Can you use a posture app without AirPods on iPhone?

Yes. You can use Raffi on iPhone without AirPods for guided routines, camera-supported movement checks and scheduled exercise reminders. Compatible AirPods are needed for the optional head-motion monitoring feature. You can begin with a daily routine using your iPhone, then decide whether sensor-based feedback is useful to you.

Raffi is designed for iPhone with iOS 17 or later. Exercise reminders require Raffi Pro; review the current feature access, subscription offer and any trial terms in the app.

Choose the kind of help you want

• A prompt to take a break: scheduled exercise reminders use your plan and iPhone notifications. They do not need headphone motion input.
• Guidance through a routine: follow the exercise instructions and the guided timer option where available.
• Feedback during a supported movement: camera-guided steps use the iPhone camera to look for the landmarks or hold requested by that step.
• Head-position feedback in an AirPods session: this requires compatible motion-sensing AirPods, a connection and the requested permissions.

These are separate features. A scheduled notification does not detect whether you are slouching, and completing a camera-guided step does not mean the app is continuously monitoring you throughout the workday.

Start with your daily plan

1. Open Raffi and review the routines in your daily exercise plan. Choose a practical place in your day to follow them.
2. Check each session’s scheduled time and move it where needed, such as a gap between calls or study blocks.
3. If you want scheduled prompts and have Pro access, enable exercise reminders in Raffi Settings and allow notifications in iOS.
4. Open a routine when you are ready. Follow the instructions for that movement and use the available guidance method.
5. Check that an upcoming reminder appears on your device before relying on the schedule.

The movement break reminder setup guide explains notification permissions, Focus settings and what to check if a prompt does not appear. AirPods do not need to be connected for those scheduled reminders.

How camera-guided exercises work

For supported movements, Raffi uses the camera to look for the body landmarks or completed hold requested by the current step. Set the phone where the relevant area is visible and follow the on-screen instructions. A camera exercise needs camera permission; it does not need AirPods motion data.

If a step is not counting, check the lighting and framing, make sure nothing blocks the lens, and follow the numbered steps in order. The required area can vary by movement. Use a guided timer option where offered if camera tracking is unsuitable. Camera-required unlock movements still need camera access.

Camera feedback has limits. Framing, lighting and the movement being performed affect what can be detected. It is guidance for an activity, not a medical assessment of your entire posture.

Do you need to leave the camera on all day?

You can choose a reminder-and-routine workflow instead of keeping a camera exercise open during desk work. Scheduled reminders are based on your plan’s times. They do not require an all-day camera view, and they are not an automatic measurement of how long you have been sitting.

For breaks between screen tasks, the UK Health and Safety Executive recommends regular changes of activity and short, frequent breaks. Its work routine guidance is general workplace advice, not evidence of a specific result from Raffi. Choose opportunities to change activity that suit your task.

What happens to camera data?

Raffi processes camera, Vision and supported TrueDepth input on your device and discards raw frames after processing. It does not upload or store photos, videos, face images or raw depth data. Derived results, such as measurements, scores or movement completion, may be saved and synchronized to your account. The privacy policy explains that distinction.

When would AirPods be useful?

If you already own compatible AirPods and want head-motion feedback during a posture session, read the AirPods posture reminder guide. That feature compares motion with a calibrated starting position. Head orientation does not establish how your whole back is positioned or why you feel discomfort.

Start with the feature you need: a planned reminder, a guided routine, or optional sensor feedback. Keep movements comfortable and stop an exercise that hurts. Raffi supports general wellbeing and does not diagnose or treat a condition. For device or setup questions, visit Raffi support.