Pedometer in a smartphone - how to turn on and use the pedometer?

What is a pedometer (pedometer) and how to use it?

A pedometer (aka pedometer) on your phone is a useful technology that allows you to count the number of steps you have taken. Such information allows you to assess your physical activity, find out the distance traveled and determine the number of calories burned. To use the pedometer, you just need to install the appropriate application on your smartphone, put the device in your pocket and walk the required distance. After the walk, you can review the collected data.

How does a pedometer work on a phone?

A mobile pedometer will only work if the phone has a position sensor (accelerometer). There are several ways to check support for the relevant technology (here are detailed instructions). The first option is to open Settings. If they have the ability to automatically change the screen position, then there is an accelerometer sensor. The second option is to look at the technical specifications of the mobile device, where the manufacturer must indicate all supported sensors.

Now all that remains is to install an application that will track every change of the phone in space in order to interpret rhythmic vibrations as steps. Subsequently, the statistics will be saved and processed, and the user will be able to obtain information about the number of steps taken and distance.

TOP 5 best pedometer apps for Android in 2022

When choosing a mobile pedometer, special attention should be paid to reviews and measurement accuracy. It is on the basis of such information that this collection was compiled.

Pedometer – Step counter

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Pedometer – Step Counter & Calorie Counter

Developer: Leap Fitness Group

Price: Free

Convenient and pleasant program with a beautiful design. Steps are read based on a built-in sensor , which allows you to significantly save battery power.

The application analyzes the number of calories burned, distance traveled, distance and travel time. The obtained data is stored in memory and presented in the form of detailed graphs. You need to press the button and the measurements will begin. In this case, the smartphone can be in a pocket, bag or backpack.

StepsApp

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StepsApp Pedometer

Developer: StepsApp

Price: Free

A program that can work without an Internet connection. A nice feature is the detailed settings of your own parameters. :

• weight;
• floor;
• height;
• age.

By default, the application is built-in, which can be disabled for an additional fee.

Set your own goal and track your steps every day. This can be done using a graph, table, text description . The software allows you to choose your own theme. It is worth noting that the pedometer works entirely in Russian.

Huawei Health

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Huawei Health

Developer: Huawei Internet Service

Price: Free

One of the most popular programs in the field of health and fitness. As of 2019, there are more than 10 million downloads , which is an indicator of quality. It is possible to track the distance traveled, calories burned, and total travel time.

You can connect a fitness bracelet from Huawei to the program, then the data obtained will be the most accurate. In its work, the software uses both GPS and an accelerometer. There are several workout plans available to suit the beginner or advanced user.

Pedometer for weight loss

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Pedometer - step and calorie counter for health

Developer: Pacer Health

Price: Free

The name of the program speaks for itself. With its help, you can improve your physical fitness and health.

The role of motivation is the special goals that the user sets independently. The recommended value is 10,000 steps . This is exactly how much you need to walk a day to keep your body in shape.

The application also has a competition section where you can compete with other real people in terms of the number of steps or distance. The application tracks statistics by week, day and month.

EasyFit

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EasyFit step counter pedometer

Developer: Mario Herzberg (Hanna)

Price: Free

An interesting utility with the ability to track steps, calories, distance and even the amount of liquid drunk.

First, set your own physical activity goal. The default value entered here is 6000 steps .

The application contains mini-games : walk 3000 steps, burn the calories of one chocolate bar, etc.

Pedometer apps

Typically, the manufacturer does not provide standard applications for using the pedometer, so the user needs to independently install the necessary pedometer program. Today, developers have created hundreds of applications designed to monitor physical activity. Some have a simple interface with a minimum of available features, while others are equipped with additional functions.

Beginner users are recommended to download the simplest pedometer in Russian. Here you can figure out the controls in a few minutes. Usually it is enough to press the "Start" key, put the phone in your pocket and start moving. The app will register each rhythmic vibration to record the number of steps. After the walk, you need to open the application again, press the “Stop” button and look at the statistics. Some utilities ask users to save daily statistics or create graphs of physical activity.

To select a program, just open Google Play and enter the query “pedometer”. The first search results will list the most relevant results. Among the proposed applications there are both paid and free applications. Typically, free programs contain advertising, while paid options do not have this disadvantage. If you do not intend to use the pedometer on an ongoing basis, you can choose a free license.

Of course, for a more accurate and convenient step count, it is better to use either special pedometers or regular fitness trackers and smart watches .

How a smartphone counts steps

First, let's define it. Any phone that has an accelerometer can count steps. This means that if your phone can automatically change screen positions, it means it supports step counting technology.

Steps are counted on a smartphone using an accelerometer.

How it works. Using a special sensor, the smartphone detects vibrations that occur when walking and perceives them as steps. It is clear that if the smartphone is in a bag, the count will not be very accurate.

If you set out to track the number of your steps, the best solution would be to put your phone in your jeans pocket. The smartphone will only pick up vibrations from the lower body, which means it will be more accurate. It is clear that if the smartphone is in a bag or in a hand, then the calculation will be so-so.

Many games also use accelerometer technology.

Wait. So it turns out that a smartphone counts steps even better than a fitness bracelet that is attached to the arm? Yes and no. In addition to the position of the device relative to the body, several other factors affect the count. For example, the quality of the sensor itself.

Results

To use a pedometer, your phone must have an accelerometer. You also need to install the appropriate application. A pedometer is a useful feature of a modern phone that allows you to monitor physical activity and count the number of steps. This technology will appeal to users who play sports, monitor their health, or are simply interested in the details of hiking.

Want to know what other tools you can make from a regular smartphone? Read this article.

Ratings: 17 , average: 3.65

Which pedometer is better to download for Android?

There are a lot of pedometer applications on Google Play. But I recommend downloading Google's proprietary application - Google Fit . Why? Well, first of all, Google takes the issue of activity counting seriously. When developing Google Git, the good corporation collaborated with one of the most authoritative heart associations - the AHA (American Heart Association). Thanks to this, the application will not only be able to count steps, but also provide high-quality recommendations on health issues.

Google Fit perfectly combines cool design and good functionality.

Secondly, the Google Fit app is perfectly adapted for Android. Here I think that there can be no questions. The program was originally created taking into account all the nuances of the operating system. No slowdowns, lags or crashes. Plus, of course, excellent accuracy. In any case, no worse than other applications on Google Play.

Subscribe to us in Yandex.Zen, there you will find a lot of useful and interesting information from the world of Android.

Pedometers - features

From the name itself it becomes clear that this is a device that allows you to count the number of steps a person has taken.

There are 4 types:

1. Mechanical. They haven't been produced for a long time, but they can be found. The basis is a weight. It changes position as it moves. At the same time, the readings on the dial and the number of steps change.
2. Mechanical-electronic. The design contains two devices: a pulse counter and a motion sensor. The operating principle is similar to the device described below.
3. Electronic pedometers. Consists of three accelerometers. When moving, the device is shaken, the impulses are converted and reflected on the dial in the form of numerical readings.
4. Telephone. Special software associated with the accelerometer installed in the phone. Without it, the pedometer does not work. More details below.

How does a pedometer work on a phone?

Essentially it is software. It is designed to count the movements made. In our case, steps.

The operating principle is simple and is as follows:

• An accelerometer (sensor), built into the phone or the pedometer itself, determines the location of a person in space.
• A person takes a step and his position changes. The movement (change of location) is recorded by the sensor. Actually, he notes the rhythmic vibrations made during movement.
• The electronic impulse generated when the body position changes is taken into account by the program.
• The impulses are converted into a numerical indicator, and it is displayed on the phone screen as the number of steps taken.

It should be noted and this is important. Without an accelerator, the pedometer will not work. Therefore, before you start using it, you need to make sure that your phone already has a built-in sensor. If this is not available, then we select a device with an accelerator. Otherwise it is useless.

How to choose and install a pedometer on your phone?

Usually phones are released without a built-in pedometer. The user himself will have to select and install it. How to do it?

Actions:

• determine the operating system installed on the phone;
• go to the Internet;
• select software for the installed OS;
• download and install on your phone, following the installation instructions;
• open the function and settings option and configure the pedometer according to your desires and needs.

All. You can use it. You can configure everything, or you can only configure some of the following functions:

• number of movements (steps);
• time spent walking or running (active);
• distance covered during the lesson (in km or m);
• calories burned;
• analysis of the collected information, which is presented in the form of a graph (activity in classes and progress achieved are noted);
• data archive;
• class diary;
• assigned tasks, goals;
• workout reminders;
• weather conditions are monitored;
• communication with other participants in classes and more is possible;
• Using the program, you can adjust the route (satellite navigation is used).

Using such an application can be a good help in fulfilling your plans. But in order for the device to work as it should and to its full potential, it must be used correctly. For example, where to place it while driving?

Where should you keep your phone?

The most interesting thing is that its placement does not matter much. You can put it in your jacket or trouser pocket, it doesn’t matter. It can be placed upside down or parallel to the ground. As you wish. The main thing is that the phone senses the body and is connected to it.

The location does not affect the performance of the device, but it can significantly affect the results.

It should be noted that at the household level such a device is sufficient. However, when using a telephone pedometer, you must remember that the manufacturer rarely cares about high accuracy. Therefore, the measurement error can reach 30%.

In addition, it can also be affected by the place on the body where the device is located. For example, if you place the phone on a lanyard and hang it around your neck, then the errors in measurements will be maximum.

Since, in addition to steps, additional vibrations of the cord with the device will also be recorded. The best location is in your trouser pocket.

How to properly set up a pedometer on Android (using the example of Huawei Health)

We've covered some basic information about how a pedometer works and reads the information it needs. Now you can move on to the main settings. All instructions will be compiled based on the application from the top - “ Huawei Health ”, since this pedometer application is the most accurate.

Installation

First of all, open Google Play and enter the query “ Pedometer ” into the search. Then download the application with the icon as in the screenshot. Please note that the program weighs 63 MB, so first free up space on your smartphone .

Connecting to a smartphone

After installation, immediately launch the application. When you log in for the first time, a window will open with a privacy policy notice. Read the information carefully and click “ Next ”.

Now we look at the user’s rights and click “ I Accept ”. Also, don’t forget to give the application access to GPS (click “ Allow ”). By the way, on the desktop the pedometer will be called “ Health ”.

First setup

Before considering the principle of using a pedometer, you need to make some small settings. To do this, go to the “ Me ” tab, where we click “ Profile ”. We indicate gender, date of birth, height and weight. If you wish, you can set a daily step goal.

Turning on GPS

If you decide to go for a walk or jog, then go to the “ Exercise ” tab. Here select the type of activity: running, walking, cycling, training. Then open the notification shade, where you turn on the “ GPS ” function.

Now click on the orange button and the application will start counting down the time. On the display you can see the distance traveled, duration and calories. A map of your area will be displayed at the top of the screen, where the blue dot is your location.

Work with/without the Internet

The application can work without the Internet. All you have to do is turn on the GPS and go outside. Upon completion of the walk, the program will prompt you to turn on the Internet and download a map to view your movements.

How to use

So, we figured out how to enable a pedometer in Health on iPhone. Now let’s find out where to find information about the steps taken:

• Launch the Health program.
• Open Meddata.
• In the “Activity” section there are statistics on distance, number of steps, how many floors climbed up the stairs.

When you click on the panel itself, a detailed graph with activity history will open. It displays information on days, weeks, months and years of application use. On the same screen, you can add a panel to the “Favorites” section, so as not to scroll through the activity screen to the desired item. It is also possible to connect fitness bracelets or other pedometers as measurement sources.

Benefits of a pedometer on your phone

The pedometer on the phone compares favorably with other similar devices due to its compactness, the absence of mechanical parts, and, therefore, their care, as well as their repair.

Besides:

• you can choose a free application;
• you can customize it for yourself;
• large selection of functions;
• Always have a pedometer with you.

Concluding this article, it’s worth asking one question. Is it possible to use a pedometer, is it harmful? It turns out not.

Such a device, especially a mobile application, will not cause any harm to a person. And the benefits are undeniable. Especially for those who have decided to improve their poor health or for people leading a healthy lifestyle.

Why does the pedometer show incorrect values?

There are many reasons for distortion of accuracy.

Just to mention a few:

• terrain (the most accurate measurements on asphalt paths);
• phone malfunction (for example, battery is low);
• extraneous actions during classes (conversations and the like);
• temperature (readings are distorted in hot weather) and some others.

Rules for using a pedometer

Actually, when using such a pedometer, it is necessary, first of all, to strictly follow the rules for using the phone.

Besides:

• for more accurate measurements, you need to correctly position the phone with the pedometer installed;
• observe the temperature regime (+10 – to -40);
• instructions included with the software.

Why do we need a pedometer?

A person who actively maintains his shape can hardly do without a device such as a pedometer. This device performs three main functions:

• quantitative counting of steps taken;
• recording the distance traveled per day;
• Accounting for the total number of calories burned.

In addition to these mandatory functions, the device is complemented with various options for other measurements.

The second name of this device is “pedometer”. A pedometer can be more than just a stand-alone device. It can be a functional part of wristwatches, smartphones, bracelets.

The simplest models of pedometers solve the simplest problem - they summarize the steps taken.

Main functions of pedometers

Even in advanced devices, step tracking remains the main function. When a person has constant quantitative control over all movements, his behavior changes throughout the day. He tries to take more steps to meet his daily goal. This comes with the understanding that movement is the foundation of health.

In the beginning, you need to control yourself, without immediately trying to fulfill the norm of five to eight kilometers a day (10,000 steps). You need to choose a distance that can be covered without much effort, and add 400 steps every day.

Distance traveled - this function allows you to convert steps to kilometers. Many consumers prefer this type of quantitative accounting. Walking six kilometers in a day sounds solid.

To implement this function, the device needs to set the user’s anthropological data - height, weight, and also measure the length of the step.

For people who want to normalize their own weight and try to monitor their diet, the function of tracking calories burned is greatly helped. Moreover, the device calculates both the calories that come from consuming food and the calories spent on covering the daily distance.

The calories burned should be at least slightly higher than the calories consumed - the basic formula for stabilizing normal weight. The calorie balance function in the pedometer allows you to successfully monitor these indicators.

Secondary functions

Advanced models of pedometers are a mini-laboratory for diagnostics. In addition to basic step counting, it performs a number of additional functions:

• The pedometer can act as an alarm clock and sound a wake-up signal during the light sleep phase;
• regular clock mode and FM radio;
• the device can be connected to a computer, this function makes it possible to monitor the level of activity throughout the day and create a task for the next day;
• the mobile module connects the device with the satellite, helping to choose a route on the map;
• The device’s memory can store results for previous days, which allows you to compare the effectiveness of training and adjust its intensity and duration;
• the pedometer can also be used as a stopwatch, which is useful when passing high-speed sections;
• some models are equipped with a thermometer function, they instantly show body temperature;
• advanced models help to carry out a series of breathing exercises; the device can be converted into a chest-mounted pulse meter;
• There is a pedometer-phone, some models of smartphones are made with built-in pedometers.

The range of additional capabilities of the device is quite wide, so the choice depends on individual preferences.

Why do we need a pedometer?

A person who actively maintains his shape can hardly do without a device such as a pedometer. This device performs three main functions:

• quantitative counting of steps taken;
• recording the distance traveled per day;
• Accounting for the total number of calories burned.

In addition to these mandatory functions, the device is complemented with various options for other measurements.

The second name of this device is “pedometer”. A pedometer can be more than just a stand-alone device. It can be a functional part of wristwatches, smartphones, bracelets.

The simplest models of pedometers solve the simplest problem - they summarize the steps taken.

Main functions of pedometers

Even in advanced devices, step tracking remains the main function. When a person has constant quantitative control over all movements, his behavior changes throughout the day. He tries to take more steps to meet his daily goal. This comes with the understanding that movement is the foundation of health.

In the beginning, you need to control yourself, without immediately trying to fulfill the norm of five to eight kilometers a day (10,000 steps). You need to choose a distance that can be covered without much effort, and add 400 steps every day.

Distance traveled - this function allows you to convert steps to kilometers. Many consumers prefer this type of quantitative accounting. Walking six kilometers in a day sounds solid.

To implement this function, the device needs to set the user’s anthropological data - height, weight, and also measure the length of the step.

For people who want to normalize their own weight and try to monitor their diet, the function of tracking calories burned is greatly helped. Moreover, the device calculates both the calories that come from consuming food and the calories spent on covering the daily distance.

The calories burned should be at least slightly higher than the calories consumed - the basic formula for stabilizing normal weight. The calorie balance function in the pedometer allows you to successfully monitor these indicators.

Secondary functions

Advanced models of pedometers are a mini-laboratory for diagnostics. In addition to basic step counting, it performs a number of additional functions:

• The pedometer can act as an alarm clock and sound a wake-up signal during the light sleep phase;
• regular clock mode and FM radio;
• the device can be connected to a computer, this function makes it possible to monitor the level of activity throughout the day and create a task for the next day;
• the mobile module connects the device with the satellite, helping to choose a route on the map;
• The device’s memory can store results for previous days, which allows you to compare the effectiveness of training and adjust its intensity and duration;
• the pedometer can also be used as a stopwatch, which is useful when passing high-speed sections;
• some models are equipped with a thermometer function, they instantly show body temperature;
• advanced models help to carry out a series of breathing exercises; the device can be converted into a chest-mounted pulse meter;
• There is a pedometer-phone, some models of smartphones are made with built-in pedometers.

The range of additional capabilities of the device is quite wide, so the choice depends on individual preferences.

How accurate will the measurements be?

Very rarely, manufacturers of such sensors (especially for budget devices) care about their high accuracy. Moreover, the sensitivity differs between different models, so in rare cases very large (30% or more) deviations are possible, negating the entire value of such functionality.

In general, smartphones are equipped with accelerometers, the reliability of which is quite sufficient at the everyday level. But they can depend on many criteria, including how you hold your smartphone. For example, if it hangs on a cord around the neck, then due to vibrations that do not coincide with the movements of the legs, it is possible to obtain huge errors in the indicators. But in the trouser pocket, as a rule, everything goes well: the accuracy is as close as possible to real indicators, the error is no more than 3-10%.

Which models have a pedometer?

The tool is available on Xiaomi mobile devices running MIUI 11 and later. Here is the list of models.

With the release of MIUI 12, the pedometer appeared on all the company’s gadgets, not just on flagships. But for its operation, it requires the presence of an appropriate sensor, as well as downloading a special “Mi Health” application.

So, if MIUI 10 version is installed, you will not be able to count steps, at least in the ways available out of the box. After all, many third-party trackers have now been released, which, although they give an error, show more or less current information.

Inclusion

By default, the tracking feature is enabled, but is sometimes disabled to save battery. To restore step counting and turn the pedometer back on on iPhone 6 or other models:

• Go to "Settings".
• Select "Privacy".
• Click "Movement & Fitness."
• In the window that opens, move the “Fitness Tracking” slider to the “On” position.
• In the list of apps below, allow access to the Health app.