Modern smartphones like the Poco M3 have built-in accelerometers and gyroscopes that allow you to track physical activity without buying additional gadgets. However, many users find that after buying a device, the step counter does not appear on the home screen or do not count in the background, due to the features of the MIUI shell, which requires manual activation of certain resolutions and widgets for proper operation.
In this article, we will discuss in detail the process of activating the distance scoring function. You will learn how to configure the system application Safety, correctly add a widget to the desktop and link your smartphone with wearable electronics if you use a fitness bracelet. Understanding these nuances will allow you to get accurate statistics about your activity.
Importantly, the motion sensor algorithms in Android are constantly improving, but require stable power and permissions to work in the background. Without the right configuration, the system can “fall asleep” and stop recording steps, saving battery life. We will look at all ways to solve this problem, so that your Poco M3 becomes a reliable assistant in sports.
Activation of the system counter through the Security application
The pedometer works on Xiaomi devices with a system component integrated into the Security app, which collects data from the accelerometer and transfers it to other services, such as Google Fit or Mi Fit. By default, access to this data can be limited to save CPU resources.
To get started, you need to open a pre-installed Security app that has a green shield icon, and you need to find a section in the program interface that is associated with activity monitoring, often hidden in additional tools or requires you to scroll down the list of functions.
- 📱 Open the Security app on the home screen.
- 📉 Find the Shagomer icon or Statistics in the tool list.
- ⚙️ Click on the settings icon (cog) in the upper right corner.
- ✅ Activate the switch Include pedometer.
Once this feature is enabled, the system will start a background count of your movements. Please note that to work properly, you need to give the Security app permission to access physical activity data. Without this step, the numbers can remain at zero even if you walk several kilometers.
⚠️ Warning: If steps don't go after the function is turned on, check if the app is listed as Restricted in the battery section.The system can force the counting process to stop for energy saving.
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Set the “Safety” application to the “No Limits” battery mode so that the pedometer works even when the screen is locked.
Remember, the data reset happens every day at midnight. If you see a sharp jump or a drop in the meter, it may be due to a reboot of the system meter. In most cases, the Poco M3 does this automatically, but periodic checking of settings will not be unnecessary.
Setup of the pedometer widget on the desktop
The most convenient way to always see your progress is to display the pedometer widget directly to the MIUI desktop, which eliminates the need to open apps every time and search for the desired statistics in the depth of the menu, the widget can display not only the number of steps, but also the distance traveled, as well as the calories burned.
To add a widget, you need to go to desktop editing mode. To do this, make a long press on the empty area of the screen or use a pinch with two fingers to zoom in. In the menu that appears, select Widgets or Add.
☑️ Widget check
In the list of available widgets, find a category related to Shagomer or Security. The system will offer several options for design, from minimalist numbers to graphics with a pie chart. Choose the one that best fits into the design of your theme.
Once you put the widget on the screen, it should immediately start showing the actual data. If the widget is flashing a dash or zero, try updating the screen by swiping it from top to bottom. Sometimes it takes several minutes to synchronize the widget with the background counting service.
| Type of widget | Displayed data | Resource requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Classical. | Only steps. | Low. |
| Expanded | Steps, km, kcal | Average. |
| Graphic | Weekly diagram | Tall. |
| Mini. | Little icon. | Minimum |
Using too heavy live animation widgets may have little impact on the Poco M3's autonomy. If you notice accelerated battery life, consider replacing the widget with a simpler static option. Balance between beauty and functionality is key to a long-lasting smartphone.
Use the Mi Fitness application for synchronization
For owners of Xiaomi and Poco devices, the ecosystem standard is the Mi Fitness app (formerly known as Mi Wear), which allows not only to synchronize data with wristbands and watches, but also to use the phone as a standalone activity tracker with advanced statistics.
After installing the application and logging into the Mi Account, you need to go to the Profile section, which shows all your achievements, including your monthly and yearly steps history, and automatically pulls data from the MIUI system counter if you gave permissions when you first started.
The key advantage of using Mi Fitness is that you can participate in marathons and competitions with friends, and you can share your results, which is a great motivation, and the app builds more detailed graphics than a standard desktop widget.
⚠️ Note: When logging in to Mi Fitness, make sure that the region of the account matches the region selected in the phone settings. Otherwise, data synchronization may not occur.
If you plan to use a smartphone in conjunction with a smartwatch, Mi Fitness will be the central hub for all health data, bringing together sleep, heart rate and footsteps into a single picture, allowing you to analyze the overall health of the body.
To work properly in the background, the application requires constant access to geolocation (for route mapping) and motion sensors. Do not manually disable these permissions, otherwise the functionality of the tracker will be severely limited.
Setup of permissions and auto-runs in MIUI
The MIUI shell is known for its aggressive energy saving policy, which often kills background processes, including the pedometer. For the Poco M3 to consistently count steps, you need to manually configure the resolutions for system components and tracker applications.
First, go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find the Security app on the list. Go to Autostart and activate it. This ensures that the pedometer service will start immediately after the phone is turned on.
- 🔋 Go to Energy Savings in the App Settings.
- 🔄 Select the option No restrictions.
- 🔒 Check the Permissions section and enable sensor access.
- 📲 Make sure that access to physical activity is allowed.
It’s also worth checking your notification settings. If you want to receive progress reports, make sure the Stepmer notification category isn’t locked in the system’s sound and notification settings, or you may miss important motion reminders.
Why is MIUI shutting down apps?
After making all the changes, it is recommended to restart the device, which will allow the system to apply new rules for power management and start the necessary services with updated parameters.
Integration with Google Fit and third-party services
Many users prefer to use the Google Fit ecosystem because of its cross-platform and integration with other services of the search giant. Poco M3 fully supports the work with this application, allowing you to transfer data from the system pedometer to the Google account.
To set up the integration, install the Google Fit app from the Play Market. When you first start up, the system will request access to physical activity data. It is important to agree to all requests, otherwise synchronization will not work. Google Fit will act as a data recipient, and the source will be the Xiaomi system module.
The advantage of using Google Fit is that it can combine data from other devices, so if you use smart scales or other trackers, they can all flock to one profile, and it creates a complete picture of your health.
However, it is worth considering that having two active trackers (system tracker and Google) can theoretically increase battery consumption, although in practice, modern Android algorithms have learned to allocate resources efficiently.
⚠️ Warning: Do not install more than three stepping apps at once, which can lead to sensor conflict and incorrect step counting (duplicating data).
Google Fit also offers personalized goals for steps and calories, and it will analyze your activity and offer personalized recommendations. For Poco M3 owners, it’s a great way to make the most of your smartphone.
Solving problems and resetting data
Despite the reliability of the system, users sometimes encounter a situation where the pedometer stops working or shows incorrect data, which can be caused by a software failure, system update, or damage to the application cache.
The first step in diagnosis is to clear the cache of the Security app and Google Play Services. Go to the app settings, select the right one, click Memory and select Clear Cache. Don't confuse it with Clear All Data, as this will reset your settings.
If clearing the cache didn't work, try resetting the pedometer data. In some versions of MIUI, this button is available in the widget settings or in the Mi Fitness app in the profile section, which will zero out the current daytime progress, but can restore the meter to working correctly.
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Cache reset and phone reboot solve 90% of the problems with the stopped pedometer on the Poco M3.
It’s also worth checking whether Do Not Disturb or Fly mode is enabled, which in some configurations may limit the sensors’ performance. Make sure the date and time on the phone are set correctly, as time desynchronization can disrupt the logic of recording data.
As a last resort, if nothing works, you can try to upgrade to the latest version available. Often manufacturers release patches that fix sensor errors. Check for updates in the About Phone section.