# Amber Lock: Screen Time Limit — App Blocker: Walk to Unlock > App blocker that requires physical steps to unlock access to chosen applications. (iPhone/iPad app by Gnomestead Collective LLC.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/amber-lock-screen-time-limit/id6800528861 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Gnomestead Collective LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1842522057) - Category: Productivity, Health & Fitness - Price: Free - Rating: 5.00/5 from 2 App Store ratings · 1 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 16.0 · 53 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2026-08-23 - Data updated: 2026-09-25 - Monetization: freemium - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/amber-lock-screen-time-limit/id6800528861/reviews.md ## What is Amber Lock? Amber Lock seals your most distracting apps in digital amber. To get them back, you have to stand up and walk. Whether your goals are to reduce screen time, increase your daily steps, or both, Amber Lock has got you covered! THE LEGEND Gnomish stories tell of a distracted worker whose candied berries were sealed in tree sap until he finished plowing the fields. Amber Lock applies the same friction to your phone. HOW IT WORKS 1. Seal your distractions. Pick your worst offenders (social media, games, news) and lock them inside the amber. 2. Set your own rules. Decide how many steps buy one minute, how many steps the tank can hold, and how long a single unlock is allowed to run. 3. Walk. Put the phone in your pocket and go. Your real steps charge the Melter. 4. Melt the amber. Spend that charge whenever you choose, up to the limit you set. 5. Watch it re-seal. When the charge runs dry, the amber locks your apps again. BUILT FOR YOUR SCREEN TIME, NOT SOMEONE ELSE'S A 4am doomscroller and a gamer who wants one clean hour at night need opposite things from a blocker. Most apps give them the same one. If your problem is the slow drip (five minutes here, twenty there) run a small tank and a short unlock cap. A slip costs you five minutes, not the entire evening. If your problem is that you want your hour before bed and you want it uninterrupted, use the deep tank instead. Bank steps all day, then spend them in one sitting without the app locking you out halfway through. SEE WHAT YOU GET BACK Amber Lock tracks your time in sealed apps week over week, so you can watch the hours come back. ON YOUR HOME SCREEN A widget sits beside your locked apps showing the time you have left, so you can melt or re-seal without opening anything. PRIVACY Amber Lock uses Apple's Screen Time API to block apps directly on your device. Your app usage data never leaves your phone. It isn't sent to us or to anyone else. Your step data stays on your device too. NO SUBSCRIPTION Amber Lock is free, and it's fully usable that way. Both the storage tank and the melting rate have free settings you can change any time. Store up to 6,000 steps, and set your exchange rate as generous as 50 steps per minute. Two optional upgrades are available as one-time purchases. The Vault, a 10,000-step tank for heavy walkers, and Refined melting, which drops the rate to 25 steps per minute. Buy them once, or never. There is no subscription. Take back your time. Seal the distractions. Earn your screen time. Terms & conditions of use: https://www.gnomesteadcollective.com/terms?app=amber-lock#amber-lock ## Key features - Lock distracting apps - Unlock by walking - Steps convert to screen time - Background step counting - No guilt or lectures - Privacy-focused data handling ## Recent user reviews (1 of 1) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/amber-lock-screen-time-limit/id6800528861/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Really helpful *2026-09-02* Cool concept. I’ve been trying to get more steps and spend less time on my phone and so far this app works great for me **Developer response:** That's awesome to hear! Hope you're enjoying all the hours you're getting back! ## Frequently asked questions about Amber Lock ### How does Amber Lock work? Amber Lock seals your chosen distracting apps. To unlock them, you must physically walk, and your steps convert into screen time minutes. Once the meter runs dry, the apps re-seal. ### Can I choose which apps to lock with Amber Lock? Yes, you can select any app you choose to lock, such as social media or games, for as long as you decide. ### Does Amber Lock have ads? No, Amber Lock is ad-free. The core features are available without any advertisements. ### What makes Amber Lock different from other screen time apps? Unlike other apps that offer 'just five more minutes,' Amber Lock requires a physical action (walking) to unlock apps, providing a tangible cost and benefit. ### Is Amber Lock available on Android? Currently, Amber Lock is supported on iPhone devices. Platform availability may expand in the future. ### How often is Amber Lock updated? The latest version is 1.06, last updated on September 6, 2026. Updates typically address improvements and new features. ### What is the age rating for Amber Lock? Amber Lock has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of users. ### Does Amber Lock track my personal data? No, Amber Lock uses Apple's Screen Time API and your step data stays on your device. Your app usage and step data are not sent to the developer or any third parties. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 1.07 — 2026-09-14 Hello! We've added more device settings you can use to better suit everyone's step goals and screen time goals! ### 1.06 — 2026-09-06 Hi amber-melters! Just a few minor UI adjustments here and there to make sure unlocking your apps is as streamlined as possible. ### 1.05 — 2026-09-04 Hi Amber-melters! We've cleaned up the Fuel Cells menu UI! ### 1.04 — 2026-09-03 Hi Amber Lockers! We've updated the melt screen to have preset options to make unlocking apps more smooth. ### 1.03 — 2026-08-31 Hello fellow amber-melters! We've made it easier for you to upgrade your device throughout the app. ## Apps similar to Amber Lock | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Habit Hues: Habit Tracker](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/habit-hues-habit-tracker/id6751821400) | 4.4 (5) | Free | Productivity | | [Todo Reminders Widget : Tasky](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/todo-reminders-widget-tasky/id6502542119) | 3.2 (6) | Free | Productivity | | [Dale: Days Left & Year Tracker](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dale-days-left-and-year-tracker/id6757920298) | 4.0 (12) | Free | Productivity | | [Screen Time Control - Blucky](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screen-time-control-blucky/id6758042278) | 4.7 (9) | Free | Productivity | | [Kin: AI Advisors & Journal](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kin-ai-advisors-and-journal/id6473448146) | 4.5 (188) | Free | Productivity | | [Dark Reader for Safari](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dark-reader-for-safari/id1438243180) | 4.3 (281) | $4.99 | Productivity | ## More apps by Gnomestead Collective LLC - [Little Wings: Bug Walking Game](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/little-wings-bug-walking-game/id6753102341) - [Kindred: Dog Training & Cues](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kindred-dog-training-and-cues/id6809213484) All apps by Gnomestead Collective LLC: https://appshunter.io/developer/1842522057 --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-25.*