Why the pedometer on Xiaomi phone doesn’t count the steps – all the reasons and solutions

Have you noticed that the pedometer on your Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphone has stopped recording steps taken or shows clearly underestimated figures? The problem is common - according to service centers, up to 30% of users of fitness functions on the brand's devices face it. In this article, we will analyze all possible causes, from banal (incorrect settings) to technical (failure of the accelerometer), and give step-by-step instructions for restoring the meter.

It’s important to understand that the pedometer in Xiaomi is not a standalone application, but a complete system tied to hardware sensors, MIUI firmware and Google Fit/Mi Fitness services. Any failure in any of these components can lead to incorrect operation. We will not offer “magic” solutions like a phone reboot (although this sometimes helps), but focus on diagnosis and targeted actions.

If you are a Xiaomi 12T user, Redmi Note 11 or older model like POCO X3 – no problem: most recommendations are universal. For new devices (for example, Xiaomi 14), we will clarify the nuances associated with the latest versions of MIUI 15.

1. Check the basic pedometer settings

Before you commit to hardware malfunctions, make sure that the step counter function is on and configured correctly, often by accident, users turn it off via the power saving menu or limit background activity.

Open the Health app (or Mi Fitness on older models) and check:

• 📱 Application permissions: go to Settings → Annexes → Health → Permits and make sure Physical Activity, Body Sensors and Auto Run are included.
• 🔄 Background activity: in the same settings of the application, find the Battery item → No restrictions (or allow background activity).
• 🚶 Steps by step: in the Health app itself, check if the daily goal has dropped (sometimes with a zero goal, the counter “falls asleep»).

On models with MIUI 14+, a separate switch has been added to save charge, which can block the sensors.

1. Open Settings → Battery and Performance.
2. Slip on the battery settings (cog in the upper right corner).
3. Select App Energy Optimization and find Health – Set No Limits mode.

Calibration of motion sensors

A stepmer at Xiaomi uses data from an accelerometer and a gyroscope. If these sensors are not calibrated, the phone will pick up false steps (for example, in transport) or, conversely, miss real ones. Calibration is required after a phone drops, firmware updates or resets.

For calibration:

1. Open the Compass app (pre-download it from Google Play if you have deleted it).
2. Follow the instructions on the screen: Place the phone on a flat surface, then slowly rotate it along all axes (as shown in the animation).
3. After calibration, restart the phone - this will reset the sensor cache.

If the Compass app gives you a "Sensor not responding" error, it may indicate a hardware malfunction.

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In the menu that opens, select Sensor Test and check the accelerometer's response to motion. If the values don't change, the sensor is faulty.

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After calibration, walk 10-15 steps with your phone in your hand, holding it in a natural position (not in your pocket!) to help the system remember your walking style.

3. Conflict with other fitness applications

If multiple activity tracking apps (e.g. Google Fit, S Health, Huawei Health) are installed on a phone, they can block access to each other’s sensors, especially for users who sync data to smartwatches or fitness bracelets.

To resolve the conflict:

• 🔗 Turn off sync in third-party apps. For example, in Google Fit, go to Profile → Settings → Manage connected applications and remove Mi Fitness.
• 📵 Leave one "main" app to count steps. Xiaomi is native Health.
• 🔄 Reset data in conflicting applications: sometimes accumulated errors interfere with the correct operation.

Critical error: On some models (e.g. Redmi 9A), Mi Fitness and Google Fit simultaneously resulted in a complete zeroing of the step counter after rebooting, the solution is to delete one of the applications.

4. Problems with firmware and updates

Step counter errors often appear after updating MIUI or resetting to factory settings. For example, MIUI 13.0.6 had a bug that caused the pedometer to stop working after activating Ultra Battery Saver. In MIUI 14, a similar problem occurred when the Adaptive Battery function was activated.

How to fix it:

• 🔄 Update your firmware to the latest stable version. Check for updates in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 📥 Install a patch: if the problem is massive, Xiaomi releases hot fixes. Follow the news on the official forum c.mi.com.
• 🔧 Reset the Health App Settings: Settings → Annexes → Health → Warehouse → Clear the data.

If the error occurred after the update, try to roll back to the previous version of MIUI (instruction below).

5. Hardware malfunctions: when you need to service

If all the software methods have been tried, but the pedometer still doesn't work, the reason could be a physical sensor failure.

• 💥 Falling from a height (especially to the corner where the sensors are located).
• 🌡️ Overheated (for example, during charging or playing).
• 💧 Contact with moisture (even if the phone is protected) IP53, Like a Redmi Note 11).

If the accelerometer is not responsive to movement and the gyroscope is zero, this is a direct sign of failure.

1. Contact Xiaomi's authorized service center (list at service.mi.com) and it costs 1,500 to 3,000 sensor repairs. ₽ model-wise.
2. If the phone is warranty, do not open it yourself - this will cancel the warranty obligations.

⚠️ Note: on Xiaomi with a modular design (such as the Mix Fold), replacing sensors may require disassembling the entire device.

6.Influence of covers and accessories

Few people know, but tight cases or magnetic holders can block the sensors.

• 🧲 Magnetic interference: Magnet covers (for example, to be mounted on a machine) knock the calibration of the compass and accelerometer.
• 🛡️ Mechanical pressure: thick bumpers press on the body, shifting the position of the sensors relative to the center of gravity of the phone.
• 📶 Signal shielding: metallized covers impair reception GPS, which indirectly affects the accuracy of the pedometer.

To check the effect of the cover:

1. Take off your case and walk 20-30 steps with your phone bare.
2. Compare the readings with the data in the case (a difference of more than 10% indicates a problem).
3. If you use a magnetic holder, try alternative ways of attaching (such as sticky rings).

For wireless charging models (such as the Xiaomi 13 Pro), avoid metal cases – they can create parasitic currents that affect sensors.

7. Alternative ways to track steps

If your pedometer has not worked, use alternative methods:

To sync data between devices, use Mi Account or Google Fit. For example, to link the Mi Band and the phone:

1. Open Mi Fitness on your phone.
2. Go to Profile → Settings → Devices and add a bracelet.
3. Enable the option to sync data with Mi Health.

Make sure the bracelet is the last firmware on it.

Turn on Bluetooth on your phone

Allow Mi Fitness to access notifications

Turn off the power saving mode for Mi Fitness-->

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi pedometer

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If the pedometer stopped working after a phone drop or moisture hit, don't waste time on software fixes - contact the service right away. Motion sensors are extremely sensitive to mechanical damage.