Using a smartwatch on Android

On Android 14 and newer, Health Connect is built into the phone.

1. 1
   Open Settings.
2. 2
   Go to Security and privacy → Privacy controls → Health Connect. On some phones this lives under Settings → Apps → Health Connect.

On Android 13 and older, install Health Connect from the Play Store and open it once.

Then give Steps & Beasts permission to read steps:

1. 1
   In Health Connect, open App permissions.
2. 2
   Tap Steps & Beasts.
3. 3
   Allow Steps (Read).

You can also grant this from the permission screen inside Steps & Beasts.

Samsung Health can write watch steps to Health Connect. It is off until you turn it on.

1. 1
   Update Samsung Health on the phone and on the watch.
2. 2
   Open Samsung Health → Settings (or More → Settings).
3. 3
   Tap Health Connect. If it is missing, install Health Connect from the Play Store, then open Samsung Health again.
4. 4
   Allow Samsung Health to write Steps.
5. 5
   Also turn on Consent to the processing of health and wellness data in Samsung Health settings. Without this consent, Samsung often has permission and still writes nothing.
6. 6
   If you granted permissions in the phone’s Health Connect screen instead of inside Samsung Health, open Samsung Health once afterwards so the link actually starts.

Then check Health Connect → Steps. The source should say Samsung Health.

If Samsung Health has steps but Health Connect does not:

• Samsung Health → Settings → Sync with Samsung account → Sync now.
• In Android Settings, turn off battery restrictions for Samsung Health and Galaxy Wearable. On One UI, also allow Auto-start and background launch for both.
• Update Samsung Health on the watch, not only the phone.

Official notes: Samsung Health Connect FAQ.

Fitbit can write steps to Health Connect. It does not read other apps. The toggle is off until you turn it on.

1. 1
   Update the Fitbit app. Sign in with a Google account (legacy Fitbit accounts were migrated).
2. 2
   Open Fitbit → Settings (gear). On some versions: profile → App settings, or the device icon → Add connections.
3. 3
   Tap Health Connect.
4. 4
   Turn on Sync with Health Connect.
5. 5
   Allow Steps (Write). Tap Allow, then Done.
6. 6
   Pull down on the Fitbit home screen to sync the tracker.

Then check Health Connect → Steps. The source should say Fitbit.

Google is folding Fitbit into the Google Health app. If you already use Google Health, open Connections → Partner apps → Manage Health Connect and make sure Google Health may write Steps.

A Pixel Watch uses the Google Health app (older watches used Fitbit). Same idea: watch → Google Health → Health Connect → us.

1. 1
   Update Google Health (or Fitbit, if that is still the companion).
2. 2
   Sync the watch in that app.
3. 3
   Google Health → Connections → Partner apps → set up Health Connect.
4. 4
   Allow Google Health to write Steps.
5. 5
   Allow Steps & Beasts to read Steps.

Google Fit can write the phone’s own steps (and some Wear OS watches) into Health Connect.

1. 1
   Open Google Fit → Profile → Settings.
2. 2
   Under Health Connect, turn on Sync Fit with Health Connect.
3. 3
   Allow Fit to write Steps.

Official notes: Health Connect on Google Fit.

Garmin Connect can share steps with Health Connect. Garmin-only scores (Body Battery, Training Readiness, and similar) stay in Garmin Connect.

1. 1
   Update Garmin Connect and sync the watch.
2. 2
   Open Garmin Connect → main menu (☰ or •••) → Settings → Health Connect. On some versions Health Connect is a top-level menu item.
3. 3
   Tap Connect and allow Steps (Write).

Then check Health Connect → Steps for Garmin Connect as a source.

Official notes: Sharing Garmin Connect data with Health Connect.

Polar Flow writes daily steps to Health Connect.

1. 1
   Update Polar Flow and sync the watch.
2. 2
   Open Flow → General settings.
3. 3
   Turn on Health Connect. Install Health Connect from the Play Store if the app asks.
4. 4
   Allow Steps (and anything else you want to share) → Allow.

Official notes: Connecting Polar Flow to Health Connect.

Xiaomi devices reach Health Connect through Mi Fitness, not through us.

1. 1
   Update Mi Fitness and sync the band or watch.
2. 2
   Open Mi Fitness → Profile or Settings.
3. 3
   Tap Health Connect (sometimes under health permissions or third-party services).
4. 4
   Allow Steps (Write).

Then check Health Connect → Steps for Mi Fitness as a source. If the Health Connect row is missing, update Mi Fitness.

Amazfit watches use the Zepp app. The link is write-only: Zepp sends data out, it does not read other apps.

1. 1
   Update Zepp and sync the watch.
2. 2
   Open Zepp → Profile → 3rd-party account linking (sometimes Settings → Third-party apps).
3. 3
   Tap Health Connect.
4. 4
   Allow Steps (Write).

Then check Health Connect → Steps for Zepp as a source.

1. 1
   Open the Withings app → Profile → Settings (gear).
2. 2
   Tap Export health data to Health Connect.
3. 3
   Tap Next, allow Steps, then Allow → Done.

Official notes: Exporting Withings data into Health Connect.

Oura writes steps to Health Connect on Android (Gen2, or Gen3 and later with an active membership).

1. 1
   Update the Oura app and open it so the ring can sync. Oura often only pushes data when you open the app.
2. 2
   Menu (☰) → Settings → Data Sharing → Health Connect.
3. 3
   Turn on Steps (and anything else you want to share).

Official notes: Health Connect by Android Integration.

1. 1
   Update the WHOOP app and sync the band.
2. 2
   Open WHOOP → More → Integrations → Health Connect.
3. 3
   Tap Set Up, then Allow all or at least Steps → Allow.

You can also turn this on during WHOOP onboarding.

1. 1
   Update the COROS app and sync the watch.
2. 2
   Open COROS → Profile → 3rd Party Apps (sometimes Settings → 3rd Party Apps).
3. 3
   Tap Health Connect.
4. 4
   Allow Steps.

1. 1
   Walk for a few minutes with the watch on.
2. 2
   Open the manufacturer’s app and wait until that app shows the new steps.
3. 3
   Open Health Connect → Data and access / Browse → Steps. You should see a new chunk from that companion app.
4. 4
   Open Steps & Beasts and pull to refresh, or wait a minute.

If step 2 works and step 3 does not, the manufacturer is not writing. That is their setting, not ours.

If step 3 works and Steps & Beasts still shows only phone steps, write to malte@stepsandbeasts.app and say which source Health Connect lists.

Work down this list:

1. 1
   The companion app itself shows the walk. If it does not, fix pairing and Bluetooth first.
2. 2
   Health Connect → App permissions → companion app → Steps is Write.
3. 3
   Health Connect → App permissions → Steps & Beasts → Steps is Read.
4. 4
   Android Settings → Apps → companion app → Battery → set to Unrestricted (or the equivalent on your phone).
5. 5
   Open the companion app after a walk. Many apps only push to Health Connect when you open them.
6. 6
   Leave the phone nearby for a bit. Watch-to-phone sync is delayed on purpose to save battery.

Email malte@stepsandbeasts.app. One person reads it.

Please include:

• Phone model and Android version
• Watch or tracker model
• Whether Health Connect → Steps shows data from the companion app (yes / no)
• A screenshot of that Health Connect Steps screen helps