Other manufacturers also offer similar options, and Xiaomi, to keep up with the competition, has been working on a step counter for years, which has gone through several stages. At first it could only be activated from the app store, but with the integration of Google Discover this option has disappeared and now if we want to get Xiaomi step counter we have to follow a different process.
Contents [show]
- Mi Health, MIUI step counter
- How accurate is the meter?
- Future of Mi Health
- Can we use it on other Android phones?
How to limit battery consumption of applications in MIUI 11 on Xiaomi (Redmi)
On Redmi 8 with Miu 11 I installed steps through India, but the pedometer settings can only change the target and do not count anything.
Owners of smartphones from the popular Xiaomi brand are lucky. Together with the new MIUI 12 firmware, it has become much easier to monitor your health. Those who have a Xiaomi flagship have probably seen the “Health” utility, which records daily activity, weight changes, and also helps improve sleep quality. And for all this you don't need to buy a fitness tracker. This application appeared in MIUI 11, but only on flagship devices. And now, with the release of MIUI 12, it has become available for all gadgets that have the appropriate sensors. From the article you will learn how to run a Xiaomi pedometer on your phone and how to set it up.
Steps are counted by reading the position of a special sensor while walking.
The importance of disabling unnecessary components
Deactivating unnecessary modes and applications will help extend the life of your Xiaomi smartphone. Each program consumes battery power. The device has features that are enabled by default or run in auto-configuration mode. Any activity affects the battery charge. If you deactivate unnecessary functions and applications, the smartphone can work for 2-3 days without recharging.
True, Xiaomi is valued for the fact that this device is comparable to a mini-computer. Gadget owners do not need to limit themselves. You can download various instant messengers (Telegram) to your smartphone. From the gadget you are allowed to go online and access social networks (VKontakte, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter).
Xiaomi developers provide users with the opportunity to work with any program and on any Internet platform. The activity of a browser, instant messenger, or any application can be limited in time by first setting a work timer. Programs will be able to turn off on their own after 5-30 minutes. The ability to limit the operation of applications over time reduces battery consumption and extends the life of the smartphone.
Move Reminder
We all know the saying “Movement is life.” MIUI developers also adhere to this principle. As you know, a sedentary lifestyle does not have a positive effect on human health. The Movement feature helps you become more active.
Taking information from your smartphone's sensors, the app will notice that you haven't moved for a long time and will suggest you stretch or stand on your feet for a minute. You can keep track of how often you warmed up throughout the day using charts. In my opinion, this is a very useful function, especially for those who are forced to sit at the computer all day due to their work.
Weight tracking
This section of the application can be useful for monitoring your body weight. To keep track, you can manually add weight changes at intervals. The statistics will be presented in the form of a graph. The application will also calculate recommended parameters based on your height and tell you whether your current weight is normal.
Possible problems and their solutions
You can cope with a software failure if the Mi Band fitness bracelet has stopped counting or does not count steps well, undercounting or increasing their number several times, as follows:
- check for a new firmware version in Mi Fit: Profile > Mi Smart Band 5 (or other model) > Check for updates;
- Reset your smartwatch to factory settings via the app or the device’s built-in menu.
If you were unable to set up step counting yourself or if you suspect mechanical damage due to falls, you should contact a service center. When problems are noticed immediately after unpacking, connecting for the first time and installing available updates, most likely you have stumbled upon a defective product. The problem is resolved by returning the product under warranty.
How to reset steps on Mi Band
The step counter is automatically reset at midnight, but sometimes there is a need to reset this parameter in the middle of the day - before a workout, a hike, or a long walk around the city. You can use one of three options:
- Time change. Since the Mi Band relies on the date and time from the phone, it is possible to time it to a fictitious midnight. In your smartphone settings, change the time to 23:58, then open the application and start forced synchronization - to do this, swipe down on the main screen. All that remains is to wait for the counter to update and set the exact time on your phone.
- Reboot. Data collected during the current day is deleted. The option can be found in the menu of the fitness bracelet itself: Additional/More > Settings > Reboot.
- Reset. A hard reboot deletes all user data, settings, and downloaded watch faces. A hard reset is performed through the device menu, just like a regular reboot (other methods are discussed in separate articles on our website), but you will need to resynchronize with your smartphone.
Tracking your menstrual cycles
The function will be useful for female audiences. By filling in data about the average duration of menstruation and the intervals between them, the application will remind you when the next cycle will begin. The remaining days until your next period will be shown as a calendar. To clarify reminders, dates can be entered manually. With the MIUI 12 update, the application will provide useful tips on how to optimize your lifestyle to make you feel better during your “critical days.”
Naturally, the Health app supports fitness bracelets. Both branded trackers and third-party ones are supported. By adding them to data sources, statistics will become even more accurate. All functions of the application are available on MIUI 12 firmware.
Using the function
It’s worth pointing out right away that for some reason, for residents of the Russian Federation, the pedometer in Xiaomi is a hidden function. To enable it and continue to use it, you will need:
- In the phone settings, set the region to “India”.
- Launch the widget feed, where you can find and download the “Xiaomi Health” utility.
The tool is currently only available in India, Indonesia and Spain. If you change the region back to Russia in the parameters, the calculated steps will be reset.
Enable and disable
The procedure for activating the Mi pedometer:
- Open “Settings” – “Advanced settings” – “Region”.
- Put "India".
- Go back to “Settings”. From there, go to the “Desktop”, where switch the “Widget Ribbon” switch to the active state.
- Return to the main screen of your device and swipe left. Scrolling through the feed, you will see the “Steps” block. By clicking on the line, the system will offer to download “Xiaomi Health”. Download by clicking the appropriate button.
That's it, the utility is loaded and working.
Settings
While in the widgets feed, find the “Steps” block, next to which there will be a “Settings” button. You will be taken to the main screen of the Mi Health application, where first of all, set your activity goal - the number of steps you want to take per day.
The main page displays the number of steps taken per day (or per week/month). Below you will see three bars that show: activity time, distance traveled and calories burned.
There are no instructions for the application, and none are required. All you need to do is take your smartphone with you, and the sensor itself will count your steps, displaying them on the device screen. There is no way to make the calculations more accurately, unless you carry the phone in your pocket, where the sensor will work best.
Lock screen input
You can make sure that the steps taken are reflected directly on the display, without entering the Mi Health application.
How to display on the lock screen:
- Open "Settings" - "Security and Privacy".
- “Screen lock and passwords” item.
- Toggle the Pedometer on Lock Screen slider.
Why doesn't the pedometer work?
If you notice that the built-in tool does not work, that is, the pedometer does not count steps, first try rebooting the gadget. This will clear all errors and the system will start from scratch. If this does not help, delete the Mi Health application and download it again.
Many people think that the pedometer built into Xiaomi gadgets does not count accurately. In this case, you can use third-party applications, of which there are many: StepsApp, Step Counter, Runtastic Steps, Endomondo and others.
As you can see, Xiaomi makes sure that users of their gadgets are aware of their health status. Many people wonder why, in this case, buy fitness bracelets if your phone can also count your steps. The fact is that trackers, including Mi Band, have a heart rate monitor. Athletes use it during training to track their heart rate. If it is enough to know the number of steps taken, then a phone will suffice.
