10 minute time limit

I'm new to this and whereas I seem to do reasonably well against the computers provided for beginners, I'm not at all happy with my online games with persons of similar ability. These games are limited to 10 minutes. I find that at this stage of my ablity and experience, I feel constantly rushed. To the extent that I run out of time or make disasterous moves that are not thought out.  Is it possible to change the time limit

yes, try the 15|10 limit, the increment will help relieve endgame pressure

My 10 min games end right as I'm making my checkmate move. lol. idk how many times I've won because my piece is moved, but lost anyways because of time. that is the most frustrating. I just jumped up to a 20 min game and that usually ample time. I overthink every move.

The ratings of the computer personalities you beat are not really indicative of your true playing strength, since it is well known the bots are overrated and comparatively easy. So do not get frustrated when you find people with similar ratings are more challenging to play against. 

 Just click on the 10 mins at the top.Right before a staring a game.

There are options to play all sorts of times - check the settings before beginning a game! It says 10 automatically but you can select 30, 60 minutes, even custom, i think!? I have a friend who i play with on 60 bc she doesn't like to be rushed either, so you are not alone in that!

If you feel rushed that's not good, not only will you make mistakes but you will overlook the opportunities your opponents give you. The advice above is good, its amazing what going to Game 30 will do and how much better you can play. 

I second 15I10 minutes + as being superior to 10 minutes for a beginner. There's nothing worse than having a winning position only to lose on time . 

You could try game in 30 minutes.  So you have plenty of time to think.  

Time Controls - Everything You Wanted To Know...

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/time-controls-everything-you-wanted-to-know

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell

I really think the 10 minutes should have a +5 seconds when you are below 1 minute and maybe it can only go back up to a max of 1 minute. The problem is close games end up being a race against the clock rather than good chess.

     Do try to play longer games. As you have noticed, playing in a rush leads to many blunders and teaches you very little, especially as the low-rated players you face don't know much either. GMs you see on the internet playing fast games--for entertainment--spent years learning the hard way, know their openings inside and out and have great ability to spot good moves. Still, their big-time tournaments and matches are played at classical time controls and last for hours.

     The key to improvement is learning to analyze positions and calculate variations--things that can't be done in an instant. Playing fast games against low-rated players doesn't teach you much. Books aimed at beginners will teach you much more--Tarrasch and Capablanca wrote such books and there have been many others cited on chess.com that have helped many members, just check "For Beginners" in the forums section for many suggestions.

     After you play, use the analysis feature here to spot your mistakes and missed opportunities. (Don't be a slave to the machine's recommendations, a move the program rates as .50 better isn't as good for you if you don't understand WHY it is better.) When covid is in the past, seek out over the board play. The reward in chess is not in finding some system that lets you beat a lot of weak players, but in the satisfaction of playing well. And don't take chess too seriously, taking it as a measure of your intellectual prowess (as too many do). It's only a game and you should enjoy playing.

Unfortunately, the longer options match you with much higher rated players. 

 I am a low ranked beginner, and tried 20 and a 30 min versions, and both were with 1,000+ rated players.   I didn't need the longer time after all-- it was over in minutes

Notice that higher-rated players are the ones that want to play longer games. They want to take time to find the best move and cut down on blunders. I see that in your "long" 20-minute game you spent less than 4 minutes. The point of longer time controls is to have time to analyze the positions and fin a good plan and the best moves. Playing lots of quick games vs weak players won't do anything to improve your chess. Chess is difficult and requires some effort to master, so when you play those higher-rated players, analyze the games and see WHY they are better.

I just tried the 15/10.  much better! thanks to the forum

Test

I think I was so nervous to play a real person online that I only played the computer for 6 months. Oddly I felt ok guessing GM 3 minute moves. I miss clicked one day and was stuck in a game. Way too fast. 1 day games are not 1 day games. Often I play a solid game...a one day per move game...in one sitting with a person online. Sometimes I have to go to work and I can look forward to quality moves in that game later. Nowadays I force myself to play 5 1 minute games, 5 3