You know when you pick up your phone for comfort, forty minutes later you surface, and that feeling in your stomach tells you something went wrong.

I know that feeling. That's why I built this.

Ciao, I'm Andrea. I created HowLongNow because I couldn't find a mindful app timer that helped me be honest with myself before reaching for my phone, not one that just counted the damage afterward.

How it works
When you open any app you choose to check, HowLongNow appears first. It asks you one simple question: why are you opening this? You pick a reason. You choose how long you actually want to spend there. Then you go in.
A quiet timer sits at the top of your screen while you use the app. No interruptions, just a gentle reminder of the time you chose for yourself. When your session ends, the app checks in.
This is intentional screen time: not tracked after the fact, but decided before it begins.

Two modes, one goal
In Soft Mode, HowLongNow asks if you're ready to stop. A mindful nudge that helps you stay present. No shame, no punishment, just awareness.
In Hard Mode, the app closes itself when your session expires. You set the limit, it holds you to it. Real screen time control, when you want it.

Why this is different
Most screen time apps I tried show you what you've already done. HowLongNow changes what you do next. There are no streaks to maintain, no points to earn, no guilt. Just a moment of self control before every app open, and a quiet promise kept at the end.
It's not a blocker. It's not a digital detox. It's a decision layer between impulse and action, for people who want to reduce screen time without being managed by an algorithm.
No gamification. No ads. Your data never leaves your phone. Ever.

Ready to use your phone, not the other way around?

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Accessibility Service disclosure
Hard Mode uses Android's AccessibilityService to detect when a monitored app is opened and close it when your session expires. It detects foreground app events only. It cannot read your screen content, see what you type, or record audio. It only acts on the apps you choose to monitor, in the mode you choose to enable. You are always in control.