Digital Wellbeing on OnePlus 6 & Android Pie

This guide shows you how to get Google’s Digital Wellbeing app running on a OnePlus 6 or any other Android 9 (Pie) device that didn’t ship with it. The app tracks your screen time, sets app timers, and enables Wind Down (grayscale and Do Not Disturb at bedtime). You’ll need a device running Android 9 Pie, and you’ll be installing the app from a trusted APK mirror since it isn’t on the Play Store for all Pie phones.

What You’ll Need

• An Android 9 (Pie) phone or tablet (OnePlus 6, 6T, or any other Pie device)
• “Unknown sources” enabled in Settings (we’ll walk through it)
• A file manager app (most phones have one built in)
• Internet connection to download the APK
• About 10 minutes of time

Step-by-Step

1. Check your Android version. Go to Settings > About phone and confirm you’re on Android 9 (Pie). Digital Wellbeing requires Pie; it won’t install on Oreo or older versions. If you’re on Android 10 or 11, it’s already built in, so skip this guide.
2. Enable “Install unknown apps.” Open Settings > Apps & notifications > Advanced > Special app access > Install unknown apps. Find your browser (Chrome, Firefox, etc.) and toggle it to Allow. This lets you install APKs from that browser. If you’re using a file manager to install later, you’ll need to allow that app too.
3. Download the Digital Wellbeing APK. Go to a reputable APK mirror site (like APKMirror) using your phone’s browser. Search for “Digital Wellbeing” and select the version that matches your device architecture (arm64-v8a for OnePlus 6 and most modern phones). Download the latest stable version that lists Android 9.0+ compatibility.
4. Open the downloaded file. Once the download finishes, tap the notification or open your file manager and navigate to the Downloads folder. Tap the APK file.
5. Confirm the install. Android will show a prompt asking if you want to install this app. Tap Install. Wait for the progress bar to complete.
6. Open Digital Wellbeing. After installation, tap Open or find the app in your app drawer. It will show a welcome screen explaining what it does.
7. Grant permissions. The app will ask for permission to access your usage data. Tap Allow on the “Usage access” prompt. If it doesn’t appear, go to Settings > Apps & notifications > Advanced > Usage access and toggle Digital Wellbeing on.
8. Set up your dashboard. You’ll now see your daily screen time, number of unlocks, and notifications. Tap on any app to set a timer (e.g., 30 minutes for Instagram). When the timer runs out, the app icon grays out and you’ll get a reminder.
9. Enable Wind Down (optional). In the Digital Wellbeing settings (gear icon), tap Wind Down. Set your bedtime and wake time. Toggle on Grayscale and Do Not Disturb to have the phone switch to black-and-white and silence notifications during those hours.
10. Add a home screen shortcut (optional). Long-press your home screen, tap Widgets, and drag the Digital Wellbeing widget to see your dashboard at a glance.

Common Mistakes

• Downloading the wrong architecture. Most OnePlus 6 units use arm64-v8a, but some older devices use armeabi-v7a. If the app fails to install with a “not compatible” error, check your device’s CPU via a hardware info app or look up the correct architecture for your exact model.
• Forgetting to enable unknown sources for the right app. If you download with Chrome but then try to install via a file manager, the file manager needs permission too. Enable it for both.
• Skipping the usage access permission. Without this, Digital Wellbeing will show all zeros and timers won’t work. You must grant usage access in Settings.
• Installing a beta or incompatible version. Some versions of Digital Wellbeing are for Android 10+ only. Always pick a version that explicitly lists Android 9 support.
• Expecting it to appear in Settings. On Pixel phones, Digital Wellbeing lives in Settings. On OnePlus and other devices, it’s a standalone app in your app drawer. Don’t go looking for it in Settings.

Tips

• Use app timers wisely. Start with generous limits (e.g., 1 hour per social app) and lower them gradually. The goal is awareness, not frustration.
• Customize Wind Down. You can set different schedules for weekdays and weekends. Grayscale is the most effective feature—it makes apps less visually appealing.
• Check the dashboard daily. The “Your goal” setting lets you set a target for total screen time. The app will notify you when you’re approaching it.
• Combine with Do Not Disturb. Even if you don’t use Wind Down, set a regular Do Not Disturb schedule in your phone’s Settings to reduce bedtime notifications.
• Update manually. Since Digital Wellbeing isn’t on the Play Store for your device, check the APK mirror site every few months for updates. New versions add features and fix bugs.

Troubleshooting

• “App not installed” error. This usually means the APK is corrupted or incompatible. Re-download the file, make sure you picked the arm64-v8a version, and try again. If it still fails, try an older version of the app.
• App installs but shows no data. Go to Settings > Apps  & notifications > Advanced > Usage access and make sure Digital Wellbeing is toggled on. If it’s already on, toggle it off and on again, then restart the app.
• Wind Down doesn’t trigger. Check that your device’s time zone and automatic time are correct. Also, make sure you’ve set both a bedtime and a wake time—leaving one blank disables the feature.
• App crashes on open. Clear the app’s cache: Settings > Apps > Digital Wellbeing > Storage > Clear cache. If that doesn’t help, uninstall and reinstall the APK.
• Timers don’t block apps. On some devices, Digital Wellbeing’s timer only shows a warning, not a hard block. This is a limitation of the app on non-Pixel phones. You can still use the warning as a reminder to close the app.
• Battery drain after install. The app constantly monitors usage, which can use a small amount of battery. If it’s excessive, restart your phone. If the problem persists, uninstall and try a different version.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Digital Wellbeing safe to install from an APK? Yes, as long as you download from a reputable mirror like APKMirror, which verifies signatures. Avoid random file-sharing sites.

Will this void my warranty? No. Installing an APK is no different from installing any other app. It doesn’t require root or unlocking the bootloader.

Can I use it on Android 8 (Oreo)? No. Digital Wellbeing requires Android 9 Pie APIs. It won’t install on Oreo devices.

Why doesn’t it show up in my Settings like on Pixel phones? On Pixel phones, it’s integrated into Settings. On other devices, it’s a separate app. That’s normal and doesn’t affect functionality.

Will app timers work on all apps? Yes, timers work on any app that appears in your usage data. System apps (like Settings) can’t be timed, but user-installed apps can.

Do I need to reinstall after a system update? Usually not. The app persists through OTA updates. If it disappears after a major Android version update, simply reinstall the APK.

Can I set different timers for weekdays and weekends? No, the app only supports a single timer per app. For schedule-based limits, use Wind Down for bedtime and manually adjust timers on weekends if needed.

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