About Steplings
Steplings is an offline, single-player trail-walking and creature-collection game. It uses the phone's step counter and on-device activity information. It does not require an account and does not use GPS, Health Connect, or HealthKit.
Core gameplay works without a developer server. Feedback, sharing, and export actions open operating-system or external-app surfaces.
Contact support
In Steplings, open World Map → Settings → Support → Send feedback. This opens your mail app with a draft that includes the app version and operating-system version. You can edit or cancel it before sending.
If no mail app opens, email justthewind37@gmail.com and include:
- what happened and what you expected;
- your Steplings version;
- phone model and Android/iOS version;
- whether the problem happens with the app open, closed, or after a reboot; and
- screenshots if useful, with private content removed.
Do not send payment card details, passwords, or unnecessary sensitive information.
Frequently asked questions
Why are my steps not counting?
- Confirm that Motion & Fitness/Physical activity permission is allowed for Steplings.
- Confirm the phone has a hardware step counter. Some devices do not.
- Walk at a normal pace for a short time. While Steplings is open, very small or slow incidental movements can be buffered until sustained walking is detected.
- Reopen Steplings after changing permission.
Steplings starts counting from the time permission is granted. It does not import earlier history from Apple Health, HealthKit, Health Connect, Google Fit, or another fitness service.
Why is the count different from another app?
Steplings reads the device pedometer, then applies safeguards for implausible jumps and likely vehicle movement. Foreground walking also uses a sustained-walking gate. Different apps can use different sources, time ranges, and filtering rules.
On many Android phones the hardware counter keeps accumulating while Steplings is closed, but this is device/OEM dependent. If a phone does not retain those steps for Steplings, closed-app steps may be lost. On iOS, Core Motion provides ranged step history. Recovery is capped to the most recent 24 hours after a long gap.
Does Steplings use my location?
No. Steplings does not request GPS or location permission and does not map a real-world route. The trails are illustrated game environments.
On Android, the Google dependency containing Activity Recognition is named play-services-location, but Steplings uses its motion-activity transition API, not GPS or geographic location.
Does Steplings read Apple Health, HealthKit, or Health Connect?
No. Android uses the raw step counter and on-device activity recognition. iOS uses Core Motion (CMPedometer and CMMotionActivity).
How do notifications work?
Notifications are local and optional. Steplings can schedule notable-weather alerts, a daily reminder, and a Morning Trailmark. Change each option under Settings → Notifications. Checkpoints and trail completions appear inside the app rather than as remote pushes.
If alerts do not appear, check both Steplings settings and the phone's notification settings. Exact delivery can be delayed by operating-system battery and scheduling policies.
Where are my photos?
Photos taken in Steplings are saved in Steplings' app documents area, not the system photo library. Open the relevant trail's detail page to view them. A photo leaves that area only when you share it or include it in an exported save, subject to device backup behavior.
Delete an individual photo from its full-screen viewer. Uninstalling or clearing app data can remove local photos; export a save with photos first if you want a backup.
How do I back up or move progress?
Open Settings → Progress → Export progress. Steplings creates a .trailsave file and opens the operating system share surface. If photos exist, choose whether to bundle them.
To restore, choose Import progress and select the file. Import replaces current progress after confirmation. Steps taken between export and import are not retained by the imported save. Keep exports private: they contain game history and may contain photos.
How do I delete my data?
There is no Steplings account or developer-hosted gameplay data. Delete individual photos in the app. To remove all local app data, use the operating system's clear-app-data control where available or uninstall Steplings. Delete exported files and previously shared items from their destinations separately.
For a support email accessible to the publisher, contact justthewind37@gmail.com. Support emails may be retained as needed to respond to the request and meet legal obligations.
Device compatibility
- Android: Android 10 / API 29 or later; a step-counter sensor is recommended but not declared as installation-required.
- iPhone only: iOS 13 or later in the current project settings; step counting requires compatible Core Motion hardware and an iPhone carried while walking. The v1 App Store build does not target iPad.
- Emulators and simulators do not provide real pedometer data.
Compatibility claims must be rechecked against the final signed binaries and live store device catalogs before publication.
Safety
Steplings is a game and walking motivator, not a medical device. Pay attention to surroundings, weather, traffic, terrain, and personal limits. The game's illustrated weather affects game progress; it is not a real-world forecast.