wi‑Fi or mobile data) to receive the command. If the phone is completely offline, the lock applies the next time it reconnects.

• What happens at bedtime? Can I override it?

  Link a bedtime or study schedule to a child device. Five minutes before lock time, the child gets a friendly heads-up. When the schedule starts, the screen locks automatically.

  You can always resume manually from the parent dashboard if you need flexibility — you're still in control.

• What screen-time data do parents see?

  TurnItOff shows total screen-on time in hourly buckets — today, this week, and this month. It is not a per-app breakdown (we do not collect lists of installed apps).

  Usage syncs from the child device every few minutes while the screen is on. If stats look stuck at zero, open TurnItOff once on the child phone and check that accessibility is still enabled.

• How do I uninstall TurnItOff from a child's phone?

  Removing a device from your parent account does not delete the app on the child phone. You need the child's Android device in hand. In the parent app, open Settings → Help → Uninstall from child device for the full step-by-step guide.

  Short version:

  1. Enable the removal window: long-press the shield on the child phone and enter your parent PIN, or remove the device from your parent account first (15-minute remote allow).
  2. If the screen is locked, unlock it from Your Family first.
  3. Settings → Accessibility → TurnItOff → turn off Use TurnItOff.
  4. Settings → Apps → TurnItOff → Uninstall.

  If Settings kicks you back to TurnItOff, the removal window may have expired or Accessibility is still enabled. Repeat the PIN / remote allow step, then turn off Accessibility before uninstalling.

• Can my child uninstall or turn it off?

  TurnItOff is designed for supervised setup: a parent pairs the device and grants the required system permissions. Accessibility and overlay access help enforce locks reliably.

  No parental control is 100% tamper-proof on a device the child fully owns as administrator. For best results, use a Google Family Link or device-admin profile where you control installs, and check the parent dashboard if a device shows protection warnings.

Pricing & account

• How much does TurnItOff cost?

  14-day free trial, then £4.99/month per family account. You can manage multiple child devices on one subscription. A yearly option is also available at checkout.

  Web dashboard (including iPhone / Safari parents): subscribe with a card through Stripe after signing in at turnitoff.app/app.

  Android parent app: billing is handled through Google Play when you subscribe there.

• How do I cancel?

  If you subscribed on the web (card via Stripe): open the parent dashboard → Settings → Manage billing. That opens the Stripe customer portal where you can cancel, update your card, or view invoices.

  If you subscribed through Google Play: Play Store → Payments & subscriptions → Subscriptions → TurnItOff → Cancel.

  You keep access until the end of the current billing period. You can delete your parent account and paired devices from Settings at any time.

Privacy & safety

• What data does TurnItOff collect?

  We collect what is needed to operate the service: parent account details, device labels, lock/schedule status, battery level, hourly screen-on minutes, and push tokens to deliver lock commands.

  We do not sell data, show ads, track location, or upload lists of installed apps. See our full Privacy Policy.

• Can my child see my parent account or other devices?

  No. The child app only runs protection on that device. Children do not get access to the parent dashboard, other children's data, or your login.