Related: [[Phones]], [[My Next Phone]] # Dumbing Down a Smartphone How does one dumb down a smart phone? I endeavoured to find out. ## iOS ### 2026-02-28 Dumbance - Read this: [Dumb iPhone: A Guide for iOS26 : dumbphones](https://old.reddit.com/r/dumbphones/comments/1qw1kg8/dumb_iphone_a_guide_for_ios26/) - Read this: [iOS Overview - Privacy Guides](https://www.privacyguides.org/en/os/ios-overview/#invasive-telemetry) - Made lock screen and home screen **backgrounds** black. - Removed *all* apps from **home screen**. No apps are visible unless you swipe down and search for it or swipe left to browse the app library. - Didn't delete any apps. Out of sight, out of mind is good enough for my needs. - Removed all widgets from **widget dashboard**. - Turned off **recent and related** and **Siri suggestions** in search, so nothing but actual results come up. Nothing to distract me, even for a millisecond, when searching for something specific. - Cleared out the **Control Center**. I'll add stuff back as I find I need them, focusing on where my thumbs land when I hold the phone different ways. - Created a new 'ergonomic' layout. See below. - Turned off **Raise-to-Wake** and **Tap-to-Wake**. Now I have to be intentional about activating it, instead of idly turning it upside or tapping the screen. Friction, but just ever-so-much. - Added *Dumb Phone (dp)* minimal app launcher. Added launcher widget as only item on home screen. So far I think it's an app worth the $25 "lifetime" price. - See below for more. Read also: [[macOS#^lifetimepurchase]] - Restored **text size** to the default. I previously had it at the smallest, which I now think made the phone seem even bigger wrt the UI design. - Restored **sounds** (ringtone, text tone, calendar, etc.) to the default. - Removed all **Focuses**. I'll recreate again if I find I want one. - Added "Dumb Phone" focus, with dark backgrounds and only the app launcher home screen active. - Added "Smart Phone" focus, with previous custom backgrounds and all previous home screens active. - Changed **notification display** to "Count" instead of "Stack". Another slight piece of friction, and some infosec from shoulder-riders. - Changed **newly downloaded apps** to "App Library Only". It's more computer-like that way, as I don't use desktop icons to remind me I installed a program. - Limited **screen frame rate** to 60 frames per second. Phone *feels* less responsive, but isn't. But I won't try to zoom about everywhere. Should help with battery life too. - Went to the beginning of my **App Store history** to find old apps and games I used to play. - Open App Store > Account (your profile picture in the top right) > "Apps" > every app your account has every installed, in order of first installation (most recent at top). - Might sound counter productive, but I rediscovered some forgotten gems, like [Flow Free](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flow-free/id526641427), that are straightforward and fun "time-wasters" that don't actively try to slurp up all my time. ### Results >- Blank lock screen. I forgot my phone was OLED so it looks sooo good. Ironic that OLED looks best when it's mostly off >- three menus of six apps that are "base" apps. All on one home screen, swipe up or down to switch >- Bottom left button (down arrow) brings down the Control Center (next image), which is normally opened by swiping down at the top right corner, bottom right button plays/pauses media >- Control center is ergonomically arranged: top is for the right hand, bottom for the left. Generally designed so each thumb has a default/quick button (around the flashlight button of each) >- Ergonomics presume phone is held and braced with left hand while right hand is free >- App Library has all the apps, so I can still browse if needed. I didn't organize it though, so I know it won't be missing anything, e.g., a game I downloaded but never added to a games folders |-|-|-| | - | - | - | | ![[dumbphone1 (Large).png\|400]] ||| | ![[dumbphone2 (Large).png\|400]]|![[dumbphone3 (Large).png\|400]]|![[dumbphone4 (Large).png\|400]]| | ![[dumbphone5 (Large).png\|400]]||| |![[dumbphone6 (Large).png\|400]]|![[dumbphone7 (Large).png\|400]]|![[dumbphone8 (Large).png\|400]]| ### Dumb Phone (dp) app - $25 - [‎Dumb Phone (dp) App - App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dumb-phone-dp/id6504743503) 1. Minimal app launcher and matching backgrounds - Can make multiple app launchers, with different apps, for different times of day, work versus home, etc. 2. Decent number of style settings to customize the app launcher 3. Companion time and weather widgets to match the app launcher widget 4. Screen Time integration for "Detox Mode" - Detox Mode works with Screen Time to block (or allow) apps or categories of apps - Can be unlocked with: - Nothing (for those with self control) - a PIN code (for those with delayed self control) - Tap-to-unlock (for those with no self control) 5. NFC integration for tap-to-disable Detox Mode (hotel card, bank card, ID, etc., but not RFID) Competes with: - $60 - [Brick — Take Back Control of Your Screen Time – Brick LLC](https://getbrick.com/) - Literally just an app and a NFC chip in a plastic block - Would this app (and dp, tbf) exist/work if Screen Time didn't allow apps to work with it? 'cause Screen Time is what's doing the heavy lifting of actually stopping you from opening apps. TBH I like both (1) apps can now be used to block other apps from opening, and (2) the iPhone is still in full control of actually accessing the apps. - Android: "yeah ~~XXXX~~ screw it they can let apps block other apps, if they break something that's their fault" - Apple: "How can we let an app block another app without allowing the user to ~~XXXX~~ screw themselves over?"