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
If your watch’s companion app writes steps into Apple Health, we pick them up automatically. If it does not write them there, we cannot see the watch - only the iPhone’s own step sensor.
Connect your brand
Do this in the manufacturer’s app - not in Steps & Beasts. Always allow that app to write Steps. After you connect it, open Health → Search → Steps → Data Sources & Access. The companion app should appear as a source. If it is there and showing today’s walk, we can read it.
Not on the list
Something wrong?
- Walk for a few minutes with the watch on.
- Open the manufacturer’s app and wait until that app shows the new steps. (Apple Watch: check the Activity rings or Health.)
- Open Health → Search → Steps → Show All Data. You should see a new row from that companion app (or Apple Watch).
- Open 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.
Apple Health usually starts from the moment you grant permission. Older days may never appear.