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Walking Mode goes live
WeWard, the free app backed by Venus Williams, launched its “Walking Mode” feature on July 8, 2026, aiming to help users “Walk first, scroll later” by unlocking selected apps only after reaching a personalized daily step goal.
“The new feature takes aim at screen time habits, allowing users to unlock selected apps only after reaching a personalized daily step goal”
The feature restricts access to chosen applications, including social media, mobile games, and streaming platforms, until users hit their minimum daily steps, with thresholds set at 3,000, 5,000, 7,000 steps or more.
WeWard said it demonstrated an average 25% increase in users’ walking time and that the Walking Mode block for selected apps resets automatically every night at midnight until users turn off the feature.
The company said the feature would go live starting July 8th at 9:00AM ET to all 30M users across 29 countries, with in-app progress notifications keeping users updated on how close they are to unlocking their step goal.
How it locks apps
TechCrunch described Walking Mode as a way to restrict chosen apps until a user hits a certain step count, giving examples like restricting access to TikTok or Instagram until they walk 3,000 steps.
The app’s step goals and apps locked are customizable, and WeWard said users can select the apps they wish to restrict through in-app settings.
PR Newswire said users can voluntarily block access to any application of their choice, and that the block is reset automatically every night at midnight until the feature is turned off.
Zamin.uz added that users can configure access to be restored only after reaching 3,000 or 5,000 steps, framing the restriction as a method to reduce smartphone dependence and encourage prioritizing activity beneficial to health.
Design, data, and reach
WeWard co-founder Yves Benchimol told TechCrunch, “We believe the next generation of products should be designed to create healthier behaviors in the real world, not simply capture more attention,” linking the feature to a broader approach to “mindful design.”
“In an era when modern technologies rivet people to their screens, the French startup WeWard proposes a radically different approach”
PR Newswire said WeWard’s data shows users increase their walking by nearly 25% on average after downloading the app while spending “less than a few minutes a day” in the app itself.
On data practices, TechCrunch reported that WeWard says it does not engage in collecting and selling user data to third parties, while Zamin.uz similarly stated that WeWard says it does not sell this information to third parties.
TechCrunch also said the France-based app has 30 million users across 29 countries, including 4 million U.S. users, and PR Newswire said it is “fully customizable” with progress notifications and nightly resets as part of the feature’s design.
