Ripple
December Tests and Winter Break: Keeping the Phone in Check
In December many college students in China sit the CET English tests, and students elsewhere have finals or certificate exams. You sit in the library with vocab cards, the phone next to you, and after one listening section you check it and half an hour is gone. Then in January school ends for winter break, kids are home without anyone watching, the phone comes out first thing in the morning and the holiday homework waits until the last few days. The first part below is for students and adults limiting their own phone, and the second part is for parents limiting a child's phone over the break. Both Android and iPhone are covered.
Students and adults limiting their own phone
Close short videos during study hours
Android and iPhone both support schedules. For example 8:30 to 11:30 and 14:00 to 17:30 with TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and games closed. Leave vocab apps, dictionaries and course apps off the list so they keep working.
A small daily allowance
On Android give short video apps a daily limit, for example 30 minutes after dinner. When it is used up the app stays closed for the rest of the day.
0 minutes in the last weeks before the test
On Android v0.1.7 you can set an app's daily limit to 0 minutes so it stays closed all day. Nothing is uninstalled and your account and data stay. Change it back after the test.
Android: strict mode with a roommate holding the code
Late at night is when you are most likely to switch your own rules off. With strict mode on Android, rules can be loosened only with the unlock code of at least 8 digits, and Anti-Uninstall turns on with it. Give the code to a roommate or family member. If it is really lost, a request lifts it after 72 hours.
iPhone: the system blocks on time
On iOS 16 and later the system blocks listed apps in the background on schedule, even if Ripple is swiped away. The iPhone version is v0.1.5 and does not have daily limits, 0 minutes or strict mode yet. Give the unlock code to someone else.
Parents limiting a child's phone over winter break
Homework mornings without games
Android and iPhone both support schedules. For example 9:00 to 11:30 is homework time, with short video, game and drama apps closed and school apps still open.
A fixed daily time for games and videos
On Android give games 40 minutes a day and short videos 30 minutes, for example. They close on their own when time runs out, so you do not have to call home from work to remind.
Tighten up the week before school
The last week of the break is for catching up on homework and sleep. On Android set the game your child plays most to 0 minutes so it stays closed all day. With strict mode on, the child cannot change the rules on the phone.
Clock changes and uninstalling do nothing
On Android time is counted from device uptime, so moving the clock back does not unlock anything, and uninstall and force stop protection are available. See the clock change page. On iPhone the block on deleting apps stops long press removal. See the iPhone page.
Bedtime on schedule, calls stay open
On Android and iPhone you can close entertainment apps after 21:30, for example. Leave the phone app and WeChat off the list so your child can always reach you. On Android only WeChat Moments and Channels can be closed while chats keep working.
Setup steps
Install Ripple
On Android install the latest APK and turn on the accessibility service. On iPhone you need iOS 16 or later and Screen Time permission.
List short video, game and drama apps
Leave calls, chat apps, dictionaries, vocab and course apps off the list.
Set schedules or daily limits
Match the schedule to study hours or holiday homework time. On Android you can also set daily limits and give the hardest app 0 minutes.
Set the unlock code
For your own phone give the code to a roommate or family member. On a child's phone keep it yourself. On Android you can also turn on strict mode.
Turn on uninstall protection
Anti-Uninstall on Android, and the block on deleting apps on iPhone.
FAQ
I study vocab on my phone. Will that be blocked too?
No. Ripple only closes apps on the list. Leave vocab, dictionary and course apps off it.
How do I go back to normal after the test?
Ordinary rules you can change back yourself. With strict mode on, use the unlock code. If it is lost, a request lifts it after 72 hours.
Will my child change the clock or delete Ripple?
On Android changing the clock does nothing because timing uses device uptime, and uninstall protection is available. On iPhone the block on deleting apps stops long press removal.
Can iPhone set daily limits or 0 minutes?
Not yet. The iPhone version v0.1.5 has schedules, the block on deleting apps, clock change protection and the unlock code.
Does it cost money or need an account?
It is free with no ads and no account. Settings stay on the phone.