Is the Situations app still around? It’s pretty versatile and could achieve at least some of what you want, combined with shell scripting.
You might also want to look at domain blocking via HOSTS - some lists specifically target parental control.
Of course, if the kids know how to hack a phone then all bets are off anyhow, but I assume you wrote this post under the assumption that they don’t do that (yet).
I developed that. Will take a look to see if I can get it working again. The main part that would need fixing is getting the patches to apply.
How is this going? Is it possible to use it again?
Thanks!
so first you need a blocklist for tech know-how, so they can never acquire it
Yepp, exactly, so far they don’t have the technical understanding of how to hack a phone. As I said, for me, a time limit on the use of apps would be enough.
and we’re back in the Stone Age again 
About half way there. A lot of fixes required for the patches. Hopefully ready end of next week.
That is just Great News! Thanks! It is great that something like this exists!
Is there any way to control amount of time spent on the device?
It would be great if there were a built in option in Sailfish, like in Android, to configure a phone for children.
Uploaded the new version. I haven’t fully tested so let me know if something doesn’t work.
Hey, thank you very much, but the installation fails with my Sony Xperia 10 III and 5.0.0.73. Is there anything I can read out for you as a log?
Can you try installing from terminal
pkcon install kids-mode
I haven’t upgraded yet but it installed fine on my xperia 10 II
One aspect of parental control is screen time. There is a nice app which does most of the work ScreenTime (from Chum repo) and can be added to Partner Space, keeps the data in sqllite.
Now what would be required is some action when the day limit is reached.
A quick and dirty solution could be done based on cron and bash. A MDM daemon would be the elegant solution.
is there a way to trigger screen lock from a shell script?
the other thing is to send a SMS message about the day limit reached.
Is the wifi or USB SSH access possible if a non-admin user is active or are the developer options active only when admin user is active?
Is the Kids Mode patch functional for anybody?
I tried it on my C2, X10 iii and x10 ii and none of them work regarding hiding or closing apps.
It works on the action menu / top menu so.
The patch seems to be activated like it should in PatchManager.
If I have a look into the log by setting PatchManager to “Mode for patch developer”, I can see this:
----------------------------------
pm_apply 2026-03-28T20:51:58+01:00
----------------------------------
kids-mode
Using patch file: /usr/share/patchmanager/patches/kids-mode/unified_diff.patch
----------------------------------
Checking paths for 64-bit --> 32-bit conversion
----------------------------------
Mangle candidates: /usr/lib/qt5/qml /usr/lib/jolla-mediaplayer /usr/lib/maliit/plugins
OK, found nothing to convert.
----------------------------------
Test if already applied patch
----------------------------------
checking file usr/share/lipstick-jolla-home-qt5/eventsview/EventsViewList.qml
Unreversed patch detected! Ignore -R? [n]
Apply anyway? [n]
Skipping patch.
3 out of 3 hunks ignored
checking file usr/share/lipstick-jolla-home-qt5/launcher/Launcher.qml
Unreversed patch detected! Ignore -R? [n]
Apply anyway? [n]
Skipping patch.
4 out of 4 hunks ignored
checking file usr/share/lipstick-jolla-home-qt5/launcher/LauncherGrid.qml
Unreversed patch detected! Ignore -R? [n]
Apply anyway? [n]
Skipping patch.
3 out of 3 hunks ignored
checking file usr/share/lipstick-jolla-home-qt5/notifications/NotificationActionRow.qml
Unreversed patch detected! Ignore -R? [n]
Apply anyway? [n]
Skipping patch.
3 out of 3 hunks ignored
checking file usr/share/lipstick-jolla-home-qt5/notifications/NotificationPreview.qml
Unreversed patch detected! Ignore -R? [n]
Apply anyway? [n]
Skipping patch.
3 out of 3 hunks ignored
checking file usr/share/lipstick-jolla-home-qt5/notifications/NotificationStandardGroupItem.qml
Unreversed patch detected! Ignore -R? [n]
Apply anyway? [n]
Skipping patch.
3 out of 3 hunks ignored
checking file usr/share/lipstick-jolla-home-qt5/switcher/Switcher.qml
Unreversed patch detected! Ignore -R? [n]
Apply anyway? [n]
Skipping patch.
2 out of 2 hunks ignored
checking file usr/share/lipstick-jolla-home-qt5/topmenu/AmbienceSelector.qml
Unreversed patch detected! Ignore -R? [n]
Apply anyway? [n]
Skipping patch.
2 out of 2 hunks ignored
checking file usr/share/lipstick-jolla-home-qt5/topmenu/TopMenu.qml
Unreversed patch detected! Ignore -R? [n]
Apply anyway? [n]
Skipping patch.
2 out of 2 hunks ignored
----------------------------------
Dry running patch file
----------------------------------
checking file usr/share/lipstick-jolla-home-qt5/eventsview/EventsViewList.qml
checking file usr/share/lipstick-jolla-home-qt5/launcher/Launcher.qml
checking file usr/share/lipstick-jolla-home-qt5/launcher/LauncherGrid.qml
checking file usr/share/lipstick-jolla-home-qt5/notifications/NotificationActionRow.qml
checking file usr/share/lipstick-jolla-home-qt5/notifications/NotificationPreview.qml
checking file usr/share/lipstick-jolla-home-qt5/notifications/NotificationStandardGroupItem.qml
checking file usr/share/lipstick-jolla-home-qt5/switcher/Switcher.qml
checking file usr/share/lipstick-jolla-home-qt5/topmenu/AmbienceSelector.qml
checking file usr/share/lipstick-jolla-home-qt5/topmenu/TopMenu.qml
Hunk #1 succeeded at 271 (offset -15 lines).
Hunk #2 succeeded at 388 (offset -15 lines).
----------------------------------
Applying patch file
----------------------------------
patching file usr/share/lipstick-jolla-home-qt5/eventsview/EventsViewList.qml
patching file usr/share/lipstick-jolla-home-qt5/launcher/Launcher.qml
patching file usr/share/lipstick-jolla-home-qt5/launcher/LauncherGrid.qml
patching file usr/share/lipstick-jolla-home-qt5/notifications/NotificationActionRow.qml
patching file usr/share/lipstick-jolla-home-qt5/notifications/NotificationPreview.qml
patching file usr/share/lipstick-jolla-home-qt5/notifications/NotificationStandardGroupItem.qml
patching file usr/share/lipstick-jolla-home-qt5/switcher/Switcher.qml
patching file usr/share/lipstick-jolla-home-qt5/topmenu/AmbienceSelector.qml
patching file usr/share/lipstick-jolla-home-qt5/topmenu/TopMenu.qml
Hunk #1 succeeded at 271 (offset -15 lines).
Hunk #2 succeeded at 388 (offset -15 lines).
----------------------------------
Creating backup of patch file
----------------------------------
Created backup: /tmp/patchmanager3/patches/kids-mode
*** SUCCESS ***
Does anybody have a clue why it does not work?
Best regards
Fuchur
On this site another interesting idea : itsfoss.com .
Because copy/paste did not work on my phone I give the title:
‘Fedora Project Leader Suggests Linux Distros Could Adopt Apple’s Age Verification API.’
I’m not seeing any issues on XPeria 10II 5.0.0.72. I’ll upgrade and check.
Also works for me after upgrade. I noticed in your log that the patch is applying with some offsets and in my log that is not the case. What other patches are you using?
Hey anig,
thank you for having a look at it.
This is from my C2 from Settings > Patchmanager:
…and I think I had the “Launcher combined patch [Fork]” installed before too, but I uninstalled it to test the Kids mode patch which said it might have trouble otherwise.
If you need one of the QML files let me know.
Best regards
Fuchur
