Many Xiaomi smartphone owners, especially those who have recently switched from other platforms or bought a budget model, are surprised that there is no traditional Stepmer icon on the desktop, a common misconception that MIUI or the new HyperOS shell simply does not have this feature. In fact, the activity counting system is built deep into the Android operating system core and works even without running applications, but the user interface can hide direct access to this data.
You don't have to download third-party programs from Google Play, which are often overloaded with ads and require unnecessary permissions. Your device's system sensors already read every movement. The only problem is how to display these numbers on the lock screen or desktop for easy monitoring. In this article, we'll look at all the ways to activate and display the step counter.
There are several ways to solve this problem, from using a standard security widget to adjusting synchronization with wearable electronics. It is important to understand that the calculation algorithms can vary depending on the version of the firmware. Xiaomi periodically changes the logic of the system components, so the methods that worked a year ago may need to be adjusted.
System widget Security as the main counter
The most reliable and energy-efficient way to track activity is to use the built-in Security application, which has the highest priority in the system and access to the accelerometer without the background restrictions that are often imposed on third-party programs.
To activate the step display, you need to add a special widget to your desktop. Find the Security icon (usually a green lightning shield) in the free space, click on it and select the option “Add a widget.” In the list that appears, look for an item called “Stepper” or “Step Statistics”.
Once you add it to the screen, you'll see the current number of steps you've walked. If the widget shows "0" or doesn't update, check the permission settings. Sometimes, after you update the firmware, the system resets the rights to access the physical activity data to save charge.
⚠️ Note: If the Stepmer widget disappeared after the update MIUI, Don't rush to remove the Security app. Try clearing the cache of this app through the settings menu, but don't reset it completely so as not to lose your antivirus and cleaner settings.
For more detailed statistics, click on the widget itself or run the Safety app and go to the Stepper section, which stores a month's history that you can analyze, and it's a native tool that consumes minimal battery life.
Use the Mi Fitness application for synchronization
If you don't have a standard widget or want to see a detailed load schedule, the official Mi Fitness app (formerly Mi Wear) is a great solution, replacing the old Mi Fit and now being the main hub for all devices in the ecosystem, and automatically reads data from the phone's built-in sensor, even if you don't have a smartwatch.
Once installed and logged in via Mi Account, the app will request permission to access physical activity data, which is a critical step: without it, sync will not work. In the app settings, make sure the data source is selected as Phone if you are not using the bracelet.
The Mi Fitness interface offers a deeper analysis than the system widget. You can see not only the steps, but also the approximate number of calories burned, distance traveled and activity time. The data is stored in the cloud, so you don't lose history when you change your smartphone.
- 📲 Auto Start: Add the app to autoboot so the meter works immediately after the phone is turned on.
- 🔋 Energy savings: In battery settings, allow the application to run in the background without restrictions.
- 📊 Data Export: The ability to link an account to Google Fit or Apple Health to aggregate statistics.
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For accurate calorie counting, the Mi Fitness app will ask you to enter your weight and height. Don't ignore this step, as algorithms use these parameters to calculate your energy expenditure.
Google Fit: A Universal Alternative
In some regions or on global firmware versions, users prefer to use Google Fit. It is a standard Android solution that also works well on Xiaomi devices, with the main advantage of deep integration with Google services and the ability to use data from other Android devices.
But there's a nuance on the MIUI shells: an aggressive energy saving system can kill Google Fit in the background, so steps won't count when the screen is off, and you have to manually adjust the settings of the app to avoid that.
Go to Settings → Applications → All apps → find Google Fit. Under Activity Control, select No Limits. Also enable autorun. Only after these manipulations will the background service work
Why Google Fit can show fewer steps than Mi Fitness
Setup of widgets and lock screen
For many users, it’s important to see progress without unlocking the phone completely. HyperOS shell and the latest versions of MIUI allow you to flexibly adjust the lock screen (Always On Display).
To set up, go to Settings → Lock screen → Format (or “Style”). Here you can choose a layout that includes an activity counter. If the standard options don’t suit you, use third-party themes from Themes store, many of which have built-in complex pedometer widgets.
On the desktop, widgets can be of different sizes, small ones show only a number, large ones show a weekly graph, and it is recommended to use medium-sized widgets to balance information content with free space on the screen.
| Display method | Accuracy of data | Impact on the battery | The Necessity of the Internet |
|---|---|---|---|
| System widget | Tall. | Minimum | Not required |
| Mi Fitness | Very high. | Average. | For synchronization |
| Google Fit | Medium | High (no settings) | Required. |
| Third-party topics | Depends on the topic. | Depends on the code. | Not required |
☑️ Checking the widget settings
Solving problems: pedometer does not work or resets
It's not common, but it's possible, when the meter is zeroed or no longer responsive to movement, most often due to a software failure in the Health Service or a conflict of access rights after a system update. The first thing you do is try to restart the device, it will restart all system services.
If the reboot didn't work, check to see if the motion sensor is disabled in the privacy settings. There are toggles in new versions of Android that prevent apps from accessing motion and fitness sensors. Make sure that the Security or Mi Fitness app has that access open.
Also worth paying attention to is calibration. If you carry your phone in a bag or in a hand with tense muscles, the amplitude of movement may not be enough to record the step. Try putting your phone in your pants pocket for the test. If there is a pedometer silent, you may need to reset the app settings.
⚠️ Warning: Resetting the Security or Mi Fitness app will delete all the accumulated step history.Do this only if other methods don't work and you're willing to lose the archive in the past months.
Comparison of embedded solutions and third-party applications
Should you install additional software like StepCounter or Pedometer from Play Market? In most cases, it doesn't make sense for Xiaomi owners, and the built-in solutions are optimized by the company's engineers specifically for the hardware of their smartphones.
Third-party applications often require constant notifications in the curtain to remain active, which contaminates the interface.In addition, they can conflict with the system sensor, causing double step counting or, conversely, locking the sensor.Native integration is always preferred.
The only time you need to install third-party software is if you need specific functionality, like voice tracking for every thousand steps or very specific graphics that MIUI doesn't have. But the basic counting function is best left to the system.
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The built-in pedometer Xiaomi works at the core level of the system and does not require the installation of additional applications for basic step counting.