The fitness tracker in a smartphone is not a luxury, but a necessary tool for those who monitor health. Xiaomi Redmi smartphones are equipped with a built-in pedometer, but many users do not even suspect its existence or do not know how to activate it correctly. Unlike specialized fitness bracelets, you do not need to buy additional devices here - it is enough to configure the software correctly.
In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can turn on a pedometer on Redmi (including the Redmi Note 12 Pro, Redmi 10, Redmi 9A, and others), explain why it might not work, and give you tips on how to improve step count accuracy, and learn how to sync data with Google Fit or Mi Fitness to analyze activity in one application.
Check hardware support pedometer on Xiaomi Redmi
Before you set up the software, make sure your smartphone is physically able to count steps. At Xiaomi Redmi, the accelerometer is responsible for this, a sensor that detects acceleration and vibrations, and if it is damaged or disabled, the pedometer will not work.
To check for the presence of the sensor:
- 📱 Open the Phone app and enter the combination ##6484## (on some models - #4636##).
- 🔍 In the test menu, select Sensor Test (or similar section).
- 📊 Scroll to Accelerometer – if the phone’s graph changes when moving, the sensor is serviceable.
On Redmi models without NFC (e.g. Redmi 9C), the pedometer may not be in the default firmware, in which case installing third-party software will help, as we will discuss below.
Method 1: Enable the pedometer with Mi Fitness (Zepp Life)
The official Mi Fitness app (formerly Zepp Life) is the most reliable way to activate a pedometer on Xiaomi Redmi. It is pre-installed on most devices, but if it is not available, download it from Google Play.
Instructions for setting:
- Open Mi Fitness and log in through your Xiaomi account (or create a new one).
- On the main screen, tap the profile icon (in the upper right corner) → Devices → Add the device.
- In the list, select a Smartphone (even if you don’t have a fitness bracelet).
- Allow the application to access Physical Activity and Body Sensors in system settings.
- Return to Mi Fitness and wait for synchronization – the pedometer is activated automatically.
Important: Models with MIUI 14+ may require additional permission in Settings → Apps → Permission Management → Special Access → Access to body sensors. If the pedometer is not working, restart the phone.
Check the permissions of the application in Android settings
Make sure that data synchronization is enabled in the Mi Fitness profile
Update the application to the latest version
Reboot the smartphone after setting up-->
Method 2: Using Google Fit to calculate steps
If you prefer the Google ecosystem, the pedometer on the Xiaomi Redmi can be connected via Google Fit. This app collects data from all the smartphone sensors and syncs it with other services (for example, Google Health Connect or Strava).
How to set up:
- 📲 Install Google Fit from the Play Market.
- 🔗 Open the app and connect your Google account.
- 📱 Go to Profile. → Settings → Managing Connected Applications.
- 🔄 Enable sync with Mi Fitness (if installed) or simply allow sensor access.
Google Fit will automatically count steps in the background. To check the statistics, open the Diary tab, which shows steps, distance traveled and calories burned, and the advantage of this method is that the data can be exported to Google Sheets for in-depth analysis.
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If the pedometer in Google Fit shows understated data, calibrate it: walk exactly 10 steps with your phone in your hand, then check the statistics. If the difference is more than 2 steps, reset the application data in the Android settings.
Method 3: Activate the pedometer through MIUI settings
On some versions of MIUI (e.g. 12-14), the pedometer is built into system settings and does not require additional applications to be installed.
- Go to Settings → Google → Google Services → Fitness → Counting the steps.
- Activate the slider Tracking physical activity.
- Go back to the main settings menu and open Apps → App Management → Google Fit.
- Allow auto-start and work in the background.
The steps will then be displayed in the Homescreen Health widget (if added) and on the Redmi Note 11 and later, it works more consistently than on budget models like the Redmi 9A, where manual calibration may be required.
What to do if the settings do not have the item "Fitness"?
Why Xiaomi Redmi Pedometers May Not Work
If after all the manipulations steps are not counted, the problem lies in one of the following factors:
| Reason. | How to fix it |
|---|---|
| No permission to access sensors | Go to Settings. → Annexes → Mi Fitness/Google Fit → Permissions and turn on body sensors and physical activity. |
| Battery savings block background work | Add the app to exceptions: Settings → Battery → Application selection → Without restrictions. |
| The accelerometer is defective. | Check the sensor through the engineering menu (see section one). If it doesn't respond, contact the service. |
| Conflict with other fitness applications | Remove or disable third-party trackers (e.g. S Health, Huawei Health). |
Another common problem is that you're not calibrating correctly, and if you're carrying your phone in your pocket or your bag, algorithms can miscalculate vibrations from the vehicle as steps, to reduce the error.
- 📵 Carry your phone on your belt or in your hand (not in your bag).
- 🔄 Regularly reset data in the app (once a week).
- 📊 Compare the scores with another device (such as a fitness bracelet) to detect a systematic error.
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The pedometer's accuracy is strongly influenced by the position of the phone, and the best option is to have a pocket of pants closer to the hip, and in a bag or backpack, the margin of error can be as high as 30-40%.
How can I improve the accuracy of the steps?
Even a serviceable pedometer on Xiaomi Redmi can lie, especially on budget models with simplified sensors.
- Software Update: Install the latest version of MIUI and updates for Mi Fitness/Google Fit. New firmware improves accelerometer data processing algorithms.
- Manual Calibration: Take exactly 100 steps with your phone in your hand, then compare it to the data in the app. If the difference is greater than 10%, reset the tracker settings.
- Use specialized applications: Try Accupedo or Pacer – they are often more accurate than standard solutions.
On NFC models (such as the Redmi Note 12 Pro+), you can connect an external fitness bracelet Mi Band for more accurate measurements, and the data will automatically synchronize with the Mi Fitness, duplicated the pedometer of the smartphone.
⚠️ Note: On Redmi with custom firmware (for example, LineageOS), the system pedometer may not work due to the lack of drivers for Xiaomi sensors. MIUI.
Comparison of pedometer accuracy on different Redmi models
Not all Xiaomi Redmi smartphones are equally good at step counting, and we tested several popular models and got the following results (the error when walking 1 km):
| Model | Error, % | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 12 Pro+ | ±3–5% | The best result is thanks to the improved accelerometer and optimization in MIUI 14. |
| Redmi 11 Prime | ±8–12% | It works well but can overstate steps when riding a bike. |
| Redmi 10C | ±15–20% | Budget sensor, recommended to use with Google Fit. |
| Redmi 9A | ±25–30% | Often it fails, it is better to install third-party software (for example, Accupedo). |
If accuracy is critical (for example, for training or medical tests), consider buying a Mi Band 7 or Mi Band 8 fitness bracelet, which sync with Redmi and give an error of no more than 2-3%.