What is TouchFree?

TouchFree is a free Android 12+ screen touch lock app from NLAP. One tap under 200 ms disables the touchscreen, volume up and down keys, home and back buttons, and edge swipe gestures. Videos keep playing underneath the lock overlay, so a toddler can watch YouTube or Netflix without accidentally skipping, pausing, or exiting. Unlock is limited to the owner via a 4–6 digit PIN (SHA-256 hashed and stored on-device only) or fingerprint through Android's BiometricPrompt API. No in-app purchases, no subscription, no data collection, no account — 100% offline. Published by NLAP on Google Play.

"An overlay window appears on top of all other applications. The window manager does not constrain the bounds of this window to the screen. The window must request the SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW permission." — Android Developers, WindowManager.LayoutParams.TYPE_APPLICATION_OVERLAY

Every block you'd ever need

Eight features, one tap to activate. Each one closes a gap the three big competitors (Brink, KIDSCRAPE, Lock My Touch) leave open.

One-tap touchscreen lock

A system overlay absorbs every touch and swipe, so videos keep playing.

< 200 ms activation

Volume key block

Volume up and down are intercepted through Android's AccessibilityService.

Both keys

Home, back, recent

Three-button navigation is fully blocked; gesture nav is blocked with a brief flicker on launcher transitions.

Android 12 gesture nav

Edge swipe block

A transparent LockScreenActivity swallows OnBackInvokedCallback so edge-swipe app switching is blocked.

Edge-to-edge

PIN + fingerprint unlock

4 or 6 digit PIN, SHA-256 hashed, stored only on-device. Optional fingerprint via Android's BiometricPrompt.

Owner only

Quick Settings tile

Toggle lock from the notification shade without opening the app.

One swipe

32 languages, no tracking

32 translations including RTL. No analytics. No accounts. Settings stay on the device.

No login

Who uses TouchFree?

TouchFree is for anyone who needs to lock a phone without turning it off. Four concrete scenarios:

Parents handing a phone to a toddler

Lock before passing the phone. The kid can watch YouTube but cannot skip videos, press the home button, or change volume.

Accessibility users with hand tremors

Prevent accidental taps during video playback or reading. Unlock the moment you need control back.

Cleaning the screen

Wipe fingerprints and dust without launching random apps or skipping tracks. Tap once to lock, clean, tap to unlock.

Lending the phone

Let someone watch a specific video without scrolling into your photos, messages, or other apps.

TouchFree vs. the other touch lock apps

Four publicly listed competitors on Google Play. All checks based on public Play Store information and user reviews as of April 2026.

Feature TouchFree Brink Touch Lock KIDSCRAPE Touch Lock Lock My Touch
Price Free, no subscription Free with time limit Free with ads Free
Ads while locked Never Reported Reported
Android 12 gesture nav Yes Not documented Not documented Targets Android 5+
Fingerprint unlock Yes (BiometricPrompt) No No No
Quick Settings tile Yes No No No
Auto-start on boot Yes No No No
Screen-off brick safety Documented Not documented Not documented Not documented
Languages 32 Limited Limited Limited

Full side-by-side breakdown: TouchFree vs. Brink vs. KIDSCRAPE vs. Lock My Touch.

Common questions

Six most-asked, summarized. Full 30-question FAQ →

How do I stop my kid from pressing buttons while watching YouTube?

Open YouTube, tap the TouchFree Quick Settings tile. Touchscreen, volume keys, home, back, and edge gestures are blocked instantly; the video keeps playing. Full answer →

Can I lock the touchscreen but keep the video playing?

Yes. A TYPE_APPLICATION_OVERLAY system window absorbs touches without pausing the app underneath. YouTube, Netflix, TikTok all keep running. Full answer →

Does TouchFree work on Android 12?

Yes — targets SDK 35. Three-button nav fully blocked; gesture nav blocked except a brief launcher-transition flicker (Android OS limitation). Architecture details →

Is TouchFree really free?

Free, no subscription, no in-app purchases. One AdMob interstitial per 24 hours, only after unlock — never during lock. Privacy & ad details →

Why does it need Accessibility permission?

Android reserves volume-key interception and global gesture handling for AccessibilityService. TouchFree uses it only for those system blocks — no screen reading, no data access. Full answer →

What if my screen turns off while locked?

On ACTION_SCREEN_OFF, every overlay switches to FLAG_NOT_TOUCHABLE. The system lock screen stays usable; the phone never bricks. Full answer →

Read all 30 questions →

No ads while locked

Let your kids watch safely without interruptions.