Phone Addiction Test
A confidential self-check informed by the Smartphone Addiction Scale, Short Version (SAS-SV), a research tool designed to measure problematic smartphone use. Get an instant, plain-language result with your usage band and a professional PDF report. No lectures about screen time, just an honest look at how your phone fits your life.
What problematic phone use actually looks like
Heavy use is not the same as a problem. What matters is whether the phone is crowding out the rest of your life, becoming hard to put down, and affecting your mood. This screen looks at all three.
SAS-SV-style score
Ten agreement statements adapted from the Smartphone Addiction Scale, Short Version. They tap the core features researchers use to define problematic smartphone use.
Loss of control
Whether you use the phone longer than you intend, fail at cutting back, and feel impatient or restless without it. Control is the heart of any behavioral addiction.
Life interference
Whether the phone is disrupting sleep, work, study, or face-to-face relationships. Interference is what separates a habit from a problem.
| Feature | Typical free quiz | Psychology.com |
|---|---|---|
| Based on a validated scale (SAS-SV) | Rarely | Yes, faithfully adapted |
| Usage bands, not just a number | No | Yes (low to high problematic use) |
| Control vs interference breakdown | No | Yes, both shown |
| Non-judgmental, practical tone | Often preachy | Yes, throughout |
| Evidence-based next steps | Generic tips | Yes, specific and realistic |
| Downloadable PDF report | No | Yes, branded & shareable |
| Confidential (no data sent) | Often tracked | Runs in your browser |
Methodology & sources
The ten statements are adapted from the Smartphone Addiction Scale, Short Version (SAS-SV), developed and validated by Kwon and colleagues (2013). Each item is rated on a six-point agreement scale, keeping the structure of the original instrument while wording items for clarity and a non-judgmental tone. The SAS-SV captures the recognized features of problematic use: daily-life disturbance, withdrawal-like feelings, preoccupation, tolerance, and difficulty cutting back.
This test is provided for education and self-reflection. Phone addiction is not a formal diagnosis in the DSM-5-TR; researchers treat problematic smartphone use as a behavioral pattern that exists on a spectrum. We report your result as a usage band rather than a label, and we focus on what is workable rather than what is wrong.
- Kwon M, Kim DJ, Cho H, Yang S. The Smartphone Addiction Scale: development and validation of a short version for adolescents. PLoS One. 2013;8(12):e83558.
- Kwon M, Lee JY, Won WY, et al. Development and validation of a smartphone addiction scale (SAS). PLoS One. 2013;8(2):e56936.
- Billieux J, Maurage P, Lopez-Fernandez O, et al. Can disordered mobile phone use be considered a behavioral addiction? Curr Addict Rep. 2015;2:156–162.
- Elhai JD, Dvorak RD, Levine JC, Hall BJ. Problematic smartphone use: a conceptual overview and systematic review of relations with anxiety and depression psychopathology. J Affect Disord. 2017;207:251–259.
Phone Addiction Test FAQ
What is the SAS-SV phone addiction test?
The Smartphone Addiction Scale, Short Version is a brief, research-validated questionnaire that measures problematic smartphone use. It asks about losing track of time, difficulty cutting back, restlessness without your phone, and the impact on daily life, then places your result in a usage band. It is one of the most widely used tools in smartphone-use research.
Is phone addiction a real condition?
Phone addiction is not a formal diagnosis in the DSM-5-TR. Researchers describe problematic smartphone use as a behavioral pattern on a spectrum, with features that overlap with other behavioral addictions. That does not make the struggle any less real, and the same strategies that help with other habits help here too.
What score means my phone use is a problem?
This screen sorts your result into low, moderate, or high problematic use based on your total. Higher scores reflect more of the warning signs researchers look for. The bands are a guide for reflection, not a clinical verdict about you.
Is the test really confidential?
Yes. It runs entirely in your browser. Your answers are never sent to a server, never stored, and never linked to you. No account is needed, and the optional PDF is generated on your own device.
What if my result worries me?
It is very workable. Small structural changes (notification settings, app limits, charging your phone outside the bedroom) help most people. If your phone use is tangled up with anxiety, low mood, or loneliness, a therapist can help with both at once.