How to install the steps widget Xiaomi: the complete guide

Owning a Xiaomi smartphone means access to a huge number of health monitoring tools that are built right into the system. However, when a user is faced with the task of bringing the number of steps taken directly to the desktop, they may find that the standard widget is missing or not working as expected. This is a common situation associated with the features of regional versions of firmware and constant changes in the interface of MIUI and the new HyperOS.

In this article, we will discuss how to activate and properly configure the display of physical activity on the home screen of your device. We will look not only at the standard system tools, but also at third-party solutions that often turn out to be even more convenient than built-in counterparts. You will learn to distinguish between system widgets and components of the Mi Fitness application, which is a key point for successful configuration.

The right configuration of the activity counter allows you to always keep your physical shape under control without having to run unnecessary applications. Proper setting also helps save battery power, since the widget can be optimized to work in the background. Let's start to look at all the methods available in detail.

Verification of pre-installed system components

Before looking for third-party solutions, make sure that your device is really missing the native tool. Global versions of Xiaomi firmware often pre-installed the Mi Fitness app (formerly known as Mi Fit or Zepp Life depending on the version), which provides the necessary widgets. If you removed it earlier, consider yourself deprived of the main source of health data.

Find a folder on your desktop called Tools or Services, and that's where most of the system utilities that are not on the default first screen are hidden, and it could be an app called Health or a running man icon, which is critical to the way standard meters work.

If you don't find these apps, your version of MIUI may come with a stripped-down set of services, in which case installing a widget through the standard menu may not work because the source app itself is not on the system, especially for devices bought from gray importers or re-imbursed on Chinese versions.

⚠️ Note: Do not attempt to force system installation APK-files from other firmware versions through the file manager, which can lead to conflict of libraries and unstable operation of the entire launcher interface.

It's also worth checking if the app is hidden in Second Space mode or in Hidden Apps folder. Sometimes users accidentally remove important system components into a deep hidden folder and then can't find the source for the widget. Check the app hiding settings in the security section.

Installation of the widget through the desktop menu

The most common way to add a step counter is to use the standard launcher widget menu, which requires a long tap (tap and hold) on an empty portion of the desktop, and a lower menu will appear where you select "Widgets" or "Add widgets."

In the list that opens, you should scroll down to the letter "M" or search by application names. You are interested in the sections "Mi Fitness", "Health" or "Services and Feedback", and this is where the ready-made modules for displaying statistics are located. Choose a design you like and drag it to the desktop.

Once the widget is placed on the screen, it may display a zero value or require additional adjustment. Click on the widget itself to open the associated app and log in. Without binding to a Xiaomi Account or Google Fit account, the widget will not be able to receive data from the sensors.

Some widgets allow you to change the display style. Touch the widget with your finger and hold it, then select "Widget Settings" (if available). Here you can change the color scheme, font or add additional metrics such as distance traveled or calories burned.

It is important to understand the difference between the Activity widget and the Stepmer widget. The first one can show complex statistics for the week, and the second one can only show the current daily value. For constant monitoring, it is better to use a compact numerical widget that does not occupy half a screen.

Use of Mi Fitness and Zepp Life

Often users confuse the system widgets of the launcher with the widgets provided by the applications themselves. The Mi Fitness app has its own set of widgets, which may differ from the system ones. To access them, go to the widget menu and look for the application logo, not the general system folders.

If you use wearables like the Mi Band or Amazfit, data can be synchronized through the Zepp Life app (formerly Mi Fit), in which case you need to search for widgets in the section corresponding to this app. Installing the Zepp Life widget will allow you to display data obtained directly from the bracelet, which is often more accurate.

In the settings of the Mi Fitness app itself, be sure to check the Profile section and make sure the step goal is set adequate. The widget often displays a progress bar showing how close you are to the goal. If the goal is worth 100,000 steps, the widget will always be almost empty, which demotivates.

For users who want to see detailed statistics, it is recommended to set up the Cardio or Weekly Activity widget.These modules require more frequent data updates, so make sure you have background data transfer enabled for the relevant application.

Alternative solutions through Google Play

Xiaomi’s regular tools don’t always satisfy the needs of advanced users. There are many apps in the Google Play store that specialize exclusively in widgets. One of the most popular and reliable solutions is the Steps Widget app or similar utilities with high ratings.

The advantage of third-party widgets is that they're flexible, so you can adjust the transparency of the background, the font size, the color of the numbers, and even add your own icons, which are often smaller and consume less resources, because they don't have to be loaded with social tracking.

When installing a third-party pedometer, such as a Pedometer & Step Counter, the system will request permission to access body and physical activity sensors, a requirement without which the app will not be able to count steps, and auto-start permission may also be required.

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Use dark background widgets (AMOLED Black) if you have an organic LED screen, which will save you a lot of battery power, as the black pixels on these screens are simply off.

Some widget apps can take data from Google Fit instead of the sensor, which is useful if you use multiple tracking devices, so the widget will display averaged or aggregated statistics from the Google cloud, which increases the reliability of data storage.

Setup of permits and energy savings

The most common problem faced by Xiaomi owners is the widget stops updating or shows yesterday’s data.The culprit is almost always the aggressive MIUI energy saving system. The smartphone simply turns off the background process of the application to save charge, and the widget “zamir”.

To fix this, go to Settings → Applications → All apps. Find your pedometer app (Mi Fitness, Steps Widget, etc.) Go to Activity Control or Battery. Select No Limits mode. This is a critical step.

Then you need to allow auto-start. In the same app settings menu, find the "Out-Start" option and activate it. Without this, after you reboot your phone, the widget may not work until you manually open the app.

⚠️ Warning: Granting permanent location and physical activity permits may slightly increase battery consumption, but it is a necessary sacrifice to make the widget work properly.

Also check if Super-Energy Saving is on, and in this mode, all widgets, except the most basic ones, stop updating in real time. If you want a constantly running meter, turn off extreme saving modes.

Solving synchronization problems

There are times when the widget is installed, permissions are given, but steps don't go. Often the problem is in the de-synchronization between the sensor, the application and the account. Try opening the main application, waiting for the data update, and then look at the widget.

If the steps jump or double, you may have two different counters running at the same time that are in conflict, like Google's pedometer and pedometer, so in Google Fit settings, you can turn off the step tracking from the phone itself, leaving only the data from the apps.

Sometimes cleaning the app cache helps. Go to Settings → Applications → Mi Fitness → Memory → Clear cache. Don't confuse "Clear all data", otherwise you will have to re-enter your username and password.

In rare cases, the problem may be a hardware sensor. To check it, dial the phone application code ##6484## to enter the engineering menu. Select the "Accelerometer" test and shake the phone. If the values change, the sensor is good, and the problem is software.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

Set up the steps widget on Xiaomi is a process that can take anywhere from a couple of minutes to a deeper setup, depending on your system version. The key is not to ignore the work permits in the background, because they ensure the stability of the widget. Using a combination of system tools and a competent energy saving setting, you will get a convenient and functional tool for health control.

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The key to the success of the steps widget on Xiaomi is to turn off the energy savings for the data source app. Without this step, the widget will not be updated in real time.