Where is the pedometer in the Xiaomi Redmi phone: search and activation

Owners of Redmi smartphones are often surprised to find that the home screen lacks a standard widget with the number of steps taken. This is not a system error, but a feature of the proprietary shell MIUI or HyperOS, where the health application is placed in a separate folder or requires manual activation through settings.

Finding a feature can seem tricky because of aggressive battery optimization, which by default disables the background processes of the activity tracker. To get the pedometer to work correctly, you need not only to find the icon, but also to properly configure the permissions for the system application responsible for collecting biometric data.

In this article, we’ll take a look at all the possible places where the step counter is hiding, and we’ll show it to your desktop, and you’ll learn how to make your phone count steps even when the screen is locked, and why standard widgets sometimes stop updating.

Mi Fitness and its role in MIUI

The main tool for tracking activity in the Xiaomi ecosystem is the Mi Fitness app (formerly known as Mi Sport), which is pre-installed on Redmi and Poco models, but often hidden in the Tools or Services folder on the desktop, and it is this software that collects data from the accelerometer and gyroscope.

If you have removed a standard app or can’t find it, the functionality can be integrated into Google services or require installation through the GetApps store. It is important to understand that without running the process of this application, widgets on the screen will show zero value or old information.

For proper operation, you must log in to Mi Account. Without logging in to the account, synchronization of data between the phone and the cloud will be impossible, which will lead to loss of statistics when resetting settings.

⚠️ Note: If you use global firmware, the app may be called Mi Fitness, and in Chinese versions it is known as Mi Sport.

To check the status of the application, go to Settings → Applications → All applications and find the corresponding service in the list. Make sure that it is not disabled and has all the necessary access rights.

How to enable and configure step counting

Once an application is discovered, it must be configured correctly, and by default, the automatic count can be turned off to save battery power, and you need to manually activate this option in the settings menu of the app itself.

Open Mi Fitness, go to the profile (usually the person icon in the corner), and find the Settings or Data and Privacy section. There should be a "Count Steps" or "Enable Pedometer" switch. Activate it.

It's also critical to set up geolocation access if you want to see not just steps, but also a route, but you only need motion sensors to do the basic step count.

Don’t forget to allow the app to run in the background. To do this, in your phone settings, look for the Battery and Performance section → Activity Control and select “No Limits” for Mi Fitness.

Output of the pedometer widget on the desktop

The most convenient way to monitor activity is with the widget on the home screen. In the MIUI shell, the process of adding widgets is slightly different from standard Android. Click your finger on the empty desktop space and select the "Widgets" (or "Add widget") button at the bottom of the screen.

In the menu that opens, scroll down to the letter “M” or search to find Mi Fitness or Sport. The system will offer several options: a round counter, a linear chart or a simple figure.

Pick the right design and drag it to your desktop. If the widget doesn't update, try resizing it by pulling the edges, or remove it and add it again.

If you don’t like standard Xiaomi widgets, you can always install third-party solutions from Google Play that have a more modern design and flexible customization.

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Use widgets with a transparent background to harmoniously fit into the design of your wallpaper, which makes the interface more aesthetic and not overloaded.

Google Fit and Google Health Connect

The alternative to the native app is the Google Fit ecosystem, which is pre-installed on many Redmi smartphones but may require an upgrade, and the advantage of Google Fit is deep integration with the search giant’s services and cross-platform.

To work through Google, you need to install the Google Fit app and, in new versions of Android, the Health Connect service, which allows various applications to share health data without conflict.

Once installed, open Google Fit, log in to your account and follow the setup instructions. The system will automatically request access to the phone's sensors.

• 🏃‍♂️ Accurate step counting based on Google algorithms
• 🔄 Automatic synchronization with smart watch Wear OS
• 📊 Detailed heart rate statistics (if there is a sensor)
• 🌍 Global compatibility with other fitness trackers

It is important to note that the simultaneous operation of two pedometers (Mi Fitness and Google Fit) can lead to double battery consumption, and it is recommended to choose one main service, and use the second one only for viewing statistics.

Third-party applications for step counting

If embedded solutions seem to you not functional enough or overloaded with unnecessary options, you should pay attention to third-party developments. The Play Market store offers hundreds of applications that specialize exclusively in step counting.

Apps such as Step Counter – Pedometer, Accupedo or StepsApp are popular. They often have a simpler interface and do not require registration in the manufacturer’s cloud services.

When installing third-party software, be sure to give it permission to access body sensors and work in the background. Without this, the application will only work when the phone screen is on.

⚠️ Note: Third-party applications may request excessive permissions (access to contacts, microphone) carefully check the rights list before installing to ensure the security of personal data.

Some users prefer to use widgets from third-party developers, as they allow you to customize fonts, colors and shapes of counters much more flexible than standard MIUI tools.

Problems with pedometer work and their solution

The most common problem with Redmi owners is that the pedometer stops counting steps after unlocking the phone or rebooting, which is due to an aggressive energy-saving algorithm that kills background processes to save charge.

To fix this, you need to lock the application in memory. Open the list of running applications (bottom-up swipe and retention), find Mi Fitness and press the lock. This will prevent the system from closing the application.

Also check the autorun settings. In the App menu → Permits → Autostart Make sure the switch opposite your pedometer is active.

If the steps don't go well, try calibrating. Go a known distance (e.g., 100 meters) and compare the phone's readings to reality. Some apps have the option of manually adjusting the stride length.

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The main reason for stopping the pedometer on Xiaomi is system memory cleaning, fixing the application in memory and turning off energy savings solve 90% of the problems.

Comparison of built-in and third-party solutions

The choice between a native app and a third-party counterpart depends on your needs. The built-in Mi Fitness is better integrated with the phone's hardware and consumes less battery, as it is written specifically for the Snapdragon or MediaTek processors used in Redmi.

Third-party apps often offer more beautiful design, socialization, and integration with other platforms, but may run less stable in the background.

For professional athletes, details such as cadence, stride length and pulse zones are important, which better display specialized services.

In conclusion, finding and setting up a pedometer on Xiaomi Redmi is easy, if you know where to look for energy saving settings. The right configuration will allow you to accurately track activity without having to carry additional gadgets.