SleepGuard - dead man's switch

Do you often fall asleep while watching videos or listening to music on your phone? SleepGuard makes sure your device doesn't keep running all night long.

At an interval you choose, a small red circle appears on top of whatever you are watching. Tap it and playback continues as normal. Don't tap it within a few seconds - because you have fallen asleep - and SleepGuard locks the screen, just like pressing the power button. Your video stops and your phone is protected for the rest of the night.

There is also an Audio mode for music, audiobooks and podcasts: instead of a button, SleepGuard works as a simple sleep timer that stops playback after your chosen interval — even with the screen off.

WHY YOU NEED IT

* YouTube and other apps with autoplay: Without SleepGuard, one video starts the next and the next and the next ... until morning. In the worst case the battery is drained empty and your alarm can no longer go off when you need it. SleepGuard stops the chain as soon as you stop responding.

* Netflix, Prime Video and other streaming apps: Fall asleep mid-episode and you wake up not knowing where you dozed off. You waste time scrubbing back to find the spot - sometimes sitting through long ads again and again. SleepGuard locks the screen right when you don't respond, so your streaming app knows where to continue.

HOW IT WORKS

1. Set how often the check button should appear (e.g. every 5 minutes).
2. Set how many seconds you have to react before the screen locks (e.g. 30 seconds).
3. Choose where on the screen the button appears.
4. Start SleepGuard and keep watching.

FEATURES

* Two modes: Video (wake-check button over any app) and Audio (sleep timer for music, audiobooks and podcasts, works also with the screen off)
* Adjustable interval and reaction time
* Eight button positions to choose from
* Reliable timing even in the background (uses the system alarm)
* Completely free, no ads, no tracking, no accounts

PRIVACY

SleepGuard has NO internet permission at all. It cannot send or receive any data. It does exactly two things: show a button and lock the screen. It collects nothing.

PERMISSIONS EXPLAINED

* Display over other apps: to show the red circle on top of your video.
* Device admin (screen lock only): to lock the screen like the power button.
* Foreground service & exact alarm: to make the check button appear on time.
* Ignore battery optimization: so the button still works reliably while another app is in the foreground.
* Notifications (Android 13+): to show the ongoing "SleepGuard is active" notification.

OPEN SOURCE

SleepGuard is free software, licensed under the GNU General Public License v3. The full source code is available so anyone can inspect exactly what the app does: https://github.com/OlafDrechsler/SleepGuard

SUPPORT

SleepGuard is free and will stay free. If it helps you, you can support its developer with a voluntary donation from within the app. There is deliberately no reward in return - it is simply a thank-you.

THE IDEA / THE NAME

The idea for the app comes from a safety system used on trains. In the driver’s cab, there is a button that the driver must press at regular intervals, otherwise the train will automatically stop. By pressing the button, the driver confirms that he or she is awake. Colloquially, this button is called a “dead man’s switch,” and so the app is also called “SleepGuard – dead man’s switch.”

Is SleepGuard - dead man's switch free to download?
Yes. The APK file linked from this page is free. The developer may offer in-app purchases once installed, but obtaining the installer itself costs nothing.

What Android version does SleepGuard - dead man's switch require?
Android 4.1+ or newer. Installing on older devices may cause crashes or refuse to install.

Is SleepGuard - dead man's switch safe to install?
We link to the exact APK published by Olaf Drechsler. We do not modify the file. Still, as with any sideloaded app, scan it with a reputable antivirus before opening it, and only grant permissions the app genuinely needs.

How do I update SleepGuard - dead man's switch?
Install the newer version on top of the old one — Android will keep your data. If the signature differs, uninstall first (you may lose local progress).

Why is the app not installing?
Common causes: not enough storage, an older Android version than 4.1+, or a conflicting build already installed. Free up space, check your OS version, and uninstall any previous copy before retrying.

1. Tap the Download APK button above and save the file to your device.
2. Open your device Settings → Security (or Apps → Special access → Install unknown apps) and allow your file manager or browser to install unknown apps for this one file only.
3. Open the downloaded com.sleepguard.apk file from your Downloads folder.
4. Tap Install and wait for Android to finish.
5. Open «SleepGuard - dead man's switch» by Olaf Drechsler and grant only the permissions it actually needs.
6. Revoke the "unknown sources" permission once you are done installing.

Note: this page hosts or links to the installer only. The application name, icon and description are provided for identification. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.