Enabling the accessibility service
Earnest uses an accessibility service to notice when a locked app opens and to return to the home screen. It is used only for enforcement, and it does not read, store, or transmit what is on your screen. Here is how to turn it on and what the consent screens mean.
Open the accessibility settings
Go to Settings, then Accessibility. On most phones the Earnest service appears under Installed services or Downloaded apps.
Select Earnest
Tap Earnest in the list of services. You will see a description of what the service is allowed to do.
Read the prominent-disclosure consent
Before you enable it, Earnest shows a clear disclosure explaining that the service is used only to enforce screen-time limits, and that it does not read, store, or transmit the content of your screen. Confirm that you understand.
Turn the service on
Toggle the Earnest service on. Android shows its own standard warning about the general power of accessibility services. Choose Allow to continue.
Confirm it is working
Return to Earnest. When enforcement is active, opening a locked app will gently return the device to the home screen. If it does not, check that the service is still enabled and review the battery settings for your phone.
What does the accessibility service actually do?
Android accessibility services are powerful, which is why the system warns you about them. Earnest uses the service narrowly: it watches for a locked app coming to the foreground so it can trigger the gentle return to home. It does not capture keystrokes, read messages, or send any information off the device. Earnest ships with no networking libraries, so it has no way to transmit screen content even if it wanted to. You can read how the on-device design works on the security page.
The prominent-disclosure screen you see before enabling the service is there so you know exactly what you are agreeing to. We would rather over-explain this than have you grant access you do not understand.