Powered by sensors that work even with your Android or iOS smartphone’s screen off, Google Fit can track and report different health and fitness stats in real time.
However, there are times when Google Fit fails to track important activities, such as steps and distance covered during a workout.
In this post, I explain why you have a problem tracking steps with the Google Fit app, as well as what you can do to fix the problem.
Why is Google Fit Not Tracking My Steps?
There are at least six reasons why Google Fit is not counting your steps on your smartphone, and they’re as follows:
- Google Fit doesn’t have access to your phone.
- Your phone’s battery optimization is active.
- There’s an issue with your Google account.
- Google Fit is not up to date.
- Related health and fitness apps are restricting Google Fit from tracking steps.
- Your activity tracking settings are wrong.
5 Easy Fixes for Google Fit Not Tracking Steps
Giving Google Fit access to your phone, disabling battery optimization, counterchecking your Google account, updating Google Fit app to the latest version, and closing related apps should fix this common Google Fit problem and get you back on track.
1. Allow Google Fit to Access Your Phone
Google Fit requires your phone’s permissions to access various settings, including sensors and GPS configuration. The app uses the sensors and GPS to detect movement and determine how long you’ve been active, but it can do so only if you’ve given it the permission to.
For Android:
- Open Settings.
- Choose Apps and then App Management.
- Select Google Fit.
- Tap permissions on the app’s info page.
- Toggle on all the permissions required by the Google Fit.
For iOS:
- Go to Settings.
- Open Privacy Settings
- Tap Google Fit.
- Grant the app all the necessary permissions.
The permissions required by Google Fit to track steps include location, physical activities, and camera.
2. Disable Battery Optimization
Battery optimization doesn’t play well with Google Fit. The feature scans the app to determine whether it runs in the background and automatically restrict it from tracking activities such as steps walked.
You have to disable battery optimization for Google Fit on Android and iOS by enabling background refresh.
For Android:
- Go to Settings
- Select Battery Lab.
- Tap Advanced Setting.
- Select Battery Optimization.
- Tap Google Fit.
- Select Not Optimized.
For iPhones:
- Tap Settings.
- Select General.
- Choose Background App Refresh.
- Look for the Google Fit.
- Toggle option to enable background refresh.
Now that you have battery optimization disabled, Google Fit will run in the background and count your steps in real time, even when your smartphone’s display is off.
3. Countercheck Your Google’s Account
First, you need to have an active Google account to use Google Fit. Ideally, you have to sign in with Gmail, set up your account, and grant the app permission to access your phone to get started with tracking activities.
If your setup is correct but you still can’t get Google Fit to count your steps, there may be an issue with your Gmail account, such as inability to log in, a possible hack detection by Google, and failure to synchronize metrics.
To fix this, remove and add the associated Gmail account from your smartphone and then add it back. To do this:
- Go to Settings on your phone.
- Select Accounts
- Choose Google or the respective Gmail account depending on the phone you use.
- Tap Remove Account.
- Go to Google Fit app information page and clear cache and storage.
- Restart your Android or iOS smartphone.
- Go back to Settings, select Accounts, and add the Google account you removed.
- Open the Google Fit and sign in with the account you added.
- Grant the app the permission it requires to track, count, and log your steps in your Google Fit profile.
4. Update Google Fit App
Go to Google Play Store or App Store, check for the latest update, and tap the update button if you haven’t updated Google Fit for a while.
In case the app jams up or doesn’t start properly after an update, clear cache data and storage, and then try again. To clear cache and storage:
- Go to Settings.
- Select Apps.
- Tap Google Fit.
- Tap Storage.
- Clear Data.
Set up your Google Fit account once more, give the app permission to gain access to crucial information, and then use the app to track your activities.
5. Close Related Health and Fitness Apps
Some Google Fit compatible apps such as Withings and Strava don’t play too well with Google Fit when active at the same time.
These apps may be competing to use the built-in sensors at the same time to track activities such as steps and distance, thus leading to inaccurate step count or no steps data at all.
Close these apps if you notice any discrepancies and inconsistency in the results you get. Or disable them altogether until the next time you need them.
Can I Use Google Fit Without a Smartwatch?
It’s possible to use Google Fit without a watch provided you give the app the permissions it needs to run smoothly.
Google Fit will need permission to access your smartphone’s sensors and location for better activity tracking. Additionally, you need to allow the app to run in the background even when your smartphone’s display is off.
Even without a smartwatch, Google Fit app can track activities such as walking, running, and cycling. Additional metrics that Google Fit can track without a watch include time, elevation, distance, weight, and calories burned.
Which Smartwatches Work Well With Google Fit?
Some of the most popular Google Fit compatible watches are Google Pixel Watch, Amazfit Band 7, Samsung Galaxy Watch 5, TicWatch Pro 3, and Polar Watch.
These smartwatches let you track, log, and analyze your health and fitness metrics in the Google Fit app, so you get a clear view of your overall performance.
