1
Become the keyholder
On your phone, create a lock with a name and a master password. Appcognito hands you a rotating 6-digit code, just like an authenticator app, plus a QR code to share.
Parental controls
Parental controls that protect, without spying
Lock adult content and the apps you choose behind a code only you hold. No account, no servers, and not a shred of spying. Two phones, one QR scan, and you are set.
750,000+ Adult sites blocked on-device
Code-locked Only your keyholder can change it
No spying No location, messages or activity feed
How it works
Set it up in 3 simple steps
No account. No servers. The only thing that ever travels between the two phones is a QR code.
2
Link the other phone
On the phone you want to protect, your child's, a partner's, or your own, scan that QR. The two phones are now paired. Nothing is uploaded anywhere, the QR is the only thing that passes between them.
3
Lock it, and hold the key
Choose what to lock: adult content, certain apps, sites, or a whole schedule. From now on, changing or switching it off needs your 6-digit code, and removing the lock needs your master password, in person.
Not just for parents
Whoever you trust can hold the key
It is really an accountability lock, so the keyholder can be anyone. The setup is identical whether it is:
A parent and child Two partners A trusted friend Just you, and future-you
Two keys, so you are never stuck
One for the everyday, one for the rare nuclear option. You decide which is needed for what.
The rotating 6-digit code
For everyday changes. Read it out, even over the phone, to allow a quick edit or pause. It expires in seconds, so sharing it once gives nothing lasting away.
The master password
For the rare moment you want to remove a lock for good. It is typed in person, never read out, so the big decisions always stay with you.
Protection, not surveillance
Most "parental control" apps are really monitoring tools that track location, read messages and stream you an activity feed. Appcognito does none of that. It blocks what you decide and keeps everything on the device. Here is what it never does:
- No location tracking, ever
- No reading messages, chats or email
- No call or contact logs
- No microphone or camera access
- No activity feed or screenshots
- Nothing about them ever leaves the device
Experts agree controls work best as guardrails paired with an open conversation, not spying. Appcognito gives you the guardrails and leaves the trust to you.
Set it up the right way
Short, practical guides for getting parental controls right on Android.
Guide
Parental controls on Android
The full Family Link setup: screen time, app limits, Play Store content and more.
Read the guide GuideBlock adult content on Android
Why SafeSearch is not enough, and how to block it across every browser and app.
Read the guide GuideRoblox parental controls
Parental PIN, account restrictions, content maturity, chat and spending limits.
Read the guide Questions, answered
Parental control FAQ
How do I set up parental controls with Appcognito?
Three steps. On your phone, create a lock to become the keyholder, which gives you a rotating 6-digit code and a QR. On the child's phone, scan that QR to pair the two. Then choose what to lock. After that, only your code can change it.
Is there an account or a server?
No. Appcognito has no account and no backend. Everything runs on-device, and the only thing that ever passes between the two phones is the QR code you scan to link them.
Can my child just turn the controls off?
No. Changing or disabling anything locked needs your rotating 6-digit code, and removing a lock entirely needs your master password, typed in person. With Pro you can also turn on reboot-proof uninstall protection so the app cannot be deleted to escape it.
What if I am not with my child when they need a change?
That is what the 6-digit code is for. You can read it out over the phone for an everyday change, and it expires in seconds so sharing it once gives nothing lasting away. Only removing a lock for good needs you there in person.
Does it track or monitor my child?
Never. Appcognito is a blocker, not a monitor. It blocks and locks the content you choose and does not track location, read messages, or send any activity feed to you or to us.
Can I use it on myself, not just my child?
Yes. It works just as well as a self-control lock: be your own keyholder, or hand the code to a partner or friend, so you cannot quietly undo your own blocks in a weak moment.
Your calmer days
start today
Private, affordable and genuinely on your side. Download Appcognito free on Google Play, and unlock Pro at 50% off.
No account. No cloud. No tracking. Free to start, Android first.