Similar to iOS, Android leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to control over the type of restrictions a user has over the apps installed. To achieve the desired effect, you will need to use a combination of built-in features, and apps designed for your version of Android.
Configure App Restrictions on Android
On Android the restrictions will be set in the Play Store following these steps:
- Open Google Play app
- Tap profile icon (top right)
- Click Settings
- Click Family
- Click Parental Controls
- If first time, it will prompt you for a pin.
- Choose the category you want to restrict (e.g., Apps & Games, Movies, etc..) – can set one at a time
- Choose the restriction you want to apply
- Click save
- Repeat on each category you want to restrict
Read more on how to leverage Google’s parental controls for more specifics, but this is the most effective approach using out of the box tools.
Because of the various iterations of Androids it’s impossible to give specific instructions for all Androids, but there are various sources that can help identify apps that might allow you to achieve the desired affect by using time restrictions. How-To Geek is a great example with their “How to Set App Time Limits and Block Apps on Android.”
Setting time restrictions are a great way to trick the system into disabling access to apps currently available on the existing device.