WeWard’s new feature locks apps until you hit your steps
Yes—venus williamsbacked weward can now lock selected apps on your phone until you reach a step goal, via a new feature it calls “Walking Mode.” The pitch is simple: if scrolling is your default, WeWard turns screen time into a trigger to walk—then unlocks your chosen apps once you’ve hit your steps.
Key Takeaways
- What changed: WeWard added “Walking Mode” to restrict chosen apps until you hit a step count.
- Why it matters: It links “less scrolling” with “more walking” using a hard gate, not just reminders.
- How it works: You pick which apps to lock and set a customizable step target (example: 3,000 steps).
- What WeWard claims: The France-based app says it has 30M users across 29 countries and has been shown to increase walking time by almost 25%.
What exactly is WeWard’s new “Walking Mode”?
According to TechCrunch, WeWard is launching a feature called “Walking Mode” that lets you restrict your use of chosen apps until you hit a certain step count.
In practical terms, that means you can choose the apps you want blocked and set your own step goal. TechCrunch offered a straightforward example: if you want to scroll less on TikTok or Instagram while still making time for a daily walk, you could restrict access until you walk 3,000 steps. The locked apps and the step goals are customizable.
Why would an app lock other apps to make you walk?
WeWard’s stated intent is to motivate people to walk while also helping them reduce screen time—if that’s what they’re trying to do. It’s a blunt, behavior-design approach: instead of a notification you can ignore, your phone becomes a “not yet” sign until you move.
WeWard co-founder Yves Benchimol framed it as a broader product philosophy. “We believe the next generation of products should be designed to create healthier behaviors in the real world, not simply capture more attention,” he told TechCrunch. He described Walking Mode as WeWard’s “contribution to that vision,” and said the company hopes it encourages a wider conversation about “mindful design” and how the industry defines success.
How does WeWard work when it’s not locking apps?
Before Walking Mode, WeWard already pushed walking through rewards. Users earn “Wards,” an in-app currency tied to logged steps that can be exchanged for cash, gift cards, or donations, TechCrunch reports.
The app also includes a leaderboard, adding a light competitive layer with friends. TechCrunch notes that the new screen-time reduction angle fits because many users are looking for ways to limit unnecessary phone and social media use.
How big is WeWard, and what does it claim is working?
TechCrunch reports that WeWard has funding from tennis star and angel investor Venus Williams. The France-based app says it has 30 million users across 29 countries, including 4 million U.S. users.
It also says it has been shown to increase walking time by almost 25%. That claim—paired with a new feature that can literally block the apps competing for your attention—sets up a clear question for the rest of the industry: will more consumer tech start measuring success by what it gives back (time, health habits, movement) instead of what it takes?
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