Does the iPhone Health App Count Steps on a Treadmill?

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Does the iPhone Health App Count Steps on a Treadmill?

If you like to work out or are just beginning to become healthy, you can use the Health app on your iPhone to keep track of your daily activities. But a lot of people want to know whether the iPhone Health app counts steps on a treadmill.

1. Understanding How the iPhone Health App Tracks Steps

The Health app utilizes the accelerometer and gyroscope on your iPhone to keep track of how many steps you take. Your phone translates movement that looks like walking or running into step data. You don’t need an Apple Watch to keep track of your steps; an iPhone will do.

However, how you hold your phone will affect the accuracy of your steps. Keep it in your pocket, on your belt, or in your hand while you work out on the machine, and it’s more likely to keep track of how many steps you take.

2. So, Does the iPhone Health App Count Steps on a Treadmill?

The iPhone Health app is capable of tracking your steps as you pedal your bicycle; however, there are certain limitations. The app counts the number of steps you take by utilizing its motion sensors, as GPS signals are not received when you walk on a treadmill. It is possible that your phone is unable to accurately detect your movement if it is stationary, such as when it is resting on the treadmill console.

Avoid placing the phone in your purse, on your arm, or in your palm. Rather, utilize it to accurately monitor your treadmill steps.

Factors That Affect Step Accuracy on a Treadmill

Phone Placement:

You may not be able to see steps if you don’t connect your phone to your body.

Walking Style:

On certain sorts of outdoor terrain, the walking pattern is smoother on a machine. Occasionally, this sort of activity may result in uncounted steps.

Walking Speed:

If you jog lightly or walk extremely slowly, the number of steps you take may go down.

Calibration of the Device:

Your iPhone needs to know how you walk and how long each step lasts. Using it regularly makes tracking more accurate.

3. How to Make iPhone Treadmill Step Tracking Better

If you want to get anything out of your treadmill exercises, do these things:

Always carry your iPhone while working on a PC.
Secure it with an activity belt or tight bag.
Apple Watch or Fitbit sync provides the finest data.
Select Privacy, then Motion & Health under Settings to track your health and activity.
Use the Health or Fitness app to note missed exercises. That guarantees your strategy is right.

4. Other Apps That Work Better for Tracking Inside

To avoid the issue of the app not reliably counting the number of steps done, it is best to use the Health app on the treadmill together with one of the following supplementary apps:

Plus for Apple Fitness
Pedometer++
MyFitnessPal
Runkeeper
Nike Run Club

You can link these apps to Apple Health to get a lot of fitness information, such as your heart rate, calories burnt, and how long you worked out. This will help you keep better track of your fitness.

5. Can You Add Treadmill Workouts Manually in the Health App?

These apps are undoubtedly beneficial for tracking your fitness. If your treadmill didn’t track your steps, you could send the workout to your iPhone manually.

Open the Health app.
Tap Browse > Activity > Steps or Workouts.
Tap the Add Data button (top-right corner).
Enter the number of steps or workout details, then tap Add.

This option will make up for any data that automatic sensors may have missed, so your daily step count will accurately show how hard you’re working.

Does the iPhone Health app count steps on a treadmill?

That being said, the answer might or might not be right depending on how you use your iPhone. Wear your phone and use exercise apps or devices that work with it to track your steps.

You can use the iPhone Health app to help you stay fit whether you’re walking, jogging, or doing interval training on your bike. Make sure you have it with you at all times.