How to find out the number of steps taken on Xiaomi devices: a complete guide

Xiaomi’s modern gadgets, from the Mi Band fitness bracelets to the Redmi and POCO smartphones, automatically track user activity, including the number of steps. However, not everyone knows exactly where this data is stored and how to interpret it correctly. In this article, we will discuss all the available ways to check steps on Xiaomi devices, including hidden features and alternative applications.

It’s important to understand that the accuracy of step counting depends on a variety of factors, from the model of the device to the correct setting. For example, the Mi Band 7 with PPG 4.0 algorithms shows more accurate results than the budget models of 2018-2019, and the location of the wristband on the arm, calibration of the sensors, and even weather conditions (in high humidity, sensors can fail).

If you notice discrepancies between the bracelet and the smartphone, that's OK. Xiaomi system applications (like Zepp Life) and third-party services (Google Fit) use different calculation algorithms, and in this article we'll teach you how to synchronize data between them to get the most accurate statistics.

1. Check steps through the official Mi Fit/Zepp Life app

The main way to track activity on Xiaomi devices is branded Mi Fit (for older models) and Zepp Life (for new ones). These are automatically synchronized with Mi Band, Redmi Watch and Xiaomi/POCO series smartphones via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE).

To see the number of steps:

• 📱 Open the Zepp Life app (or Mi Fit for devices until 2021).
• 🔍 The home screen at the top shows the current number of steps per day.
• 📊 Under Activity → Steps you will see a graph by the hour, weekly statistics and comparison with previous periods.
• 🔄 To update the data, pull the screen down (pull-to-refresh gesture).

An important caveat: if the bracelet has not synced with the smartphone for more than 12 hours, the data may not show.

1. Restart the Zepp Life app.
2. Turn on/off Bluetooth on your smartphone.
3. Reconnect the bracelet in the application settings (Profile → My devices).

⚠️ Note: When you first connect the bracelet to a new smartphone, the steps statistics are zeroed. To avoid data loss, export the history to Google Fit in advance (instruction in section 4).

2. View steps directly on the bracelet screen

All Xiaomi fitness bracelets (starting with the Mi Band 2) display the number of steps directly on the display. This is convenient if you don't have a smartphone at hand.

On AMOLED-screen bracelets (such as the Mi Band 7 Pro), you can configure the steps to Always-On Display (AOD).

1. Open Zepp Life → Profile → My Devices → Screen settings.
2. Turn on the Always-On Display option.
3. Select a style with steps displayed (e.g., "Sport" or "Classic").

Enter height and weight in the Zepp Life| profile

Put on a bracelet 2-3 cm above your wrist|

Activate the "Training" mode for walking/running |

Update the bracelet firmware to the latest version-->

A critical mistake many users make is wearing a bracelet on the wrong hand. Xiaomi sensors are optimized for the left hand (if you are right-handed) or the right hand (for left-handed). Change the side in Zepp Life → Profile → Personal Data → Main hand.

3. Tracking steps through the system app "Health" on Xiaomi smartphones

Smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO base MIUI Have a built-in Health app (icon) 🩺), It aggregates data from the phone's wristbands and sensors, and it works even without the bracelet plugged in, using a smartphone accelerometer and gyroscope.

To check the steps:

1. Open the Health app (if not, install it from the MIUI App Store).
2. Go to the Activity tab.
3. At the top of the screen, you can see the number of steps per day.

Advantages of this method:

• 🔄 Automatic sync with Google Fit and Apple Health (if configured).
• 📅 30 days history (unlike a bracelet that stores 7 days of data).
• 📊 The ability to set individual goals (e.g. 10,000 steps per day).

⚠️ Warning: If your smartphone is in your pocket or bag, the steps may be inaccurate due to sensor locks.

4.Sync with Google Fit and other fitness services

If you use multiple devices or want to analyze data on third-party services (like Strava or MyFitnessPal), set up sync with Google Fit.

Instructions for connection:

1. Install Google Fit from the Play Market.
2. Open Zepp Life → Profile → Settings → Accounts → Google Fit.
3. Log in to your Google account and allow access to activity data.
4. Enable the options "Steps", "Distance" and "Calories".

Once synchronized, the data will be duplicated in Google Fit, where it can be:

• 📱 View on any device (including iPhone).
• 🔗 Export in format JSON or TCX analyse.
• 📈 Build timetables in a few years (unlike Zepp Life, where history is limited).

Problem: sometimes the data in Google Fit and Zepp Life diverge.

• Different calculation algorithms (e.g. Google Fit can count cycling as steps).
• Synchronization delays (up to 24 hours).
• Sensor errors (especially on budget models like the Mi Band Lite)

💡

If the steps in Google Fit don’t update, open Settings → Apps → Google Fit → Permissions and enable automatic start and run in the background.

5. Alternative methods: third-party applications and widgets

If standard methods don’t work, third-party utilities can be used, offering advanced analytics, home screen widgets, and integration with other services.

Top.-3 Apps to Track Steps on Xiaomi:

To install widgets on the main screen:

1. Keep your finger free on the desktop.
2. Select “Widgets” → find the app widget (e.g. Zepp Life or StepsApp).
3. Drag it onto the screen and adjust the displayed data (steps, calories, distance).

Warning: Some third-party applications (such as Mi Bandage) require root rights for full functionality, which may compromise device warranty and security.

Verification of the accuracy of the calculation of steps and calibration of sensors

If you think that Xiaomi bracelet or smartphone overstates or underestimates the number of steps, perform a calibration, which is especially true after a firmware update or change of device.

How to check the accuracy:

1. Take exactly 100 steps (measurement can be taken at the stadium or on the stairs).
2. Compare the bracelet to the actual number. The margin of error is ±5%.
3. If the discrepancy is greater, calibrate in Zepp Life → Profile → My Devices → Sensor Settings → Step calibration.

Factors affecting accuracy:

• 📏 Step length: enter it manually in your profile (Personal Data) → The standard value is 60-70 cm for men and 50-60 cm for women.
• 🏃 Type of activity: The bracelet may confuse walking with running or cycling. Use "training" mode for accuracy.
• 🔋 Battery charge: at levels below 10%, sensors are unstable.

💡

For maximum accuracy, wear the bracelet on a non-dominant hand (left hand for right-handers) and tightly attached to the wrist. Avoid wearing it on a belt or in your pocket - this distorts the data.

7.Export and backup of step data

If you want to keep an activity history (for example, for a doctor or personal analysis), export data from Zepp Life or Google Fit.

Modes of export:

• 📄 From Zepp Life: Open a Profile → Settings → Export data. Select a period (maximum 30 days). Click "Export" - file CSV remain in the memory of the phone.
• 📊 From Google Fit: Go to fit.google.com. Select Data Management → Data export. Request the archive, it will come to the mail in the format ZIP.

For automatic backup, use the IFTTT service (recipe for "Save Xiaomi Mi Band data to Google Sheets") or the AutoSync app.

⚠️ Note: Exported data from Zepp Life does not contain pulse and sleep information - only steps, calories and distance.

FAQ: Frequent questions about step counting on Xiaomi