Using a smartwatch on iOS
Steps & Beasts does not pair with your watch. On iPhone we read steps from the Health app (Apple Health).
Your watch never writes to us directly. The manufacturer’s app on the phone is the missing link.
An Apple Watch is the exception that feels automatic: it writes to Apple Health as soon as Fitness Tracking is on. Every other brand needs a toggle in its own app.
Menu names move around when apps update. If a label below does not match, search for “Apple Health” or “Health” inside the companion app.
Get set up
Apple Health is built in. You do not install it.
Give Steps & Beasts permission to read steps:
- 1Open Health.
- 2Tap your profile picture (top right).
- 3Under Privacy, tap Apps.
- 4Tap Steps & Beasts.
- 5Turn on Steps.
You can also do this from iPhone Settings → Health → Data Access & Devices → Steps & Beasts, or from the permission screen inside Steps & Beasts.
Apple Health keeps every source, then picks a winner.
Default order:
- 1Numbers you typed in by hand
- 2iPhone and Apple Watch
- 3Other apps
A new app often jumps to the top when you first connect it. You can change the order.
If you wear a Garmin (or any other tracker) and carry the iPhone, put the watch’s app at the top of Steps. Otherwise Health may prefer the phone and ignore the watch on walks where you left the phone at home - or the other way around.
- 1Open Health → Search → Steps.
- 2Scroll down → Data Sources & Access.
- 3Tap Edit.
- 4Drag the companion app above iPhone.
- 5Tap Done.
Official notes: View and prioritize your data sources.
Connect your brand
No extra app. Pair the watch in the Watch app, then:
- 1Open Health → profile → Devices → your Apple Watch.
- 2Tap Privacy Settings.
- 3Turn on Fitness Tracking.
That is enough. Apple Watch steps land in Apple Health on their own.
If steps look wrong, check source order (section 2) and that Settings → Privacy & Security → Motion & Fitness → Fitness Tracking is on.
Fitbit used to have no native Apple Health write. As of Google Health 5.05 (August 2026) it can write steps, exercise, sleep, and vitals.
Use the Google Health app (the Fitbit app’s successor). iOS 16.4 or later. Sign in with a Google account.
- 1Update Google Health.
- 2Sync the tracker in that app.
- 3Tap Connections → Apps and services.
- 4Under Add connections, tap Apple Health → Get started → Agree.
- 5Turn on Steps (or Turn All Categories On) → Allow → Done.
Then check Health → Steps → Data Sources & Access for Google Health.
Official notes: Use Apple Health with Google Health.
A Pixel Watch is built for Android. On iPhone, use Google Health the same way as Fitbit if your watch is already paired there. If Google Health cannot see the watch, we cannot see it either.
Garmin writes steps to Apple Health. Garmin-only scores (Body Battery and similar) stay in Garmin Connect.
- 1Update Garmin Connect and sync the watch.
- 2Open Garmin Connect → More (•••) → Settings → Connected Apps → Apple Health. Some versions say Connect to Apple Health under Settings.
- 3Allow Steps.
Then put Garmin Connect at the top of Health → Steps → Data Sources & Access if you want the watch to win over the iPhone.
Polar Flow writes Polar-measured steps to Apple Health. It does not read Apple Health back.
- 1Update Polar Flow and sync the watch.
- 2Open Flow → More → General settings.
- 3Turn on Apple Health.
- 4Turn on Steps (or Turn All Categories On) → Allow.
Official notes: Connecting Polar Flow with Apple Health.
- 1Update the Oura app and open it so the ring can sync.
- 2Menu (☰) → Settings → Data sharing → Apple Health.
- 3Turn on Connect to Health, and allow Steps.
You can also grant this during first-run setup.
To stop double-counting with the iPhone, put Oura first in Health → Steps → Data Sources & Access.
Official notes: Apple Health Integration.
- 1Update the WHOOP app and sync the band.
- 2Open WHOOP → More → Integrations (sometimes App Settings → Integrations) → Apple Health.
- 3Tap Connect and allow Steps.
- 1Open the Withings app → Profile → Settings (gear).
- 2Tap Export health data to Apple Health.
- 3Tap Next, allow Steps, then Allow → Done.
Official notes: Exporting Withings data into Apple Health.
- 1Update the COROS app and sync the watch.
- 2Open COROS → Profile → Settings → 3rd Party Apps → Data Sync → Apple Health.
- 3Allow Steps.
Official notes: Connecting Apple Health with COROS.
Suunto writes steps to Apple Health on iPhone (it does not write to Android Health Connect).
- 1Update the Suunto app and sync the watch.
- 2Open Suunto → profile → Settings.
- 3Turn on Save to Apple Health → Allow, including Steps.
Open Suunto at least once a day so it can push.
- 1Update Zepp and sync the watch.
- 2Open Zepp → Profile → Add accounts (sometimes 3rd-party account linking) → Apple Health.
- 3Allow Steps.
Older Xiaomi bands use Zepp Life (formerly Mi Fit). Newer ones may use Mi Fitness.
- 1Update the companion app and sync the band.
- 2Find Apple Health under Profile / Settings / Add accounts.
- 3Allow Steps.
Then confirm Zepp Life or Mi Fitness appears under Health → Steps → Data Sources & Access.
Not on the list
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 and newer (including Watch 7 and Watch Ultra) - Samsung says these watches need Google Play services and are not compatible with iPhone. Older Tizen models (Watch3, Active2, and similar) can pair, but watch steps often never reach Apple Health. We cannot fix that.
- Huawei / Honor - Huawei Health does not reliably write steps to Apple Health.
- Legacy Fitbit app - no Health write. Use Google Health 5.05+ instead.
If Apple Health appears in your companion app after an update, use the same pattern: allow Steps write, then confirm the app in Health → Steps → Data Sources & Access.
Something wrong?
- 1Walk for a few minutes with the watch on.
- 2Open the manufacturer’s app and wait until that app shows the new steps. (Apple Watch: check the Activity rings or Health.)
- 3Open Health → Search → Steps → Show All Data. You should see a new row from that companion app (or Apple Watch).
- 4Open Steps & Beasts and 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 iPhone steps, write to malte@stepsandbeasts.app and say which source Health lists.
Work down this list:
- 1The companion app itself shows the walk. If it does not, fix pairing and Bluetooth first.
- 2Health → profile → Apps → companion app → Steps is on (write).
- 3Health → profile → Apps → Steps & Beasts → Steps is on (read).
- 4Health → Steps → Data Sources & Access: the watch’s app is listed, and it is high enough in the order.
- 5iPhone Settings → Privacy & Security → Motion & Fitness → Fitness Tracking is on (needed for the phone sensor and for Apple Watch).
- 6Open the companion app after a walk. Many apps only push to Apple Health when you open them.
- 7Unlock the iPhone. Health data is protected while the device is locked; some reads wait until you unlock.
Email malte@stepsandbeasts.app. One person reads it.
Please include:
- iPhone model and iOS version
- Watch or tracker model
- Whether Health → Steps → Show All Data lists the companion app (yes / no)
- A screenshot of that screen helps