Step counting is a big deal these days. You’re probably wondering how to keep track of your steps easily, right? Well, your Apple Watch is a great tool for this, but there’s a catch.
When you look at your watch face, you don’t see your step count right away. Frustrating, isn’t it? Especially when you’re trying to hit that daily goal or just want to know how active you’ve been.
But don’t worry! There’s a simple fix. You can add your step count to your Apple Watch face. It just takes a little know-how and a third-party app.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to choose the right app and set it up on your watch face. You’ll also see how to use the Activity app to track your steps.
By the time you’re done reading, you’ll be all set to see your steps at a glance.
How to show your steps on your Apple Watch face
Your Apple Watch is great for tracking activity, but it doesn’t show your step count right on the watch face. Don’t worry, though. There’s an easy way to fix this.
You’ll need to use a third-party app to display your steps. A good option is Pedometer++. It’s free and shows your steps clearly on your watch face. Here’s what you need to do:
- Press and hold your watch face until it zooms out.
- Tap the “Edit” button at the bottom.
- Swipe left or right to find the complications settings.
- Tap where you want to add your step count.
- Scroll until you find “Pedometer” and select “Steps & Distance“.
That’s it! Your watch will save this automatically. Now you’ll see your steps right on your watch face.
And, if you don’t want your steps on your main watch face, you can add them to a secondary face. This way, you can swipe between faces to check your steps without cluttering your main screen. You can also change from steps to calories if you’re more focused on tracking energy burn.
And don’t worry if your watch battery dies during a walk. Your iPhone will keep counting your steps for you.
How to view steps on Apple Watch face from iPhone?
It’s easy to set up your Apple Watch to display steps using the Watch app on your iPhone. Follow these steps:
- Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
- Tap the “My Watch” tab.
- Choose the watch face you want to add the step counter to.
- Under “Complications“, select where you want to place the step counter.
- Scroll to find “PEDOMETER” and select “Steps & Distance“.
- If you want more options, tap “More…” to see additional complications.
The Pedometer++ app offers various sizes to fit almost any spot on your watch face.
Remember, not all watch faces support complications. The Infograph Modular face works well for this, but feel free to explore other options in your Watch app.
With these steps, you’ll have your step count visible right on your Apple Watch face. It’s a great way to keep track of your daily activity at a glance.
How to see your steps directly in the Apple Watch Activity app?
Sometimes, the step count on your watch face might not update as quickly as you’d like. Or it may not appear at all if fitness tracking isn’t working properly.
For the most up-to-date count, it’s best to check the Activity app on your Apple Watch. Here’s what you need to do:
- Find and tap the Activity app icon on your Apple Watch.
- Use the Digital Crown or swipe up with your finger to scroll down.
- Look for “TOTAL STEPS” to see your current step count.

While you’re there, you’ll also see “TOTAL DISTANCE“. This shows you how far you’ve walked or run.
Sometimes a quick manual refresh of tracking data can also help if things feel out of sync.
Checking your steps this way gives you the most accurate and current information. It’s a great way to keep track of your activity throughout the day.
The takeaway
Now you know how to keep tabs on your steps right from your Apple Watch. Pretty neat, huh?
Remember, your watch doesn’t show steps by default, but that’s no problem. You’ve got options.
Third-party apps like Pedometer++ can put your step count front and center on your watch face. Or, if you prefer the official route, just pop into the Activity app for the most up-to-date count.
Here’s a pro tip: The watch face method is handy, but it might lag a bit. For the freshest data, the Activity app is your best bet.
The big takeaway? Your Apple Watch is a powerful fitness buddy. With a few tweaks, you can have your step count at your fingertips, keeping you motivated all day long.
So, what are you waiting for? Set up your watch, lace up those shoes, and get stepping! Your health will thank you, and you might just surprise yourself with how many steps you can rack up.

