Xiaomi’s current smartphones, whether the Redmi budget or the Mi flagship series, have built-in motion sensors that are ready to go by default. However, many users face a situation where distance estimation is not activated on their own or data is not synchronized with cloud services, often due to aggressive optimization of MIUI or HyperOS, which limits the background operation of applications to save battery power.
In order for the pedometer to start correctly recording your activity, you need to perform a number of settings in the Mi Fitness system application or third-party utilities. It is important to understand that the accelerometer built into the phone works constantly, but without the right software, its readings may simply not appear anywhere. In this article, we will analyze all the nuances of activating the activity tracker.
Don't ignore this feature, because it's the basis for building healthy habits, and accurate exercise management allows you to control your calorie expenditure and overall health, and let's take a closer look at the adjustment process to make your gadget a full-fledged sports companion.
Use of the built-in Mi Fitness app
The main tool for tracking activity in the Xiaomi ecosystem is the Mi Fitness app (formerly known as Mi Wear), which collects data from the smartphone sensors and syncs it with the Mi Account account. Once installed and logged in, the program automatically requests the necessary permissions to access the motion sensors.
If you've just purchased a device or upgraded your firmware, make sure your profile settings show your weight and height, which are critical for algorithms that calculate calorie consumption and stride length, and without accurate anthropometric data, the statistics are approximate and less useful for analysis.
The main menu of the app displays an activity circle that fills up as the daily norm is met. The default system offers a goal of 10,000 steps, but this value can be easily changed in the settings of the targets.
☑️ Checking the Mi Fitness settings
Note that the application interface may vary slightly depending on the version of the operating system, and the new HyperOS shells have made integration with system widgets deeper, allowing you to display statistics directly to the lock screen or desktop without opening the program.
Configure access rights and permissions in MIUI
The most common reason the step counter stops working or resets when the screen is off is because of the power saving settings. MIUI is known for aggressive background control. To make the pedometer work properly, you need to manually adjust the rights to the app you use to track.
Go to Settings → Apps → App management. Go to Mi Fitness or Google Fit (if you use it). You need to change the "Activity Control" setting to "No Limits" to prevent the system from "killing" the step counting process when the smartphone screen is out.
⚠️ Warning: If you do not set the "No Limits" mode, the step counter can stop as soon as the smartphone screen goes out, which will lead to a loss of up to 40% of daily statistics.
You also need to check autorun permissions. In the same app settings menu, find "Start" and activate it, which ensures that the activity tracker will start immediately after the phone is turned on without requiring your intervention.
You also need to stick the app in memory, open the list of running apps (bottom-up swipe and retention), find the fitness app window and press the lock, which means that the memory cleanup will not affect the program.
Alternative applications for step counting
Built-in solutions don’t always meet the needs of advanced users. There are many alternatives in the Google Play store that offer more detailed analytics and flexible customization. One of the most popular options remains Google Fit, which is deeply integrated into Android.
StepsApp is a great application for minimalists, and it features a vibrant interface and handy widgets. If you want complex statistics and integration with other health services, look at Google’s Health Connect, the new standard for collecting health data in Android.
- 🏃 Google Fit is the standard solution with Google account synchronization, ideal for basic tracking.
- 📊 Health Connect – a centralized data store that combines information from different applications.
- 🎨 StepsApp - beautiful design and the ability to customize the appearance of the counter.
- 🔋 Pedometer Step Counter is a minimalist application that consumes almost no battery power.
When installing third-party software, Xiaomi’s system can request installation confirmation from unknown sources or warn of potential dangers. MIUI. The main thing is to download. APK-file or application from a verified store.
Synchronization with smart wristbands and watches
Owners of Mi Band or Amazfit wearables often wonder how to combine data from their phone and wristband, and in most cases, it happens automatically through a single account, but to avoid double counting or data conflicts, you need to set your priorities correctly.
In the Mi Fitness app, go to the device profile and make sure that the synchronization is enabled. The data from the wristband is usually higher priority, since the sensors on the wrist work more accurately than the accelerometer in your pocket. The system will analyze the data itself and leave the most accurate values.
| The device | Annex | Type of synchronization | Priority of data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Band 6/7/8 | Mi Fitness | Automatic. | High-pitched |
| Amazfit GTS | Zepp / Mi Fitness | Through the account. | Medium. |
| Redmi Watch | Mi Fitness | Automatic. | High-pitched |
| Third-party GPS | Strava / Runkeeper | Manual/Car | Depends on the setting. |
If you’re using multiple devices at once, like a Garmin watch and a Xiaomi bracelet, it’s best to bring all the statistics together in a single aggregator, like Google Fit or Apple Health (through third-party bridges), which will allow you to see a single picture of your activity in a day.
What if the bracelet does not synchronize steps?
Solving sensor calibration problems
There are times when a pedometer on Xiaomi starts to lie, whether it counts steps while you are sitting in a vehicle, or ignores real walking, this may indicate the need to calibrate sensors or the presence of software failures. Accelerometer and gyroscope are sensitive components that require proper software operation.
To start, try resetting your sensors through an engineering menu or special codes, but be careful. The safer method is to use built-in diagnostics. In the Safety app (green lightning icon), go to the device check section. The system will check the sensors itself.
If the problem persists, it may be the case. A protective case that is too heavy or massive can create vibrations that the sensor misinterprets as steps. Take off the case and check the meter readings alone.
⚠️ Note: Do not use apps to “wind up” steps, as they can disrupt the work of the Android system libraries responsible for collecting telemetry, which will lead to unstable operation of the entire smartphone.
In rare cases, resetting all settings of the Mi Fitness app to factory helps. Go to Settings → Applications → Mi Fitness → Memory → Clean. Your data will not be lost, since it is stored in the cloud, but the settings of the program will return to the original state.
Adding widgets to the desktop
You don't have to open the app every time you access the statistics quickly, but MIUI allows you to display the step counter directly to your desktop or lock screen, and it's not only convenient, it's a great motivation, because you can always see your progress.
To add a widget, make a long tap on the empty desktop and select "Widgets." In the list, find Mi Fitness or Stepmer. Choose your favorite design: circular, linear or digital, and drag it to the screen.
- 📱 Press and hold your finger on the empty area of the screen.
- 🔍 Select the "Widgets" menu at the bottom of the screen.
- ⚙️ Find a fitness app on the list.
- ✅ Select the size and style of the widget, then confirm the addition.
Some themes may hide standard widgets. If you can't find the step counter, try switching to the standard "Classic" theme in the Themes app. Once you add the widget, you can return the theme back.
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Use a large digit widget on the lock screen – this is the best way to keep your goal in mind Step-by-step without unlocking your phone.
The Impact of Android Version and System Updates
With the release of new versions of Android (13, 14 and above) and HyperOS shells, Google is introducing new levels of privacy protection. Apps must now ask permission to use motion sensors every time they update the system. If the pedometer stopped working after updating the firmware, check for pop-up permission requests.
In addition, in new versions MIUI The algorithm of the background has changed, and now the system is smarter at detecting when you put your phone down, and it can pause the meter to save energy, and this behavior can only be turned off through hidden developer settings or special settings. ADB-commands, but for the average user it is easier to use the "No Limits" method described above.
Regularly update the Mi Fitness app through the GetApps store or Google Play. Developers are constantly releasing patches that fix step-counting bugs on specific smartphone models like the Redmi Note or Xiaomi 13/14.
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The stable operation of the pedometer on Xiaomi depends on 80% of the correct energy saving settings and 20% of the relevance of the application version.