Searching for system applications on MIUI or HyperOS smartphones is often a quest, especially when it comes to basic utilities such as a step counter or activity tracker. Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro owners often face a situation where the Health icon disappears from the desktop or is renamed according to regional settings, which causes natural bewilderment, because the device continues to collect data on physical activity, but you can not find a visual interface to view them.
To make matters worse, Google is pushing its Google Fit service, which integrates with Android by default, supplanting or duplicating the functionality of its native solutions. The Redmi Note 9 Pro can have multiple health monitoring apps installed, creating confusion. The user needs to clearly understand what kind of software they are looking for: the built-in “Mi Fitness” (formerly known as Mi Wear), the global “Google Fit” or Xiaomi’s specialized “Health” app.
In this article, we will take a look at all possible locations where the software you need may be hiding, look at how to force system components to run, and explain why some firmware versions may not have an icon physically, learn how to distinguish between system processes and user applications, and learn how to return access to statistics if standard search methods do not work.
⚠️ Note: Removing system applications through ADB or third-party launchers can lead to incorrect operation of sensors and stop collecting statistics in the background.
System Names and Variability of MIUI Interface
The first thing that the owner of the Redmi Note 9 Pro faces when searching is the variety of names. Depending on the region of the firmware (Global, Russia, Europe, China) and the version of the MIUI shell, the standard application can be called differently. In the Russian-language interface, it most often appears as Health, but in system processes and some builds it can be hidden under the name Mi Fitness or even Google Fit, if the manufacturer decides to abandon its own development in favor of the Google ecosystem.
It's important to understand that at the hardware level, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro features a full motion coprocessor that works regardless of the icon on the screen. The absence of a visible app doesn't mean that the phone has stopped counting steps. However, an interface is still needed to set goals, view detailed statistics by weeks and sync with wearable electronics. Often users simply don't notice that the app is already installed, but is in the Tools or Services folder.
In some cases, especially after a system update, the shortcut may be deleted from the desktop incorrectly, although the application itself remains in memory. This is a common feature of MIUI optimization. To check for a program, you should not rely only on visual search on screens. You need to use an in-built search system that indexes all installed and system components, even those that do not have a visible icon in the launcher.
💡
If you can’t find an app, try searching for not only “Health,” but also “Fitness,” “Mi Fit,” or “Google Fit” — the names may vary depending on the firmware version.
Search methods through system search and application manager
The fastest way to find where the Health app is on your Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro is to use global search, swipe down the center of the screen (or right, depending on the launcher settings) to open the search bar. Type the word "Health" in there. If the app is installed and not hidden by deep system settings, it will appear in the list of results.
If a simple search fails, you should go to a deeper analysis through Application Manager, which allows you to see absolutely all programs, including system ones, which are usually hidden from the user's eyes.
- 📱 Open the settings of your smartphone.
- ⚙️ Find the Application section and select All Appendix item.
- 🔍 In the list that opens, use the search or scroll to the letter “Z” or “M” (Mi Fitness).
Look for names on the list of all apps: Health, Mi Fitness, Google Fit, or Health. If you find one but it's not on your desktop, click on it. The app information menu that opens often has a "Create a Shortcut" button or a "Run" option that allows you to immediately open the program and possibly return the icon to the screen, and you can see how much space the app takes up and when it last updated.
Desktop, folders and hidden applications
Often, the answer to the question "where is the app" is trivial: it's hidden in one of the many folders on the desktop or in the second space. MIUI shell is prone to automatically sorting newly installed applications. Check the folder called Tools, Services or Google. This is where the Health icon most often hides immediately after resetting or first turning on the Redmi Note 9 Pro.
Another option is to use the “Second Space” function, if your phone has a second space activated (a separate user profile with its own apps and photos), then the Health app can only be installed in the main profile, and you look for it in the second one, or vice versa. You can switch between spaces through settings or a special swipe on the lock screen if this feature is enabled.
It's also worth checking the Hidden folder, and in some MIUI design themes, there's the option of hiding apps with a double pinch or through a special mode to see if the app is hidden:
- 👁️ Open the menu of all applications (swipe up).
- ⚙️ Click on three dots in the corner and select Hide Apps.
- 📂 See if the switch opposite the Health app or Mi Fitness is in the active position.
⚠️ Note: If you use a third-party launcher (Nova, Launcher 8, etc.), Xiaomi system applications may not appear in the general list.
Google Fit vs Mi Fitness: What’s the difference on the Redmi Note 9 Pro?
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro smartphones with global firmware often pre-installed two competing solutions. Understanding the difference between the two will help you find exactly what you need. Google Fit is a service from Google that is deeply integrated into Android. It collects data from phone sensors and compatible watches, but has a less functional interface for owners of Xiaomi gadgets compared to native software.
Mi Fitness (formerly Mi Wear) is Xiaomi’s own development, designed to deep sync with Mi Band bracelets and Amazfit watches. This app is often the “right” Health app that users are looking for when they want to see detailed sleep, heart rate and activity levels specific to the hardware Redmi Note 9 Pro. In newer versions of MIUI, it can be preinstalled, but not displayed on the desktop.
The table below compares the main characteristics of these two apps for your device:
| Characteristics | Google Fit | Mi Fitness (Maxima Health) |
|---|---|---|
| Developer | Google LLC | Xiaomi Inc. |
| Main objective | General activity tracking | Synchronization with Xiaomi devices |
| Interface. | Minimalistic, Material Design | Expanded, with details by day |
| Account dependency | Google Account | Mi Account |
| Availability on the Redmi Note 9 Pro | Pre-installed (often) | Pre-installed (depending on region) |
If your goal is to just see the number of steps you’ve walked, any of the solutions will do, but if you’re planning to plug in a fitness bracelet, be sure to use Mi Fitness, as Google Fit may not support all sync features for Xiaomi devices.
☑️ Verification of the availability of the annex
What to do if the application is removed or absent from the system
There are times when the app is really missing, and this can happen if the previous owner of the phone has deleted it through ADB, or if you use custom firmware (Custom ROM), where all Xiaomi software is cut out. In the case of global official firmware, the complete removal of the system component "Health" is rare, but possible.
If the app is removed, it can be returned in a number of ways: the easiest way is to install a similar one from the Google Play Store; find Mi Fitness or Google Fit in the store and install them. Once installed and authorized, they will start collecting data from the Redmi Note 9 Pro sensors. However, installing the system version of Mi Fitness from third-party sources (APK-Files can be risky because versions may not be compatible with your Android version.
For advanced users who accidentally deleted the application and want to restore the system version, there is a method of reinstallation through the system_recovery_ Or flashing it, but it requires a computer and Mi Flash. A safer way is to reset your phone to factory settings (Settings). → The phone. → Settings reset, which will return all original apps, including Health, to their original state.
Can I use third-party apps instead of native health?
Configure permissions and eliminate synchronization errors
Even if you find the Health app, it may not work properly without the right permissions. Android 10, 11 and 12, on which MIUI is based for the Redmi Note 9 Pro, strictly controls access to location data and physical activity. Without these permissions, the step counter will show zeros or work intermittently.
To work properly, go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Health (or Mi Fitness) → Permissions. Make sure to activate the items “Physical Activity”, “Location” (for route tracking), “Autostart” and “Background Operations” – the latter critically important that the phone continues to count steps when the screen is off.
If the application is installed, permissions are given, but the data is not updated, try clearing the cache:
- Go to the application management menu.
- Find Health or Google Fit.
- Choose Memory.
- Click Clear Cache (not confuse it with Clear Everything to avoid losing history).
⚠️ Note: Clearing the data (not the cache) will completely delete your entire history of activity within the application.
💡
For the stable operation of the step counter on the Redmi Note 9 Pro, it is critically important to allow the Auto Start app and remove restrictions on working in the background in the battery settings.