SafetyMode relies on a set of Android system features - like Media Projection, Accessibility Services, and Foreground Services - to provide real-time, AI-powered content filtering. Not every Android device on the market can support these features reliably. This FAQ explains what we mean by a "modern Android smartphone" and why some devices aren't supported.
Why does SafetyMode have minimum device requirements?
SafetyMode needs to run continuously and reliably in the background to monitor and filter content in real time. Older or lower-spec devices often can't support the underlying Android APIs SafetyMode depends on, or can't run them without significant battery drain, crashes, or missed detections. Setting minimum requirements ensures the app works as intended for every family that installs it.
What are the minimum requirements?
A device needs to meet all of the following to install SafetyMode:
1. At least 4,096 MB (4 GB) of RAM Devices with less memory struggle to run SafetyMode's on-device AI filtering alongside normal phone use. Based on current Google Play device statistics, this excludes roughly 2,481 of the 5,642 device models Google tracks - mostly older budget and entry-level phones.
2. Android 12 (SDK level 31) or higher Android 12 is the minimum version that reliably supports the system features SafetyMode is built on, including:
Media Projection (for screen content analysis)
Accessibility Services (for in-app monitoring)
Foreground Services (for continuous background operation)
Devices on Android 11 or earlier don't have full, dependable support for these APIs.
3. It has to be a phone SafetyMode is built and tested specifically for Android smartphones. The following device types are not supported, even if they otherwise meet the RAM and OS requirements:
Tablets
Wear OS devices (smartwatches)
Chromebooks
Android TV devices
Android XR (extended reality/headset) devices
4. It has to be a certified Android device The device must run a Google-certified version of Android. Devices running uncertified builds - including many custom ROMs - are excluded, since we can't guarantee those builds correctly implement the security and system APIs SafetyMode relies on.
How are these requirements enforced?
We use Google Play Console's device exclusion rules to prevent incompatible devices from installing SafetyMode in the first place, rather than letting someone install it and then experience a broken or unreliable app.
My phone is a few years old - will it still work?
If your phone has at least 4 GB of RAM and shipped with Android 12 or has been updated to Android 12 or later, it should be compatible. Most mainstream smartphones released from 2021 onward meet these requirements. Budget devices and older models are more likely to fall short on RAM.
I have a tablet / smartwatch / Chromebook / Android TV - can I still use SafetyMode?
Not currently. SafetyMode is designed and optimized for smartphone use cases. Support for other device categories isn't available at this time.
My device isn't showing up as compatible in the Play Store, but it seems powerful enough - why?
This is most likely because your device isn't running a Google-certified version of Android (for example, a custom ROM), or because Google's own device database doesn't yet reflect updated specs for your model.
Where can I check if my specific device is supported?
The Google Play Store will only show SafetyMode as installable if your device meets all the requirements above. If you don't see it in the Play Store search results on your device, it likely doesn't meet one or more of these criteria.
Note: This document is a starting draft - figures (like the 2,481/5,642 device count) should be refreshed periodically as Google's device statistics change.