Articles on: Safe Surfer dashboard

How to set up Screen Time on Safe Surfer

This article will show you how to get started with Safe Surfer's Screentime features. We'll demonstrate the basics of how to use the three different types of Screentime rules available for protected devices:

Timetable
Timer
Pause/override

Each screentime rule you create is like a cardboard box. For example, you can create a timetable rule, where the rule can hold multiple apps, rather than just one app.

Due to how different kinds of devices work, please note that the Safe Surfer screentime features work best on certain kinds of devices. For mobile devices, Screentime works best on Samsung smartphones and tablets. For laptop and desktop devices, Screentime works best on Windows.

Getting started with Screentime

On the My Safe Surfer online dashboard (https://my.safesurfer.io), click the Screentime menu on the left-hand sidebar. If you're on mobile, tap the three-bar icon at the upper-left corner, then tap the Screentime menu.

Click the device selector list.

Click the device that you would like to set or view Screentime rules for.

Click the Create button.

Timetables

Timetables let you schedule periods of time where you would like specific apps and websites to be unavailable.

Inside the Create menu, click the Timetable option.

Select the range of time for the rule, then click the Next button.

Select the categories, apps, and sites you would like to apply to the rule. Once you're done, click the exit icon.

The Categories section affects both apps and websites wherever possible. For Android devices, you'll see an additional section called Apps. This contains all apps on the device, including apps that aren't already covered by the Categories section.

Your timetable rule is now saved and active.

Timers

Timers let you block specific apps and websites at all times, except for when the timer is running. For Android/Samsung devices, the timer is automated in most cases, so it doesn't usually require starting or stopping.

Inside the Create menu, click the Timer option.

Select the range of time for the rule, then click the Next button.

Select the categories, apps, and sites you would like to apply to the rule. Once you're done, click the exit icon.

Your timer rule is now saved and active.

Pause/override

Pause/override lets you pause internet or override all other rules across Safe Surfer (including both Blocking and Screentime).

Inside the Create button menu, click the Pause/override option.

Select the range of time for the rule, then click the Confirm button.

As an example, to pause internet, click the Block button on the Internet access category.

Once you're done, click the exit icon.

Your pause/override rule is now saved and active.

Edit or delete screentime rules

To edit or delete a screentime rule, select the applicable device from the blue device selector list, then click the three-dot button on the applicable rule.

You can now edit, delete, or override the rule.

Timers on devices without the Safe Surfer app

If you're protecting a device without an app (for example, on a Mac), you can create a manual time management link to be sent to the device user.

Visit the Devices menu (https://my.safesurfer.io/devices), then click the applicable device listing. Inside the device listing, click the three-dot button.

Click the Self-service option.

Click the Copy button. You can now email or text this link to the user of the device in question.

When the device user opens the link, they will be brought to the access page, where the timer can be started and stopped.

In addition, the owner of the Safe Surfer account also has the ability to manually start and stop the timer from the Screentime menu.

Updated on: 09/09/2025

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