Questions, answered
Everything people ask about StepGate, in plain words.
How StepGate works
What does StepGate do?
StepGate is an iPhone app that locks the apps you choose until you reach your daily step goal. Once you hit the goal, every locked app opens for the rest of the day. It uses Apple Screen Time to do the locking and reads your steps from Apple Health and your iPhone.
What happens when I open a locked app?
You see a lock screen that says the app is locked and how far you have left, written as a walk ("A 15-minute walk and it's yours for the rest of today"). It has one button, Go walk, which closes the app and sends you a notification with your progress.
When do my apps lock again?
Your step count starts again at midnight. The lock comes back at the start of your lock hours the next morning (6:00 AM unless you change it), even if StepGate is closed.
How fast do apps unlock once I hit my goal?
Straight away if StepGate is open. If it is closed, iOS decides when StepGate can check your steps in the background, so it can take a while, and the lock screen may say "Goal hit! Open StepGate to unlock." Opening StepGate unlocks everything at once.
Which apps can I lock?
Any app, a whole category (like Social or Games), or websites. You pick them in Apple's own Screen Time picker. Change the list whenever you like.
Can StepGate see which apps I lock?
No. Apple's Screen Time picker hands StepGate private tokens, not app names. Your iPhone draws the names and icons; StepGate can't read them, and your app choices never leave your phone.
Steps and goals
Where do the steps come from?
From Apple Health and your iPhone's motion sensor. StepGate uses whichever is higher at the moment, so a walk in progress counts before Health catches up. Access is read-only: StepGate never writes to Apple Health.
Do steps from my Apple Watch count?
Yes, through Apple Health. StepGate reads the same combined step total the Health app shows, which includes your Apple Watch. There is no separate Apple Watch app.
What step goal should I pick?
Start close to what you already walk. During setup StepGate looks at your last week in Apple Health and suggests a goal a little above your average. You can set anything from 3,000 to 15,000 steps and change it any time.
What if I'm sick, travelling or just need a day off?
Use rest days. On a rest day the lock is off and no steps are needed. Sunday is a rest day by default and you can pick any days you like. Rest days do count against your streak if you walk less than your goal.
Can I pause the lock?
Yes. Pause it for 5, 10, 15 or 30 minutes. The lock comes back on its own when the pause ends, even if StepGate is closed.
Can I choose when the lock is active?
Yes. Set lock hours, for example 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM (the default). Outside those hours your apps are open whatever your step count.
Privacy, price and devices
Do I need an account?
No. There is no sign-up and no login. Your settings and history are stored on your iPhone.
What data does StepGate collect?
Anonymous usage analytics (for example, which setup screens people finish and your daily goal), plus subscription status and a few numbers used to tailor the subscription screen, such as your goal and average daily steps. No ads, no cross-app tracking, and nothing linked to your identity. Your app choices, name, height and weight stay on your phone. The privacy policy lists everything.
Is StepGate on Android, iPad or Apple Watch?
StepGate is for iPhone only, on iOS 17 or later. Apple Watch steps count through Apple Health.
Does StepGate cost money?
StepGate needs a StepGate Plus subscription to lock apps. You'll see the current options in the app before you subscribe. If your subscription ends, your apps unlock: StepGate never keeps them locked.
Can I get around the lock?
If you really need to, yes: pause it, take a rest day, change your lock hours or lower your goal. That is on purpose: a lock with no way out tends to get deleted. StepGate makes the walk the default and keeps an honest escape hatch for real life.
Is StepGate medical or fitness advice?
No. StepGate is a habit tool. If you have a health condition, ask your doctor what activity level is right for you.
Something missing? See Support or read how StepGate works.