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Sweden's School Phone Ban: What Schools Need to Know in 2026
Yes. Since 1 August 2026, Swedish law requires compulsory schools to collect pupils' mobile phones at the start of the school day and return them at the end. The rule also covers after-school care (fritidshem).
The Riksdag approved the government's bill on safety and study peace in schools (committee report 2025/26:UbU22) in June 2026, and the rules took effect on 1 August 2026. Phones must be handed in when the school day starts and returned when it ends, covering lessons, breaks and fritidshem. The head teacher (rektor) may allow exceptions for particular lessons or occasions, and for pupils with special circumstances.
The government announced the plan in March 2025 and sent the final proposal to the Council on Legislation in January 2026. Before the law, head teachers could already ban phones, and many did. Education Minister Simona Mohamsson said all pupils would return to a mobile-free school after the 2026 summer holidays. The same package clarifies leadership responsibility, requires unified school rules with set consequences and widens disciplinary tools.
The law sets the outcome, collection for the whole school day, and leaves each school to choose how phones are gathered and kept. Before 2026, many head teachers had already banned phones locally, and a school in Byske became a national model case after its ban. Schools must now record the phone rule, and the consequences for breaking it, in their common school rules, which the same law makes uniform.
Whatever Sweden's new law requires, lockable pouches let students keep their own phone, locked, from the first bell to the last, so the grundskola does not collect, store or answer for devices. Before The Internet ships lockable phone pouches and unlocking bases worldwide, including to Sweden, and can print the school's name or crest on them. Schools buy them outright: one price, no subscription, lease or per-student annual licence. Send us your student numbers and any written quote you already have, and we will beat it.
Frequently asked questions
Does the ban cover breaks and fritidshem?
Yes. Phones are collected at the start of the school day and returned at the end, and the rule extends to after-school care.
Who can grant exceptions?
The head teacher can allow phones for certain lessons or occasions, for example educational use or a pupil's special circumstances.
Does it apply to gymnasium (upper secondary)?
The national collection rule covers compulsory school and fritidshem. It does not extend to gymnasium.
Related reading
School phone bans by country · Phone-free schools toolkit · How to roll out phone pouches in a school
Written by the team at Before The Internet, a Toronto-based phone-free company that rents lockable phone pouches for events across North America and sells them to schools and venues worldwide, shipping purchases to any country.
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