How to Lock Apps with Push-Ups Using PushLock

What if every time you opened TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube, you had to do 10 push-ups first? That's exactly what PushLock does. It's a free iOS app that locks your most addictive apps behind a physical exercise barrier. real push-ups, counted by your phone's camera using AI.

No timers. No willpower. Just a simple rule: do push-ups to unlock your apps. Here's how to set it up.

What Is PushLock?

PushLock is a screen time control app for iPhone that uses Apple's Screen Time API to lock the apps you choose. When you try to open a locked app, PushLock intercepts it and asks you to complete a set of push-ups before you can continue.

Your iPhone camera tracks your push-ups in real-time using on-device AI. Once you finish your set, you earn screen time. It's a fundamentally different approach to screen time management. instead of setting timers that you ignore, PushLock creates a physical cost to mindless scrolling.

How to Lock Apps with PushLock: Step by Step

Step 1: Download PushLock

PushLock is free to download from the App Store. It works on any iPhone running iOS 17 or later. No account required. you can start using it immediately after download.

Step 2: Choose Which Apps to Lock

After opening PushLock, you'll select which apps to lock. Most people start with their biggest time sinks:

• Social media. TikTok, Instagram, X (Twitter), Snapchat
• Video streaming. YouTube, Netflix, Twitch
• Games. any mobile game you lose hours to
• News and browsing. Reddit, Safari, Chrome

You can lock any app on your device. PushLock uses Apple's official Screen Time framework, so it works system-wide. there's no way to bypass it by uninstalling the app.

Step 3: Do Push-Ups to Unlock

The next time you open a locked app, you'll see PushLock's blocking screen. It shows you exactly how much time you've spent on the app today, your daily goal, and a big blue button: "Do 10 push-ups to unlock."

Tap the button, position your phone on the ground facing you, and start pushing. PushLock's AI counts each rep as you go down and come back up. No cheating. it tracks real movement using facial landmark detection.

Step 4: Earn Your Screen Time

After completing your set, you earn minutes of screen time. The locked app opens and you can use it freely for the time you earned. When your time runs out, you'll need to do another set.

Why Locking Apps with Exercise Works

Traditional screen time apps rely on timers and notifications. and most people just tap "Ignore Limit" and keep scrolling. PushLock is different because it creates a physical barrier.

Doing 10 push-ups takes about 20 seconds, but it completely breaks the automatic habit loop of opening an app mindlessly. You have to make a conscious decision: is this app worth 10 push-ups right now? Most of the time, the answer is no.

The result is that you naturally spend less time on your phone while getting stronger. Users report doing hundreds of push-ups per week they never would have done otherwise.

Which Apps Should You Lock?

Start with the apps where you waste the most time. Check your iPhone's Screen Time data (Settings > Screen Time) to see your biggest time drains. For most people, that's 2-3 apps that account for 80% of their phone use.

Pro tip: Don't lock everything at once. Start with your top 1-2 time-wasting apps and let the habit build naturally. You can always add more apps later.

Privacy and Security

PushLock processes all camera data entirely on your device. No video is ever stored, transmitted, or sent to any server. Only the final push-up count (a simple number) is saved. The app uses Apple's official Screen Time API, so your data stays within Apple's secure ecosystem.

Get Started Today

PushLock is free to download and works immediately. Lock your most addictive apps, do push-ups to unlock them, and watch your relationship with your phone change completely. Every push-up is a small win. and they add up fast.