Configure phone for multiple purposes - "digital detox", and "hand to the kids"

kd92jew

I'm switching to graphene and have some questions on profiles. My purpose in asking these questions is be to facilitate a weekly digital detox/screen fast, where I would only have easy access to those functionalities of a phone that are difficult to live without - making calls, doing some texting, maps, etc. (Except the "hand the phone to the kids" profiles).

Here's what I'd like:

Have my regular phone, all my apps, regular profile
Have my "digital detox/screen fast" profile. This one would have JUST phone (and my contact list, but that's not as critical since I can download that), text messages, and potentially a few other tools. Maybe open street maps or something. It would be kind of like a Light phone (https://www.thelightphone.com/).
Have one other profile, which would be a 'hand the phone to the kids' profile. That would have the ability to phone. Wouldn't need my contacts. Ideally would be able to have a DIFFERENT gmail profile. Probably have a lot of games installed.
To use to the "digital detox/screen fast" profile, that would be easy. Simple little pin or something
To switch to the "regular" profile would be much more difficult, DURING my weekly 1 day digital detox. Maybe I'd switch the pin, and make it really long and complicated? But during the rest of the week, it would be simple.

Is this possible? What are some good resources on setting up profiles? They're a new concept for me.

I made a similar post a while back - https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/6702-digital-wellbeinglauncher-to-avoid-digital-distraction-screen-addiction/6 - and got some good info (Child Mode, etc). I've just recently actually set up a graphene phone, though and my needs have changed.

Aeon

I dont use multiple profiles myself on my phone but what you described is absolutely doable with graphene :-)

each profile in graphene can have different google accounts or no google services at all.

I am sure others will have better advice than me but I would set a phone up for your described scenario the following way:

3 profiles:

owner profile
2nd profile
kids profile

then I would either use the owner or 2nd profile as your detox one and the other as the full blown one.

as for pins/passwords/fingerprint: you can choose the lock method of each profile. a PIN, a password or just a finger print.

the "kids profile" you can just give it a pin as locking method and install games and if needed google services with a separate google account just for downloading games.

This is what I like about graphene. It gives you choices and options to use your phone how you want :-)

kd92jew

Aeon

Thanks, these look like great ideas.

So - I could set up the owner profile with, normally, a regular pin.

And then I could have my "digital detox" profile permanently set up with a really easy pin, like 1111. Likewise with the "hand to the kids" profile.

But when I'm doing a digital detox, I could switch to a long annoying password on the regular owner profile. One that I have to the password to, written up and put on the top shelf of a closet somewhere, that I have to type in carefully.

spiral

kd92jew written up and put on the top shelf of a closet somewhere

Surely, whatever works for you - just don't lose that password.

[deleted]

kd92jew using easily guessable pin is not recommended. Person with physical access can still misuse phone and messaging and whatever other tools you will have installed. Although gaining access to that user profile doesn't automatically grant access to other profiles, this can be potentially exploited by an attacker. 6 digit random PIN is minimum recommended if you rely on secure element.

Aeon

kd92jew

yes you can do that, but like others have mentioned, do not use an easy to guess pin in case your phone gets stolen or accessed physical by someone. you want your profiles reasonable safe from getting accessed.

kd92jew

Thanks for the info.

When I'm setting up my secondary profiles, like the "digital detox" one, how do I delete the build-in apps? Looks like the apps I've installed (on my owner profile) can be put there, optionally, with "install available apps".

However, I'd like to have a blank screen, except for a few things (mapping, phone, texting). And then not be able to swipe up, and see all the built-in apps. For instance, the apps like Vanadium are still there, and I don't see how I can uninstall or disable it for this profile.

[deleted]

kd92jew those apps that don't provide crucial functionality can be disabled by long tapping in the app drawer, tapping App info and disabling if not greyed out. Then they won't appear in app drawer. Should you wish to enable them again go to

Settings > Apps > See all XX apps

and view disabled apps.

kd92jew

Thank you.

So you can't actually disable apps completely, on a separate profile?

For instance, say I have a "hand the phone to the kids" profile, where I have a few games. I'd like to disable every single app except those few games. I don't want that profile to have internet access. And I'd like that profile to not be able to go into settings, and enable anything.

Is that an option?

[deleted]

kd92jew wouldn't it be easier to get them a gaming console and let them play under supervision + educating them on the dangers of using internet use while doing that?

kd92jew

Sorry to be a stickler, but this is really what I want. It's not just for the kids profile. I would like a "digital detox" profile that has access to only certain specific apps (phone, text, calculator, something like that). And that's it. No ability to enable things. No ability to access internet. Only the Owner profile would have that ability.

I think loads of people want this. That's why they're buying the light phone.

Is it doable, maybe with some hacks?