Tonic Help

Email: hello@tonichabits.com

Or, inside the app: Settings → Help & feedback. You can attach screenshots or recordings, and your app version comes along automatically so we can reproduce what you're seeing.

Getting started

New to Tonic? Start here for how it works and your first setup.

How does Tonic work? Earning your way into the apps you chooseTonic locks the apps you choose until you earn time with a productive app or a healthy activity from Apple Health... How do I give Tonic permission to use Screen Time, and is my data private?Tonic asks for Screen Time access to lock the apps you choose. Apple shares only anonymous codes, so Tonic never... How do I take a break, pause, or delete a ritual without losing everything?Skip a day, take a few days off, or pause Tonic entirely and it resumes on its own. Turn off keeps a ritual...

Earning & health

How Tonic reads your activity from Apple Health, and which devices and apps count.

I granted Apple Health access but my workouts, meditation, or steps still aren't countingWorkout or meditation not counting in Tonic? Turn on Apple Health sharing in the source app, grant Tonic read... Which fitness trackers and smartwatches work with Tonic?Tonic reads from Apple Health, so any tracker that syncs to it works: Apple Watch, Garmin, Fitbit, Oura, Whoop... Why didn't my steps or workout earn time? (and why totals don't match my watch)Steps or a workout didn't earn time? They likely haven't synced to Apple Health yet. Open your tracker app to... Can I earn time by going outside? (Apple Watch required)Daylight earning uses your Apple Watch light sensor to measure real sunlight on your wrist. It needs a compatible... Do I have to log anything, check in, or take proof photos?No. Tonic tracks the activity you earn with automatically through Apple Health, with no check-ins and no proof... Does Tonic count steps from a Garmin, Fitbit, or other tracker?Yes, if your tracker shares steps with Apple Health. How to set up Garmin, Fitbit, Oura, Apple Watch, and others...

Locked apps & redirects

What happens when an app is locked, and how to fine-tune it.

Will I miss notifications from apps Tonic locks?While an app is locked, iOS holds its notifications and they flow again once you unlock it. This is Screen Time... Why does Tonic ask me to name my apps? I already picked themApple keeps app names private, so Tonic only sees anonymous icons. Confirming an app in App Redirects is optional... My app locks again right after I open it (cooldowns, session caps, and the pause)If a Tonic app locks again right after you open it, that's the limit you set: a cooldown, a per-visit cap, a daily... How do I add or remove apps from a ritual or limit I already created?Open the ritual or limit, tap its app icons to bring up the app picker, then tap an app to add it or tap a... I picked a category like Entertainment. Which apps does that actually block?When you pick a category like Entertainment, Apple decides which apps belong, and Tonic can't see or change the... Can I lock websites in Safari, not just apps?Yes. Tonic can lock web domains in Safari alongside apps. Pick the sites in the same picker, and they lock until...

Subscription & billing

Free versus Unlimited, plus canceling, restoring, and refunds (all handled by Apple).

How do I cancel my Tonic subscription or get a refund?Cancel Tonic anytime in your iPhone Settings under Subscriptions. You keep access until the period ends, and the... I paid for Tonic but it still says Free. How do I restore my purchase?Paid for Tonic but it still says Free? Tap Restore Purchases in Settings and make sure you are on the Apple ID you... What's free in Tonic and what do I get with Unlimited?Free Tonic earns time from one source and locks two apps, with every mode included. Unlimited removes both caps...

Troubleshooting

When something is not behaving the way you expect, start here.

Why are my apps still locked after I hit my goal?Hit your goal but apps stayed locked? iOS sometimes sends Screen Time updates in a delayed batch. Open Tonic once... Tonic isn't locking my apps. What should I check?Apps not locking? Check that Tonic has Screen Time permission, the apps are still in your ritual or limit, nothing... Can Tonic lock me out of my phone, and how do I remove it?No. Tonic can't trap you. Pause it first, then delete the app normally. iOS may ask for your Screen Time passcode... Why is the Apps tab empty or showing only one app?The Apps tab shows your usage, not where you set limits. If it is blank or shows one app, switch tabs and back, or...

Common questions

Is Tonic a parental control?

No. Tonic is self-directed, built for adults managing their own phone. It uses Apple's individual Screen Time authorization, not the parent and child kind. There's no remote management and no rule you can't change or delete yourself.

Do I need an account?

No account, no sign-in, no password. Tonic works the moment you open it, and your setup stays on your device.

What do I need to run Tonic?

An iPhone on iOS 17.4 or later. Steps and most Health tracking work from the iPhone alone. Sunlight needs an Apple Watch, and sleep needs a Watch or another sleep tracker that writes to Apple Health.

Still stuck? Email hello@tonichabits.com and a real person will reply, usually the same day.