Google's answer to endless scrolling is no longer limited to the Pixel 11. Pause Point, a Digital Wellbeing feature that makes you wait 10 seconds before opening your most distracting apps, is reaching older Pixel phones with the Android 17 QPR1 update. It has even turned up on a OnePlus phone. Here's how it works, how to turn it on and what's known about other brands.
What Pause Point Does
Google announced Pause Point in May, ahead of its I/O conference. The idea is simple: add a little friction between you and the apps you open without thinking.
You start by marking certain apps as distracting. After that, every time you open one, Android shows a 10-second pause before the app loads, Android Authority explained. During that pause, you can:
- Do a short breathing exercise
- Look at some of your favorite photos
- Set a timer for how long you want to spend in the app
- Pick an alternative suggestion, such as listening to an audiobook
It doesn't lock you out the way an app timer does. You can still open the app after the wait. The point is to make opening it a choice rather than a reflex.
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From Pixel 11 Exclusive to Older Pixels
When Android 17 arrived, Pause Point was limited to the Pixel 11 series. Google's help page said the feature “is available on Pixel 11 series running Android 17 and later,” and older Pixels didn't show the setting, HelenTech reported in August.
That changed with Android 17 QPR1. Google extended Pause Point to older Pixel models through the update, Android Headlines reported on October 18. Neither Android Headlines nor Android Authority listed the exact models.
Android 17 QPR1 itself went out to the Pixel 6 series through the Pixel 11 lineup, plus the original Pixel Fold, TechRepublic reported. Google rolls the update out in phases, so it may not have reached your phone yet.
How to Turn On Pause Point
If your Pixel has the feature, the setting sits in Digital Wellbeing:
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Digital Wellbeing.
- Tap Pause Point and turn it on.
- Choose the apps you want to mark as distracting.
If you don't see Pause Point, check for updates first. Go to Settings, then System, then Software updates, and install Android 17 QPR1 if it's waiting.
What About Samsung, OnePlus and Other Brands?
There's an early sign that Pause Point won't stay on Pixels. Android Authority found the feature running on a OnePlus 13R with the ColorOS 17 beta, the first confirmed non-Pixel phone to show it.
That's a beta, though. It's not known yet whether the feature will appear in stable builds or on phones from other makers, HelenTech noted. Google hasn't announced anything either, and as of mid-October its help page still listed only the Pixel 11 series running Android 17 and later, according to Android Authority.
No reports so far mention Samsung's Galaxy phones.
Options If Your Phone Doesn't Have It
Until Pause Point reaches more phones, Android's existing Digital Wellbeing tools can do part of the job. In Settings, then Digital Wellbeing, you'll find:
- App timers. Set a daily limit for an app. When time runs out, the app closes and its icon dims until midnight.
- Focus mode. Pause a group of distracting apps for a set period, such as work hours.
Menu names can vary depending on who made your phone. These tools are stricter than Pause Point, which only asks you to wait. For many people, those 10 seconds are enough to decide the app can wait.
