How permissions work in Dopi
Dopi never asks for everything up front. Each permission appears only when you first use the feature that needs it, so the request always makes sense in the moment. Tap Allow and the feature just works.
Only one permission is required for Dopi to do its core job:
- Screen Time is required. Without it, Dopi cannot lock or unlock your apps, which is the whole point of the app.
- Everything else is optional. Camera, Notifications, Motion & Fitness, Apple Health, and Exercise Alarms each unlock one feature. Skip a feature and you can safely skip its permission.
Important: iOS shows each permission request only once. If you tap Don't Allow, the app cannot pop the same dialog up again. That is an Apple rule, not a Dopi limitation. The good news: you can always turn a permission back on yourself in the iOS Settings app. Each section below has the exact steps.
Screen Time (required)
What it does: Lets Dopi lock and unlock the apps and websites you choose to protect.
Why Dopi needs it: This is the core of the app. Dopi uses Apple's Screen Time (Family Controls) technology to shield your selected apps and to lift the shield when you have earned time. Dopi cannot see which apps you picked; Apple hands the app privacy-preserving tokens, not names.
When Dopi asks: During first-time setup, when you go to choose the apps and websites to protect.
If you tapped Don't Allow: Dopi can ask again. Open Dopi, go to Settings, Permissions, and tap Ask Again on the Screen Time row. If the prompt does not appear, open the iOS Settings app, Screen Time, and make sure Screen Time is on, then reopen Dopi.
Camera
What it does: Powers the camera-counted exercise challenges: squats, planks, push-ups, and jumping jacks.
Why Dopi needs it: Dopi counts your reps by watching your body position with Apple's on-device pose detection. Camera frames are processed in memory on your iPhone and are never recorded, saved, or uploaded. Nothing leaves your device.
When Dopi asks: The first time you start a camera-based exercise challenge.
If you tapped Don't Allow: Open the iOS Settings app, Dopi, and turn on Camera. (You can also go to Settings, Privacy & Security, Camera, and switch Dopi on.) You do not need this permission for any non-camera challenge.
Notifications
What it does: Delivers wake alarms, gentle reminders, and alerts when you earn or bank time.
Why Dopi needs it: Exercise Alarms rely on notifications to wake you, and reminders and reward alerts help you stay on track. Every notification type can be turned on or off individually inside Dopi, Settings.
When Dopi asks: During onboarding, or the first time you set up a feature that sends a notification, such as an alarm or a reminder.
If you tapped Don't Allow: Open the iOS Settings app, Dopi, Notifications, and turn on Allow Notifications. (You can also go to Settings, Notifications, Dopi.)
Motion & Fitness
What it does: Reads your step count for the Step Goal and walk challenges.
Why Dopi needs it: Step-based challenges use your iPhone's motion coprocessor to count steps on-device. Your motion data is never uploaded.
When Dopi asks: The first time you start a step goal or a walk challenge.
If you tapped Don't Allow: Open the iOS Settings app, Dopi, and turn on Motion & Fitness. (You can also go to Settings, Privacy & Security, Motion & Fitness, and switch Dopi on.)
Apple Health
What it does: Grants screen-time rewards automatically for real workouts, sleep, and step achievements.
Why Dopi needs it: With your permission, the optional Health Auto Rewards feature reads workouts, sleep duration, and step counts from Apple Health and turns them into earned time, no manual logging needed. This reading happens entirely on your device. Dopi only reads, never writes, and your Health data is never uploaded or shared.
When Dopi asks: When you turn on Health Auto Rewards in Dopi, Settings.
If you tapped Don't Allow: Health access lives in its own place. Open the iOS Settings app, Apps, Health, Data Access & Devices, Dopi, and turn on the categories you want to share (Workouts, Sleep, Steps). You can adjust each category on its own here at any time.
Exercise Alarms
What it does: Lets Dopi schedule alarms that keep your selected apps locked until you complete a wake challenge.
Why Dopi needs it: An Exercise Alarm uses Apple's alarm system so it can reliably sound at the set time and hold your apps shut until you get up and finish the challenge. This is only used if you create an alarm.
When Dopi asks: The first time you create an Exercise Alarm.
If you tapped Don't Allow: Open the iOS Settings app, Dopi, and turn the alarm permission back on. Notifications also need to be on for alarms to reach you, so check that row too.
Turned something off by accident?
You have two easy ways back in:
- Inside Dopi: open Settings, then Permissions. Every permission is listed with its current status. Screen Time can be re-requested right there; the others show an Open Settings shortcut that takes you straight to the correct switch.
- In the iOS Settings app: most Dopi permissions are grouped under Settings, Dopi. Apple Health is the exception: it lives under Settings, Apps, Health, Data Access & Devices, Dopi.
After you flip a switch, reopen Dopi so it can pick up the change. Dopi re-checks and repairs your protection every time it comes to the foreground.
Still stuck? We are happy to help. Reach us through the support form and pick the topic that fits, and we will walk you through it.