Why is my iPhone not counting steps?

Most of the time it's a setting. Check that Fitness Tracking is on in Settings > Privacy & Security > Motion & Fitness, that the app you use can read Steps in the Health app's privacy settings, and that the phone is in your pocket or hand while you walk. A phone left on a desk or riding in a stroller doesn't see your steps.

1. Turn on Fitness Tracking

Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Motion & Fitness and make sure Fitness Tracking is on. With it off, the iPhone's motion sensor stops recording steps and floors, and every step app (including Health) shows zero. On the same screen, check that the app you use is switched on in the list below.

2. Let your step app read Health

When an app asks for Health access and you tap Don't Allow, iOS doesn't ask again. Turn it back on yourself:

Open the Health app and tap your picture or initials in the top corner.
Under Privacy, tap Apps, then the app (for example Footprints).
Turn on Steps, Flights Climbed and Walking + Running Distance.

Open the app again and it reads your steps.

3. Carry the phone where it can feel you walk

The iPhone counts steps from the motion of your body. A pocket, your hand or a belt clip works. These don't:

A phone resting on a desk, a treadmill console or a cart you're pushing.
A phone in a stroller, a bike basket or a bag on wheels.
Steps on a day you left the phone at home (unless you wore an Apple Watch).

4. Steps look low on a treadmill

If you hold the rails or prop the phone on the console, your arms and the phone stay still and few steps get counted. Put the phone in a pocket, or wear an Apple Watch, which saves its own steps to Health.

5. Distance is off but steps look right

iPhone estimates distance from your steps and stride. Turning on Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > System Services > Motion Calibration & Distance lets it learn your stride on outdoor walks, which tightens the estimate.

6. The widget shows an old number

The Footprints widget shows the count from the last time Footprints updated, and iOS decides how often widgets refresh. Open Footprints for a moment and the widget catches up.

7. Still zero: restart and update

Restart the iPhone and install any pending iOS update in Settings > General > Software Update. If the Health app itself shows zero steps for today while you've been walking with the phone, the problem is the iPhone's counting, not the app. If Health shows steps and Footprints doesn't, email hello@greatwork.company.

Questions

Why does my iPhone say 0 steps?

Usually Fitness Tracking is off (Settings > Privacy & Security > Motion & Fitness) or the app doesn't have permission to read Steps in Health. It can also be a day the phone sat still.

Do I need to keep the step app open?

No. The iPhone records steps in the background all day. Footprints reads the totals from Apple Health whenever you open it.

Why are my steps different in two apps?

Apps can read different sources. Footprints reads the daily totals Apple Health keeps, which already merge iPhone and Apple Watch steps without counting them twice.

Footprints shows your steps, floors and distance against a daily goal, as a list, a calendar of goal rings and a chart. Free with ads.

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Updated 2026-11-04