Setup and troubleshooting
Set up ToddlerLock for a calmer handover
ToddlerLock needs two Android permissions to keep the chosen app in place: Accessibility access and Display over other apps. The wording and menu path can vary by phone and Android version.
By ToddlerLock, Unburden Technologies. Product notes reviewed September 12, 2026 against ToddlerLock version 1.7 source code. Device wording may vary by Android version and manufacturer.
Before you start: use a screen lock on the phone, open the app you plan to hand over, and test the release yourself. ToddlerLock is a free install from Google Play, and the lock itself needs no account.
1. Give the lock its two permissions
Accessibility access
In ToddlerLock, choose the Accessibility setup step. Android opens a system page. Tap Installed apps, choose ToddlerLock, turn it on and accept the system prompt. Other Android versions may call this Downloaded apps or Installed services.
The service reads which app is in the foreground, closes notification shade and Recents while locked, and returns the phone to the chosen app. It does not read the content shown on screen, record typing or send accessibility data off the device.
Display over other apps
In ToddlerLock, choose the overlay setup step. On many Android phones the path is Settings, Apps, Special app access, Display over other apps. Choose ToddlerLock and allow it. This lets the touch-blocking layer stay above the chosen app.
Menu names vary. Search Settings for display over other apps if the listed path differs.
2. Make the first handover
- Return to ToddlerLock and choose the app you want to hand over.
- Choose no timer or the free 20-minute timer, then start the handover.
- Give the phone to the child only after the chosen app is visible.
- Release with the hold, then slide control. Change the hold length in Settings if the timing does not suit your hand.
The free tier includes the lock, automatic return, Max Lock, slide release, volume failsafe and a 20-minute timer. Plus adds PIN or fingerprint release, more timer controls and a daily screen budget.
See the free unlock gesture
Recorded September 6, 2026 on an Android 15 emulator using ToddlerLock 1.5-test (debug build). This silent native recording demonstrates the free unlock gesture with a Gallery illustration. Permissions and the lock were prepared before recording. It does not test YouTube playback or Samsung and OnePlus behavior.
Transcript: 0:00 to 0:04, touch lock is active. A tap and swipe leave Gallery on the same illustration; the swipe shows a lift-and-hold-still hint. 0:05 to 0:08, press and hold. The progress bar fills and the unlock slider appears. 0:09 to 0:10, drag the white slider to the right to release the lock. 0:12 to 0:15, a new tap opens Gallery controls, confirming touch input is available again. The final frame is held briefly for readability.
3. If the phone leaves the chosen app
ToddlerLock watches the foreground app while the lock is active and tries to return the phone to the chosen app. Android system surfaces can still appear above ordinary app windows. Picture-in-picture can also sit above the overlay.
If the child is moving around inside a video app, ToddlerLock cannot read the video or judge its contents. It keeps the handover at the app boundary. For a narrower video-only lock, see the YouTube screen-lock guide.
Samsung and OnePlus notes
Samsung calls its built-in feature Allow apps to be pinned and documents it under Settings, Security and privacy, More security settings. OnePlus and OPPO may call it App pinning. Google's general instructions use the name App pinning. These are device settings, so confirm the wording on the phone in your hand.
Max Lock uses Android's own app pinning. Some OEMs restrict that feature while gesture navigation is enabled. If pinning is unavailable, try three-button navigation, enable the credential requirement before unpinning, and practice the exit before a handover. Pinned apps can affect incoming calls and alarms.
Sources: Samsung pinning instructions, Google app pinning instructions, and the Guided Access comparison.
Common questions
Why does Android call this accessibility access?
Android's system disclosure uses broad wording because accessibility services can access sensitive window information. ToddlerLock's service is used for the foreground app name, returning to that app and closing system surfaces while locked. Review the disclosure before accepting it.
Can I unlock if the panel is hard to use?
Use the hold, then slide release. If you cannot reach it, press Volume Down five separate times within five seconds to reveal the unlock screen, then complete the slide or enter the configured PIN. These actions are release routes, not instant unlocks.
Why did my video audio stop?
Notification silence is optional and requires Android notification policy access. It uses an alarms-only interruption filter while locked and restores the prior setting after release. If media audio is affected, turn off Silence notifications in ToddlerLock Settings and check the device's Do Not Disturb setting.
What if the lock stops after I change settings?
Return to ToddlerLock and check both permissions after changing Android settings or restarting the device. Battery management and manufacturer settings can affect background services, and exact controls vary by device.
Practice once before the handover. Start a short lock, try the release, then confirm the chosen app returns when you leave it. A supervised first test tells you how your phone behaves.
Privacy: ToddlerLock privacy policy.