RunFirst
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Troubleshooting
My apps aren't locking
RunFirst needs Screen Time access. Open Settings → Screen Time → Apps with Screen Time Access and make sure RunFirst is turned on. Then open RunFirst once so it can set the lock again. Also check your lock hours in the Locks tab — outside them, apps are free.
My walk isn't counting
- Check Settings → Health → Data Access & Devices → RunFirst and turn on Steps, Walking + Running Distance and Workouts.
- Entries typed into Apple Health by hand don't count — only movement recorded by your iPhone, Apple Watch or a fitness app.
- Health can take a few minutes to sync. Open RunFirst to refresh.
- In week one, goals are minutes of deliberate activity: start a run in RunFirst (walking is fine) or record a walk on your Apple Watch.
GPS distance looks wrong
Allow location “While Using the App” in Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services → RunFirst, and start the run with a clear view of the sky. Tall buildings can make GPS jumpy; Apple Health's step distance still counts.
I paid but the app shows the paywall
Tap Restore on the paywall, signed in with the Apple ID you subscribed with.
Cancel or change your plan
On your iPhone, open Settings → your name → Subscriptions → RunFirst. Cancel at least 24 hours before your renewal date. If you cancel during the 7 day free trial, you won't be charged. For refunds, use reportaproblem.apple.com — Apple handles all billing.
Before you delete RunFirst, open Settings → Screen Time → Apps with Screen Time Access and you'll find RunFirst there; deleting the app removes all its locks.
Common questions
Does it work with any app?
Yes. You choose the apps — or whole categories like Social or Games — with Apple's own Screen Time picker. Instagram, YouTube, Netflix, TikTok, X, Snapchat, games: whatever steals your time.
What if I can't run?
Walking counts. RunFirst is built for people starting from zero: week one is short walks with the odd one-minute jog, and the plan only grows as you do.
What is a Run Reel?
A 15 second vertical video of your day, made on your iPhone: a 3 second clip as you head out, your route, km, time and pace, the moment your apps unlocked, and a 3 second clip at the finish. Share it to Instagram Stories in one tap, post it anywhere, or save it to Photos. Your clips stay on your iPhone unless you share them.
What is Fight mode?
Race anyone in the world, or a friend with a 6-letter code, for one hour. Most km wins, and the winner's km count double: run 3 km and win, and you get 90 minutes instead of 45. Distance comes from RunFirst's GPS during the hour. Strangers see a nickname, your country's flag and your km, never your location.
How does the leaderboard work?
Every week (Monday to Sunday, UTC) the runners with the most minutes are on top. Everyone is counted at the same rate, 15 minutes per km, so changing your own rate doesn't move you. Only runs tracked in RunFirst count, and the iPhone's step counter checks that the km were run or walked, not ridden. Fight wins count double. You appear as a nickname and a flag, and you can hide yourself anytime in the You tab.
Can I cheat with manual Health entries?
No. Entries typed into Apple Health by hand don't count — only movement recorded by your iPhone, Apple Watch or a fitness app, or a run tracked in RunFirst.
What happens at midnight?
Unused minutes expire, so there's no saving up a week of minutes for a Sunday binge. Your apps lock again when your lock hours start (6 AM by default) and you earn the day fresh.
Does it work when RunFirst is closed?
Yes. The lock is enforced by Apple's Screen Time, not by RunFirst being open. When your earned minutes run out, your apps lock again automatically.
How do I cancel?
Any time, in Settings → your name → Subscriptions on your iPhone. Cancel during the 7 day free trial and you won't be charged.