How to restrict your TikTok screen time in app

TikTok is a delightfully entertaining place filled with an endless stream of fun clips to effectively distract you from your soul-crushing anxiety. However, the hugely popular video sharing app can occasionally become a bit too engaging, keeping you scrolling through dance trends and story times long after you should have submitted to being alone with your thoughts.

Fortunately for your existential dread, TikTok’s app has a feature that enables you to limit how long you spend on the platform. Screen Time Management allows you to outsource your self-control to TikTok, granting it the authority to cut you off like a responsible bartender.

Here’s how to restrict your screen time on TikTok.

1. Open TikTok.

2. Tap your profile icon in the bottom right corner to go to your account profile.

3. Tap the hamburger icon in the top right corner (“≡”). This will bring you to your “Settings and Privacy” menu.

4. Under the “Content & Activity” subheading, tap on “Digital Wellbeing.”

5. From the Digital Wellbeing menu, tap “Screen Time Management.”

6. Tap on “Set a time limit,” then select the maximum length of time you want to spend on TikTok each day. You can choose from four options: 40 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes, or 120 minutes. Tap the back arrow in the top left corner once you’ve selected your choice (“

7. Tap the red “Turn on” button at the bottom of the screen.

8. Set a passcode, then enter it again to confirm. 

TikTok will now ask you to enter this passcode to continue using the app whenever you reach your daily time limit, putting a speed bump in your scrolling to make it more mindful. 

If you later decide rationed TikTok time isn’t for you, you can turn off the restriction by simply navigating back to “Screen Time Management,” tapping “Turn off,” and entering the passcode. As such, it’s important to make sure you actually remember your passcode, otherwise this feature could quickly become more of a hindrance than help. TikTok states it is currently working on a solution to the issue of users forgetting their passcodes, which it expects to share next year.

Of course, knowing how to easily bypass this impediment does mean TikTok’s Screen Time Management feature relies a lot on how guilty you’ll feel punching in those numbers, as well as your shame at proving your weak resolve. If you really want to curb your late night TikTok scrolling, consider asking a trusted friend to set the passcode for you. Just make sure they write it down somewhere so they don’t forget it, and are strong enough to withstand your pleading texts.