Ripple
Exam Season Phone Limits: For Your Own Study Time and for Kids Before Finals
Studying for a professional or graduate exam takes months, and a few minutes on the phone at a time can add up to hours a day. Before finals and national exams, parents worry about the same thing at home. The first part below is for adults studying for an exam. The second part is for parents setting limits on a child's phone. For a page focused on blocking short videos while studying, see this guide.
Adults studying for an exam
A schedule that follows your study plan
Put TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and games on the list and close them from 8 AM to 10 PM and again after 11 PM, so you also get to bed on time.
Android: a small daily allowance
If you want to keep a little time, give one app a daily limit such as 30 minutes. When it runs out the app stays closed for the day.
iPhone: block on a schedule
On iOS 16 and later the apps are blocked on a schedule through Apple's Screen Time frameworks, and the block keeps working even if Ripple is closed. The iPhone version has no daily limits yet.
Let someone else hold the code
Give the unlock code to a partner, roommate or study partner. Without it you wait through a 15 minute cooldown, and by then the urge has usually passed.
Study apps keep working
Only the apps on the list are blocked. Flashcard apps, course apps and the browser stay available.
Parents before finals and national exams
After school and bedtime
For example games and short video apps closed from 6 PM to 10 PM on school days and all entertainment apps closed after 10:30 PM, with weekends set separately.
Clock changes and uninstalling do nothing
On Android time is counted from device uptime, see the clock change page, and uninstall protection can be turned on right on the phone. On iPhone turn on the block on deleting apps, see the iPhone page.
Loosen it after the exam
The parent keeps the unlock code and enters it to loosen or turn off the rules once exams are over.
Setup steps
Install Ripple
On Android install the APK and turn on the accessibility service. On iPhone you need iOS 16 or later and Screen Time permission.
Choose the apps to limit
Add short video apps, social apps and games.
Set a schedule around your study plan
For example closed from 8 AM to 10 PM and after 11 PM. On Android you can add a daily limit for apps you want to keep a little time for.
Give the unlock code to someone else
A partner, roommate or study partner for your own phone, a parent for a child's phone.
Turn on uninstall protection
On Android enable the on-device uninstall guard. On iPhone enable the block on deleting apps.
FAQ
I am studying for a professional exam. Can I block short videos during the day?
Yes. Put TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and games on the list and set a study schedule, for example closed from 8 AM to 10 PM. This works on Android and on iPhone with iOS 16 or later.
Can I keep 30 minutes a day for myself?
On Android you can give a single app a daily limit, for example 30 minutes. When it runs out the app stays closed for the rest of the day. The iPhone version currently limits apps by schedule only and has no daily limits.
What if I turn the limit off when I get frustrated?
Turning off or loosening a limit starts a 15 minute cooldown first. You can also give the unlock code to a partner, roommate or study partner so you cannot switch it off yourself.
Will my flashcard and course apps be blocked too?
No. Ripple only blocks the apps you put on the list. Flashcard apps, course apps and the browser keep working.
Can parents use it before finals or national exams?
Yes. Set the schedule on the child's phone and keep the unlock code yourself. On Android time is counted from device uptime, so changing the clock does not help, and uninstall protection can be turned on right on the phone. On iPhone the block on deleting apps stops long press removal.
How do I turn it off after the exam?
Whoever holds the unlock code enters it to turn off or loosen the rules. Without the code you wait through the 15 minute cooldown.