# Set a screen time timer

In the Guardian app, tap the Timer tile on the Home screen, pick a duration, choose Sleep or Lock under When timer ends, and tap Start Timer. The TV shows a countdown and acts when the time is up.

A timer caps one session: one more episode, then it's off. For the same hours every day, use a [schedule](https://tvcp.app/help/set-a-schedule/) instead.

## Steps

1. **Open the Guardian app** and check the Home screen shows the right TV.
2. **Tap the Timer tile.** The **Screen Time Timer** sheet opens.
3. **Pick a duration.** Use the buttons (**+5m**, **+15m**, **+30m**, **+1h**) or set your own.
4. **Choose what happens when it ends,** under **When timer ends**:
   - **Sleep**: the TV goes to sleep (screen off).
   - **Lock**: the TV shows a lock screen.
5. **Tap Start Timer.** The Home screen shows when the timer ends.

![The Screen Time Timer sheet in the Guardian app](https://tvcp.app/help/img/phone-timer.png)

## What your child sees

A small countdown appears in the corner of the TV while the timer runs.

![The countdown badge on the TV](https://tvcp.app/help/img/tv-timer-badge.png)

When it reaches zero, the TV goes to sleep or shows the lock screen, depending on what you chose.

![The TV Locked screen, which a timer set to Lock shows when it ends](https://tvcp.app/help/img/tv-locked.png)

## Change your mind

- **To stop the timer early,** tap **Cancel Timer** on the Home screen. The TV is free to use again.
- **To give more time,** cancel the timer and start a new one.

## Good to know

If the TV locked when the timer ended, unlock it from the app with **Slide to unlock TV**, or with your PIN on the TV. See [Lock and unlock the TV](https://tvcp.app/help/lock-and-unlock/).