Dumb Phone — What It Is and How to Turn Your Smartphone Into One

A dumb phone, also known as a feature phone, is a bare-bones cell phone made for basic functions such as making calls, sending text messages, and that’s about it. Some dumb phones include a few additional features like a calculator, FM radio, or camera, but not much else.

If you’re distracted by doom-scrolling apps and the pressure to stay connected 24/7, you might be considering trading in your iPhone or Android for a less "intelligent", minimalist device, aka a dumb phone. What if we told you that all you need to get the peace of mind you’re looking for is to dumb down and change how you use your smartphone—not give up on it altogether? 

In this article, we'll tell you how to turn your current phone into a "dumb phone" of sorts.

Benefits of Using a Dumb Phone

Smartphones, for all of their technological innovations, can be seriously distracting. That's where dumb phones come in. Here are some benefits of dumb phones: 

1. Reduced Distraction and Increased Focus: By eliminating the constant notifications and the temptation to check social media or engage in other digital distractions, you can focus more on real-world interactions and the tasks at hand.
2. Improved Mental Wellbeing and Sleep Quality: Excessive smartphone usage has been linked to increased levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. By reducing your screen time and minimizing exposure to the constant influx of information, you can improve your mental well-being.
3. Enhanced Privacy and Security: Dumb phones or simplified smartphones offer limited Internet access and reduced tracking capabilities. This means that your personal data is less likely to be collected and used by third parties and apps.
4. Decreased Dependency on Technology: By relying less on your smartphone for entertainment, social interaction, and information, you can cultivate a healthier relationship with technology.
5. Extended Battery Life and Reduced Environmental Impact: Dumb phones and simplified smartphone usage often result in extended battery life due to the reduced power consumption of fewer apps and features.

Best Dumb Phones

How to Turn Your Smartphone into a Dumb Phone

You don’t have to get an actual dumb phone to reform your phone habits. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to transform your smartphone into a "dumb phone" to minimize your usage, create better boundaries between you and your device, and enjoy the benefits of a less digitally connected lifestyle.

1. Review and Uninstall Apps
2. Disable App Notifications
3. Use "Do Not Disturb" Mode
4. Create a Minimalist Home Screen
5. Use a Basic Dialer and SMS App
6. Utilize App Timers and Parental Controls
7. Regularly Assess and Adjust

How to Turn iPhone Into a Dumb Phone

Love your Apple device but want to limit your usage? No problem. Your iPhone is full of tips and tricks to incorporate elements of the dumb phone trend into your lifestyle.

1. Use Screen Time: Enable Screen Time in Settings to set daily limits for app categories or specific apps. This will help you curb excessive phone usage and be more mindful of your screen time.
2. Enable Grayscale: Go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size > Color Filters and turn on Grayscale. This makes your iPhone display black and white, reducing the visual appeal of apps and helping you focus on essential functions.
3. Simplify Your Home Screen: Remove all non-essential apps from your home screen and keep only the basics like Phone, Messages, and Calendar. This minimizes clutter and distractions.
4. Disable Background App Refresh: Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and turn it off for all apps. This prevents apps from constantly updating in the background, saving battery life and reducing distractions.
5. Ask Siri: iPhones have a built-in voice assistant called Siri. You can use it to perform tasks, make calls, send messages, and more using just your voice, so you’re not constantly looking at your phone screen. Just say “Hey Siri” and it should respond. Check out this article if you’re having trouble. 
6. Use Do Not Disturb: Apple’s version of Do Not Disturb is called Focus. In Focus mode, you can set up multiple modes like Sleep, Work, and Bedtime, or make your own Focus activities, to automatically turn on throughout the day. To set them up, go to Settings > Focus > Bedtime, Sleep, Work, Do Not Disturb, or hit the “+” in the right-hand corner to make your own. Set the schedule, choose which apps and people are allowed to bypass the Focus (if any), and choose what your screen will show you and what notifications will be able to do while in Focus. 
7. Limit Safari Browsing: If you want to restrict your web browsing, use Screen Time settings to disable Safari or install a content blocker like Freedom to control your browsing habits.
8. Embrace the Default Apps: Avoid downloading feature-rich third-party apps and stick to Apple's default apps like Mail, Calendar, and Notes. They offer basic functionality without unnecessary extras.
9. Use the Shortcuts App: Create custom automations using Apple's Shortcuts app to simplify common tasks and reduce the need to navigate through multiple apps.

How to Turn Android Into a Dumb Phone

If you're looking to simplify your Android smartphone and turn it into a more basic device, here are some steps you can take:

1. Disable Notifications: Go to your phone's settings > "Apps & Notifications". From there, you can control which apps send you notifications. Disable notifications for non-essential apps to reduce distractions.
2. Use Do Not Disturb Mode: Android's "Do Not Disturb" mode can silence notifications, calls, and messages during set times. Go to Settings > Sound and Vibration > Do Not Disturb. You can easily turn it on and off from there depending on what you need. 
3. Enable Grayscale: Go to Settings > Accessibility > Visibility enhancements > Color correction > tap Grayscale. Voila, your Android is black and white, eliminating brightness and color from your screen.
4. Utilize Voice Commands: Androids have a built-in voice assistant—just say “Hey Google” for hands-free activation. You can use it to perform tasks, make calls, send messages, check the weather, ask questions for it to look up online, and more using just your voice, so you’re not constantly looking at your phone screen. Read on if you’re having trouble getting Hey Google to respond.
5. Set Up Android Parental Controls: If you're setting up the phone for a child or an elderly person, use Android's built-in parental controls. These allow you to restrict content, set usage limits, and control which apps can be installed.

Mindfulness Apps - Smartphone Apps Worth Keeping

Using some of the tips above like deleting certain social media apps and turning off the constant notifications can be a great step towards a digital detox and reducing screen time without giving up your smartphone altogether. However, it doesn't mean sacrificing all apps. There are plenty of apps you can add to your phone to promote a more mindful life and self-care.  

There are well-known mindfulness apps for both Android and iPhone users that offer guided meditations, breathing exercises, sleep aids, journaling prompts, and more. These apps can help us disconnect from the constant noise and information overload of social media, and instead focus on our mental and emotional well-being.

Headspace, Calm, and Balance are popular meditation and mindfulness apps that came to the forefront as big contenders in the wellness space early on. Some of the tried-and-true features on these apps include daily mindfulness exercises, sleep stories with guest celebrity voices, daily yoga positions to promote well-being, and guided meditations from real psychologists and practitioners to help users decrease stress, improve sleep quality, and cultivate more awareness in their daily lives. These popular apps are perfect for people who are always on the go because they allow for a quiet moment and a break from your surroundings virtually anywhere that you can have your smartphone.

In addition to the fan favorites above, newer habit-tracking wellness apps include Fabulous and Finch. Habit-tracking apps like Fabulous can help us stay on track with healthy habits such as exercise, hydration, and screen time limits with a user-friendly interface.

There are also focus and timer apps that encourage you to stay off your smartphone entirely for set periods so you can reduce tech time and be more productive. For nature lovers, Forest helps you stay focused by planting virtual trees that grow while you stay away from your smartphone. If you end up going on your phone before the timer ends, the virtual tree will wither. It's a unique, visual way of motivating people to stick to their goals and be productive. Bonus: the creators of Forest also plant real trees when you use their app, so it's a win-win for you and the environment.

The Bottom Line

Ultimately, adopting the "dumb phone" lifestyle is about finding a balance and using technology in a way that enhances our lives, rather than letting virtual distractions and apps become our entire lives. 

Trading in a smartphone for a dumb phone isn't for everyone, but there are ways of finding a healthy balance that can support your wellness goals, keep you present and focused, and inspire you to be more mindful about how you use technology. Try out our tips above for simplifying your smartphone and turning it into a device that promotes mindfulness and self-care; you just might find that it's the best of both worlds.

Another bonus of cutting back your mobile phone usage is saving money. Spending less time scrolling social media, gaming, and streaming videos on your phone means you’ll be using less mobile data. To find and compare the best phone plan deals you qualify for based on your newly reduced data needs, check out our free, unbiased Plan Finder. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a dumb phone do?

A dumb phone, also known as a feature phone, is a bare-bones cell phone made for basic functions such as making calls, sending text messages, and that’s about it. Some dumb phones include a few additional features like a calculator, or camera, but not much else.

Why do people want dumb phones?

People choose dumb phones for their simplicity, longer battery life, and reduced distractions. They offer a way to disconnect from constant notifications, social media, and the internet, promoting better focus and digital well-being.

Do dumb phones have internet access?

Most dumb phones do not have internet access or have very limited access to basic features like email or web browsing. They focus on calls, texts, and simple utilities, avoiding the full internet capabilities of smartphones.