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Email us
For bugs, billing, account deletion, or anything else.
support@gratitudelock.appIf you’re struggling
Compulsive phone use is sometimes a symptom of something else. Please talk to a professional.
Lock basics
What does the shield actually do?
You pick the apps you want to slow down. When you open one of them, our shield appears with a brief gratitude prompt. Write something small you are grateful for, and the shield lifts for ten minutes.
You can change the locked-app list, the shield frequency, or switch to journal-only mode at any time in Settings.
Can I bypass the shield?
The shield is designed to be a moment of intentional friction, not an unbreakable wall. iOS Focus Mode + accessibility shortcuts can bypass it; Android has similar escape hatches. We accept this — the goal is mindful interruption, not lockdown.
If you find yourself bypassing constantly, that is feedback: try Soft Lock or Journal-Only mode in Settings.
Permissions
Why does the app ask for so many permissions?
iOS: Family Controls (Screen Time API) so we can detect when you open a locked app, plus Notifications for reminders. We use only what we need and explain each prompt before it appears.
Android: Accessibility Service to detect app launches (this is the only way Android exposes that signal), Usage Stats for screen-time reporting, plus Notifications. The Accessibility Service is the most powerful permission Android has — we use it solely to detect when you open a locked app and never read screen contents.
I refused a permission. Can I still use the app?
Yes. Refusing the locking permissions drops you into Soft Lock (gentle reminder, no shield) or Journal-Only mode (write daily without a shield). Both modes have their own value proposition; neither is a degraded experience.
You can change your mind any time in Settings.
Subscriptions
What does each tier include?
Free: ad-supported. Basic shield + journal flow.
Journal-Only: ad-free, journal-only mode, no shield.
Full Lock: ad-free, full shield + journal.
Premium: everything in Full Lock plus weekly AI reflections, mood slider, and quarterly PDF export.
All paid tiers include a 7-day free trial.
How do I cancel?
Apple: Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions → Gratitude Lock → Cancel.
Google: Play Store → Profile → Payments & subscriptions → Subscriptions → Gratitude Lock → Cancel.
We cannot cancel on your behalf — Apple and Google control the subscription lifecycle.
Privacy
Can you read my entries?
No. Entries are encrypted on your device with a key that never leaves the device. We store ciphertext we have no key to. See the Privacy Policy for the full server-blind-encryption explanation.
How do I export or delete my data?
In the app: Settings → Privacy → Export my data (we email you a download link within 72 hours) or Delete my account (immediate flag, hard-delete in 7 days, reversible from a confirmation email during that window).