Warden
Use a realistic evening window.
Choose the time you normally want browsing to end, taking work and household routines into account. A daily allowance does not reserve that window; a schedule describes it directly.
Review the days of an overnight rule carefully. A period beginning late in the evening and ending in the morning crosses a date boundary. Test what the app displays before relying on it.
A starting point to make your own
| Routine | Example time | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Wind down | 10 PM – 7 AM | An overnight example. Set the times that fit your household. |
| Start gently | 30 minutes | A short phone-free target before bed, not a promise of better sleep. |
Warden for iPhone
Set it up without adding unnecessary rules
Daily limits, schedules and focus sessions
Install Warden and connect Screen Time when iOS asks. Then open Rules and tap the plus button.
Choose the apps or scope involved in this particular interruption. Use an allowance for total use, a schedule for recurring hours, or a session for a one-off task.
What Standard, Warden and Lockdown do
Choose Standard when you want to manage the limit yourself. Choose Warden when a person you trust should review early-access requests. Choose Lockdown to keep ordinary early unlocks off until the block ends.
Choose the access mode, then hold the save button to set the rule. Try a short block before using a long one. Emergency access remains separate from ordinary unlock requests.
How Warden approval works
Choose how many minutes you need, add a note and hold to send. If nobody answers within 30 minutes, the request expires and the app stays locked.
An approval applies to the scope and time shown in the app. A declined or unanswered request does not lift the block. Emergency access remains a separate option on your device.
Protect winding down, not a sleep score.
Keep important calls, alarms and tools available. Decide on a simple next action when the feed closes, such as reading or preparing tomorrow's things.
A night-time block does not establish when you fell asleep or whether sleep improved. Review the app-access result separately, and seek appropriate advice if sleep itself remains a concern.