Where to look steps on Xiaomi: 5 proven ways for smartphones and bracelets

Why Xiaomi Steps Data May Be Different and Where to Look for It

If you’re actively using a fitness tracker or Xiaomi smartphone to monitor activity, you’ll eventually be faced with the question of where to look at steps on Xiaomi and why the numbers in different apps don’t match. The fact is that the company offers multiple sources of data — from built-in smartphone sensors to specialized apps for the Mi Band or Smart Band. Each of them can take steps in its own way, and synchronization between them doesn’t always work perfectly.

In this article, we’ll look at all the official and hidden ways to view steps on Xiaomi devices, including smartphones (Redmi, POCO, Mi series), fitness bracelets (Mi Band 5/6/7/8, Smart Band Pro) and third-party apps.

Before you go to the instructions, make sure that on your device:

• 📱 On motion sensor (accelerometer) in the settings of the smartphone.
• 🔄 Activated data synchronization in fitness applications.
• 🔋 The charge of the bracelet exceeds 20% (at low charge, some models cease to fix steps).

Method 1: View steps on Xiaomi fitness bracelet (Mi Band, Smart Band)

The most obvious way is to look at the statistics directly on the wristband screen, but there are nuances: the new models (Mi Band 7/8, Smart Band Pro) display data differently than the old ones (Mi Band 4/5).

For touch screen bracelets (starting with Mi Band 5):

1. Swipe your finger up the screen from the main dial.
2. Select the Steps tab (leg icon).
3. For details, click on the chart - statistics on the clock will open.

For button bracelets (Mi Band 4 and older):

• 🔘 Press the physical button under the screen.
• 📊 Scroll through the menu until you find the Steps section.
• 🔄 To reset the counter (if necessary) hold the 5-second button in this section.

Important! On non-display bracelets (e.g. Mi Band 1/2), steps are only displayed in the conjugated app. Also note that some models reset the meter at midnight on the bracelet time, rather than the smartphone, which can cause confusion.

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If the bracelet does not record steps, check the density of the wrist. The optimal position is 2-3 fingers above the bone, without a gap between the skin and the sensor.

Method 2: Mi Fit app (for old bracelets and smartphones)

Mi Fit is the official Xiaomi bracelet app before the Mi Band 6. Although it is gradually being replaced by Zepp Life, many users still use Mi Fit because of the familiar interface.

1. Open Mi Fit and wait for the synchronization with the bracelet (the cloud icon in the upper right corner should disappear).
2. On the main screen in the Activity block, click on the number of steps.
3. For details, go to the Statistical tab (graph at the bottom of the screen).

Mi Fit has some useful features:

• 📅 30 Days History – Data is saved even after the bracelet is reset.
• 🎯 Goals – you can set your daily step limit (8000 by default).
• 🔄 Manual synchronization – if the data is not automatically updated.

⚠️ Note: In Mi Fit, steps from the bracelet and smartphone can be duplicated if both devices are on at the same time. To avoid this, turn off the step counting in the smartphone settings (Settings) → Google → Fit → Devices).

Method 3: Zepp Life app (for new wristbands and watches)

Zepp Life (formerly Mi Fit for China) is a modern replacement for Mi Fit with advanced activity analysis features, where steps are displayed not only as numbers, but also in the context of other metrics: pulse, calories, activity time.

1. Open Zepp Life and wait for the sync (the bracelet icon at the top should turn green).
2. On the home screen, click on the Steps block or go to Activity → Day Data.
3. For comparison with past periods, use the Trends tab (a schedule with the option of selecting a week / month).

The advantages of Zepp Life over Mi Fit:

• 📊 Interactive graphs – you can increase any time interval.
• 🏆 Achievements – the system rewards for achieving goals.
• 🔗 Google Fit integration – data is automatically exported.

Problem: Sometimes Zepp Life shows 10-15% fewer steps than Mi Fit, due to different algorithms filtering for "false" movements (e.g., traveling in transport).

Update the bracelet firmware to the latest version|

Enable the "High-Precision Count" option in the device settings |

Calibrate the bracelet (Settings → Sensors → Step calibration)|

Reset the data and reconnect the bracelet-->

Method 4: Built-in step counter on Xiaomi smartphones (without bracelet)

If you don't have a fitness bracelet, Xiaomi's smartphone can count steps by itself using an accelerometer. It uses the standard Health app (or Mi Health in global firmware).

1. Open the Health app (green cross icon).
2. Go to the Steps section on the main screen.
3. For details, click on the graph - the distribution by hour will open.

Important nuances:

• 🔋 Counting steps on a smartphone is highly dependent on the battery – when optimizing power consumption, sensors can turn off.
• 📱 The accuracy is lower than that of the bracelet, as the phone is not always on you (for example, it is in your bag).
• 🔄 Data is reset when rebooted if synchronization with Mi Account is not enabled.

To improve accuracy:

1. Go to Settings → Apps → Health → Permissions and enable auto-start and work in the background.
2. In the Health app settings, activate the option to Count Steps in the background.

⚠️ Note: On smartphones with custom firmware (for example, Pixel Experience), the built-in step counter may not work due to the lack of drivers for the sensor BMA421 (It is used in the Redmi Note 10/11).

Method 5: Sync with Google Fit and other services

If you use multiple devices or want to analyze data in one place, Google Fit will be a one-stop solution.It aggregates steps from a smartphone, Xiaomi bracelet and even third-party apps (like Strava).

1. Install Google Fit from Google Play.
2. Open the application and go to Profile → Settings → Data Management.
3. Connect sources: For bracelet: select Mi Fit or Zepp Life. For smartphone: activate Activity on the device.

Wait for the synchronization (it can take up to 10 minutes).

The advantages of Google Fit:

• 📱 Cross-platform – data available on Android, iOS and web.
• 🔄 Automatic integration – eliminates duplication of steps from different devices.
• 📊 Widgets – you can display statistics on the main screen.

Problem: Sometimes Google Fit shows inflated data due to algorithm errors.

1. Open Google Fit → Profile → Settings → Data Sources.
2. Turn off unnecessary sources (such as Samsung Health if you don’t use it).
3. Manually delete the erroneous entries in the Activity Log section.

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Google Fit is the best choice for users who want to see all of their health data in one place, but require regular background checks to avoid duplication.

Common Problems and Their Solutions

Even when set up correctly, Xiaomi users often encounter step-counting errors, and let’s look at typical scenarios and how to fix them.

1.The bracelet does not count steps or shows zeros

Causes and solutions:

• 🔋 Low battery power – charge the bracelet to 50% and reset it (hold the 10 seconds button).
• 🔄 Sync failure – remove the bracelet from the application and connect again.
• 🛠️ Outdated firmware - update the bracelet through Mi Fit/Zepp Life.

2.The data in Mi Fit and Zepp Life are not the same.

This is normal, because applications use different algorithms to unify data.

• Select one monitoring app and disable another.
• In Zepp Life, turn off the Smart Counting option (Device Settings → Sensors).

3 The smartphone stopped counting steps after the update

After the MIUI update, the permissions for the Health application are often reset to restore functionality:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Health.
2. Enable all permissions, especially Physical Activity and Body Sensors.
3. Add the app to Autostart and Without battery limitations.

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If after all the manipulations, the steps still do not count, try resetting the Health app settings to factory settings (Settings → Apps → Health → Storage → Clear Data).

FAQ: Frequent questions about step counting on Xiaomi