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

Why Xiaomi counts the steps and where to look

Xiaomi’s current devices, from the budget Redmi Note to the flagship Mi 13 Ultra, automatically track user activity, including step counts, thanks to built-in sensors like an accelerometer, a gyroscope and (in some models) a barometer, collected even when the phone is in your pocket, but accuracy depends on proper calibration and energy saving settings.

The main problem is users do not understand where exactly this data is stored. Unlike Apple Health or Samsung Health, Xiaomi does not have a single centralized health application (until 2023, this role was performed by Mi Fit, now it was replaced by Mi Fitness), and steps can be duplicated in Google Fit if synchronization is enabled, let’s analyze all possible sources, from standard to hidden.

Method 1: Mi Fitness (official method)

Mi Fitness is the main application for monitoring activity on Xiaomi devices, including smartphones and fitness bracelets (Mi Band, Smart Band).

1. Open Mi Fitness (download from Google Play if you deleted it).
2. On the main screen, tap the tab “Statistics” (graphic icon).
3. Select the "Activity" section» → «Steps».
4. For detail, click on a specific day - an hourly breakdown will be displayed.

⚠️ Note: If steps are not displayed, check:

• 🔄 Synchronization of data in the application settings (Profile) → Settings → Synchronization of data).
• 📱 Permissions for Mi Fitness in phone settings (Settings) → Annexes → Mi Fitness → Permits – must be included “Physical Activity” and “Body Sensors»).
• 🔋 Energy saving: add Mi Fitness to exceptions (Settings) → Battery → Optimizing the battery → All applications → Mi Fitness → No restrictions).

Check the permissions of the application in the phone settings |

Update Mi Fitness to the latest version|

Reboot your smartphone and bracelet (if used) |

Disable/enable sync with Google Fit (in Mi Fitness settings)-->

Method 2: System menu “Health” on smartphones Xiaomi

Starting with MIUI 12, Xiaomi’s firmware has a built-in Health Menu that duplicates some of the features of Mi Fitness.

1. Open Settings → Health (on some models, the path: Settings → Google → Services on the device → Health).
2. In the Activity section, select Steps.
3. Here you will see a schedule for the day/week/month, as well as a goal (by default – 6000 steps).

Important: The Health menu may not be available on global firmware devices (e.g. Redmi 9A for Europe), in which case use Mi Fitness or Google Fit.

Method 3: Google Fit – Universal Activity Tracker

If you use Google services, steps with Xiaomi are automatically synced with Google Fit. This is convenient for owners of multiple devices (for example, smartphone + bracelet + smart watch).

1. Install Google Fit from Google Play.
2. Open the app and allow access to health data.
3. On the main screen, tap the activity ring or go to the Journal tab.
4. Choose a day and scroll to the Steps block.

🔹 The Benefits of Google Fit:

• 📊 Integration with other services (Strava, MyFitnessPal).
• 🌍 Cross-platform (data available on iOS, Android, web version).
• 📈 Detailed statistics: steps, distance, burned calories.

⚠️ Note: If Google Fit steps don’t match the data in Mi Fitness, check your sync settings:

1. In Mi Fitness: Profile → Settings → Accounts → Google Fit (should be enabled).
2. In Google Fit: Profile → Settings → Managing Connected Applications.

Mi Fitness|

Google Fit|

Health system menu |

App side (e.g. Samsung Health)|

Don't track your steps.-->

Method 4: Xiaomi Fitness Bracelets (Mi Band, Smart Band)

If you wear the Mi Band 7, Smart Band 8 or another Xiaomi bracelet model, the steps are displayed on both the device itself and in the Mi Fitness.

1. Wake up the bracelet screen (raise your hand or press a button).
2. Slide down or sideways (depending on the model) to the screen with the number of steps.
3. To get detailed, click on the screen to show progress on the goal (e.g., 5,000/8,000 steps).

🔹 Features of bracelets:

• 🔋 Mi Band 7/8 consider the steps more accurate than the smartphone due to a specialized algorithm.
• 🚶 Automatic recognition of activities (walking, running, cycling).
• 📱 The data is synced to Mi Fitness every 10-15 minutes (when Bluetooth is enabled).

Method 5: Party of the application for taking steps into account

If the standard methods don't work, alternative applications can be used.

• 📉 Users with outdated Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi 5) that do not have Mi Fitness.
• 🔄 Those who want to export data to other services (e.g. Apple Health).
• 📊 Athletes who need advanced analytics.

🔹 Top.-3 step-by-step:

⚠️ Note: App side may conflict with Mi Fitness by duplicating steps to avoid this:

1. In your phone settings, turn off physical activity permission for unnecessary apps (Settings → Apps → Permits → Physical Activity).
2. In Mi Fitness, turn off sync with Google Fit if you use another app.

Problem Solving: Steps are not counted or reset

If the steps are missing, not updated, or show unrealistic values (e.g. 20,000 steps per hour), check the following points:

💡

If the steps are no longer counted after the MIUI update, try resetting the sensor settings: go to Settings → System → Resetting → Resetting the sensor settings. This will not delete personal data, but can restore the accelerometer.

🔹 Frequent causes of failure:

• 🔋 Battery Optimization: Mi Fitness or Google Fit closes in the background. Add them to exceptions (Settings) → Battery → Optimizing the battery).
• 📵 Internet: without a network connection, data is not synced to the cloud (relevant for Mi Band).
• 🔄 Application conflict: if Mi Fitness and Google Fit work simultaneously, the steps can be duplicated or zeroed out.
• 🛠️ Damage to sensors: after falling or getting moisture, the accelerometer may not work correctly (diagnosis is required in the service center).

🔧 How to check the operation of sensors:

1. Install the Sensor Test app from Google Play.
2. Run the accelerometer and gyroscope test.
3. If the readings do not change when the phone moves, the sensor is defective.

💡

If steps are reset at exactly midnight, that's normal system behavior. To save history, export data to Google Fit or use third-party applications with archiving feature.

FAQ: Frequent Questions About Xiaomi Steps