PicoHow it works
What does Pico actually do?
Pico locks the apps you choose and gives them back when you walk. One hundred steps earns one minute of screen time on Medium difficulty. If you can't walk, push-ups and sit-ups earn the same.
How many steps do I need for a minute?
On Medium, 100 steps for 1 minute. Easy gives you more time per step, Hard gives you less. The setting also changes what push-ups and sit-ups are worth.
Can I unlock everything at once?
Yes. Spending Energy opens all of your blocked apps together for 5, 15, 30 or 60 minutes. When the time runs out they lock again.
Is there a limit on how much I can earn?
Energy is capped at 100 a day, so one very long walk doesn't buy a week of scrolling.
What if I need a blocked app urgently?
You choose what gets blocked, so essentials like Phone, Messages and Maps can stay off the list entirely. You can also always spend Energy you've already earned.
Steps and exercise
Does Pico need an Apple Watch?
No. It reads whatever Apple Health records, and an iPhone in your pocket counts steps on its own. A Watch or any tracker that syncs to Health works too.
Which steps count?
Anything Apple Health has recorded for the day. Pico only reads from Health and never writes to it.
How does Pico count push-ups and sit-ups?
With Apple's on-device body-pose detection. Push-ups are counted face on, with the phone standing in front of you; sit-ups are counted side on, by measuring the angle of your torso. The full explanation is here.
Does the camera record me?
No. Each frame is examined on your iPhone and thrown away immediately. Nothing is recorded, saved or sent, and Pico has no servers to send anything to. Only the rep count is kept.
Privacy
Does Pico see what I do on my phone?
No. Apple's Screen Time system draws your usage numbers directly onto Pico's screens — those numbers never reach Pico. The apps you block are stored as tokens Pico can't read.
Does Pico have an account?
No account, no sign-up, no email. There's nothing to create and nothing to leak.
Where is my data stored?
On your iPhone. If iCloud Backup is on, your progress is also in your own iCloud account. Pico has no servers of its own. The privacy policy covers it in full.
Do you sell or share my data?
No. There's no advertising, no analytics and no third parties.
Worlds and progress
How do I unlock new worlds?
Meet your daily step goal to earn a puzzle piece, then place pieces into a world's puzzle. Completing either of a world's two puzzles unlocks it. More on worlds.
Do push-ups earn puzzle pieces?
No. Pieces come only from hitting your step goal. Exercise earns Energy for your apps.
What happens if I reinstall?
With iCloud backup on, your pieces, worlds and Energy history come back. Step history isn't backed up because Apple Health already keeps it.
Practical
Is Pico free?
Pico is a subscription. Prices are shown in the App Store and handled entirely by Apple — we never see your payment details.
Does Pico work on iPad or Android?
Pico is iPhone only at the moment. It depends on Apple's Screen Time and Health frameworks.
Can Pico block apps for my child?
Pico is built for blocking your own apps by your own choice, not as a parental control tool. For managing someone else's device, Apple's own Family Sharing and Screen Time are the right tools.
What permissions does Pico need?
Apple Health for your step count, Screen Time to block apps, and the camera only if you choose to earn Energy with push-ups or sit-ups. The camera is requested from the exercise screen and never before.
Can I stop Pico blocking my apps?
Yes, at any time. Turn off blocking in the app, or delete Pico. It's friction by agreement, not a lock you can't undo.
Where to go next
- Walk to unlock your apps — the mechanic in detail
- Push-ups and sit-ups — when a walk isn't possible
- Guides — on doomscrolling, phone habits and walking
