Parental Controls.... but for grown ups.

November 4, 2023 5:12 AM

I need a way to make my Computer turn off at night so I don't stay up too late playing games or watching videos. The problem is I cannot be trusted and will probably find ways to circumvent anything that I put in place.

This is a Windows 11 Computer. The solution needs to be robust enough that I can't just turn it off, (or that maybe reports back somewhere so that if I do then I can be held accountable)

posted by Just this guy, y'know to Technology (27 answers total)

Best answer: Freedom is my go to for this. I can get around it, but the process is annoying enough that I go to bed instead.

For bonus points it’s multi platform so I can’t just switch over to my phone.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 5:39 AM on November 4, 2023 [6 favorites]

Windows supports timed access controls for user accounts, but not for the "administrator" account; you can do this by adding your user account to the administrator's group, disabling the main administrator account and then using the "net user" command:

net user /times:[times]

... to restrict that account to logging in only at certain times. This, combined with a "scheduled task" of shutting down the computer at some certain time will shut off your machine and guarantee you can't log back into it between those hours.

Just... be really clear about what you're doing, when you're doing this. There is zero slack or human sympathy in this process, none. If it's 2:00 AM and you need to get that information out of that file or email or look up a map to your aunt's who's having a heart attack or find that address for the closest shelter or or or or, you're not going to be able to do that, at all, before your scheduled morning unlock time rolls around.
posted by mhoye at 5:41 AM on November 4, 2023 [6 favorites]

Plug computer into mechanical timer. Pad lock timer into lock box. Give key to neighbour/relative.
posted by Mitheral at 5:49 AM on November 4, 2023 [3 favorites]

I like the timer mechanical timer idea, but maybe on the monitor instead? Cutting power abruptly to a windows machine can sometimes really mess it up badly (thanks, ComEd)
posted by JoeZydeco at 5:52 AM on November 4, 2023

Plug computer into mechanical timer.

Do not plug computer into mechanical timer.
posted by mhoye at 6:07 AM on November 4, 2023 [10 favorites]

Most systems like this are like a box of cookies tied with string at the top of a ladder - any system you make, you can subvert. You either need something external that you do not have control over, or figure out a way to make the control internal.
posted by zamboni at 6:21 AM on November 4, 2023 [3 favorites]

I had this problem in the past. I solved it by making the password for the “parental account” as long as they would let me make it, a complete jumble of special characters and upper/lowercase. Something I could never ever ever remember. Then I wrote the password down and put it in an envelope and put the envelope under the spare tire in my car. If I NEEDED it I could certainly get it but inherent laziness kept me from going to retrieve it.

A note on what didn’t work: letting a loved one control the account. The first time a new game was released they immediately caved because they wanted me to be happy and I begged a loooot.
posted by Syllables at 6:32 AM on November 4, 2023 [25 favorites]

I do this at the router level with a parental program that turns off the wifi based on either a schedule or a total time online. It's annoying enough (and usually I'm actually tired enough) that going to sleep is easier than going through the steps to turn it back on. If you're using a wired connection this won't work.
posted by cocoagirl at 7:05 AM on November 4, 2023 [2 favorites]

I find any blocking process that takes longer than 20 seconds provides a high enough barrier to work as an effective lock mechanism.
posted by zenon at 8:46 AM on November 4, 2023

Sorry the power cut suggestion was for a hard enforcement of personal limit. Eg: self imposed limit of 10 pm possibly with what ever soft mechanism works like a phone notification. Set timer at 10:15. 10 pm limit is effective because 15 minutes later no power.
posted by Mitheral at 9:12 AM on November 4, 2023 [1 favorite]

Mechanical timer WITH a smart UPS that sends shutdown command to the PC too.
posted by kschang at 9:26 AM on November 4, 2023 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Just for context. The computer in question is a laptop. So whilst the power cut suggestion might work relatively safely, it would still leave the laptop on for an hour or so. But definitely points for lateral thinking.
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 9:47 AM on November 4, 2023

How long does the battery last on the laptop? Unplug it earlier in the evening, then lock away the power supply and once the battery dies, you’re done for the night.
posted by hooray at 9:53 AM on November 4, 2023 [3 favorites]

Mechanical timer WITH a smart UPS that sends shutdown command to the PC too.

This is probably what I would do. Also works if you have an unexpected power outage! You could get something like this and have it wired into the circuit in a difficult-to-access location. (Please use an electrician's services both to make sure wiring is correct and the installation meets code)

Edit: Didn't keep an eye out while writing and missed the comment about the laptop. How about a timed safe?
posted by pullayup at 9:55 AM on November 4, 2023

Best answer: This turning off business seems like a very weak solution to me, since the workaround is just to plug it in again. Letting the battery run out on a laptop also sounds like a very bad idea because you're going to want it fully charged when you wake up.

Also it's a blanket shutoff of a useful tool.

The reason I use Freedom is that I get a lot better granularity. I can choose which apps and which websites are still available to me -- email, for example gets a pass as well as a few other apps that are useful in the middle of the night.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 10:07 AM on November 4, 2023 [2 favorites]

The problem is I cannot be trusted and will probably find ways to circumvent anything that I put in place.

That is indeed a problem, and my best advice to you is that you concentrate on solving it instead of distracting yourself with impossibilities like how to make a computer simultaneously controllable and not.

Do you have a regular meditation practice? If not, perhaps consider starting one.
posted by flabdablet at 10:30 AM on November 4, 2023 [6 favorites]

Best answer: 3rding Freedom. When you first sit down, set it up to start blocking at a certain time. Your lizard brain will forget all about it until you are suddenly blocked. It's enough of a stopper and annoying enough to go around that it works for me.
posted by hydra77 at 12:31 PM on November 4, 2023 [1 favorite]

Best answer: My and my partner both have this problem. Chronically. The timer on the wifi power outlet has worked for us. I also use Freedom.

Here's an idea. You control Freedom from a "dashboard" set up on one device but like others have mentioned you can run it across several different devices. Set your dashboard up on a separate device to your laptop -- an old phone or something -- and keep that device out of battery. Put it at the back of a closet. Store the only power cord somewhere awkward, like in your car. Internet is blocked on your laptop; turning it back on again involves finding where you hid the phone, finding it's charger, then waiting for it to charge, turn on, etc.
posted by EllaEm at 5:16 PM on November 4, 2023 [4 favorites]

Mitheral: Plug computer into mechanical timer. Pad lock timer into lock box.

Too easily circumvented by taking another power cord and running this straight from the wall socket to the computer's inlet.

(this in case a non-laptop user is looking at these suggestions)
posted by Stoneshop at 2:11 PM on November 5, 2023

mhoye: Do not plug computer into mechanical timer.

Do not plug computer into any externally-controlled socket.
posted by Stoneshop at 2:15 PM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]

cocoagirl: If you're using a wired connection this won't work.

The routers I know can apply the same parental control to particular systems on a wired connection.

Instead of hanging the computer off a timer, using one to switch off the router is much less disastrous though it will supremely annoy any IoT gear. It also won't help against keeping playing locally-installed games that don't require a remote server connection.
posted by Stoneshop at 2:26 PM on November 5, 2023

The computer in question is a laptop. So whilst the power cut suggestion might work relatively safely, it would still leave the laptop on for an hour or so.

Get hold of a second-hand shitty battery, for instance by buying the same model laptop (specs don't matter, just that it says "battery only lasts for smallnum minutes"), swap the batteries and sell the other one again.
posted by Stoneshop at 2:36 AM on November 6, 2023

Get hold of a second-hand shitty battery, for instance by buying the same model laptop (specs don't matter, just that it says "battery only lasts for smallnum minutes"), swap the batteries and sell the other one again.

Any solution that involves repeatedly unexpectedly cutting power to a running computer is cutting your nose to spite your face. They are not designed to cope with that.
posted by zamboni at 5:53 AM on November 6, 2023 [1 favorite]

A battery that only holds out for 5 to 10 minutes will cause the laptop, if power management is set up correctly, go into hibernation or do a full shutdown during that time span.
posted by Stoneshop at 8:18 AM on November 6, 2023 [1 favorite]

if power management is set up correctly, go into hibernation or do a full shutdown during that time span.

If the battery is correctly reporting charge levels, which they do not necessarily do at that stage of decrepitude.

In order for this setup to not be trivially subverted, you will also have to, at minimum, physically secure the laptop to a specific location, prevent the timer from being disconnected, and remove any extension cords from the house.
posted by zamboni at 10:06 AM on November 6, 2023 [1 favorite]

You have to have the laptop charger sitting in the locked box with the timer, and there shouldn't be a second charger around. Extension cords are irrelevant, as is having the laptop secured with a Kensington.
posted by Stoneshop at 11:07 AM on November 6, 2023

Response by poster: I have bought a lifetime subscription for freedom, which seems like a better version of RescueTime that I used to use, but was much more expensive. RescueTime was charging nearly the same for a year subscription as Freedom charged for lifetime access.

Vitally, RescueTime didn't block apps, whereas freedom does, so I can block myself from playing stupid addicting video games till 4am.
It also blocks access to task manager!
Because all too often I would go to task manager and just kill off the RescueTime process. So it does seem that the Freedom folks know what they're doing.

I have not yet found myself trying to circumvent it. But it's early days, so I guess we'll see.
But with lock mode on and task manager blocked it certainly seems like it's a decent enough roadblock.

Also it has the very significant advantage that I can set up a work time chunk of focus time as well, so that is even better functionality than just me going to bed one time.
Though I notice that focus time just kicked in and metafilter isn't blocked. So I might need to check that.
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 2:42 AM on November 8, 2023