How to Show Steps on Your Apple Watch Face

What to Know

  • To display steps on your Apple Watch face, you'll need to download a third-party step counter app like Pedometer++.
  • Next, add the app's Apple Watch step counter complication to your watch face.
  • The Activity app track steps, but there is no way to add steps on Apple Watch face without a third-party app.

Does the Apple Watch track steps? Yes! But they don't automatically appear on your watch face. To show steps on the Apple Watch face, you have to download a third-party Apple Watch step tracker and then adding the app's complication to your watch face. You can also see your steps in the Apple Watch Activity app. Here's how to get steps on your Apple Watch face.

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How to Show Steps on Apple Watch Face

Unfortunately, the Activity app complication doesn't include your Apple Watch steps, only your activity rings that reflect your Move, Calorie, and Stand goals

To display steps on the Apple Watch face, you'll have to download a third-party app; my favorite is Pedometer++ (Free). Other pedometers may have similar complications, but this one is free and easy to navigate. It also offers several ways to see your steps on your Apple Watch face.

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How to Get Pedometer++ Apple Watch Step Tracker Using Your iPhone

If your apps are downloaded on your iPhone and are set to appear on your Apple Watch automatically, you can download the Pedometer++ using your iPhone. You can also do this directly from your Apple Watch. Now, here is how to display steps on your Apple Watch face by downloading Pedometer++:

  1. Open the App Store.

    Open the App Store.
  2. Tap Search.

    search for pedometer app in the app store
  3. Type Pedometer++ in the search bar.

    Type Pedometer++ in the search bar.
  4. Tap GET.

    Tap GET.
  5. Once it is downloaded, open the Watch app.

    Once it is downloaded, open the Watch app.
  6. Tap the My Watch tab, then tap the watch face you want to add the step counter complication to.

    tap the watch face you want to add the step counter to
  7. Under Complications, select the location you want the complication to go. Pedometer ++ offers complications in various sizes, so they can go in almost every spot.

    choose where you want the step counter complication to appear on apple watch face
  8. Scroll down to PEDOMETER and pick the data you want to see. Steps & Distance is a great choice.

    Scroll down to PEDOMETER and pick the data you want to see.
  9. If you tap More… you will see many other types of complications. There may be different options depending on the size of the complication that particular watch face allows.

    If you tap More… you will see many other types of complications.

Keep in mind that not all watch faces can have complications. Infograph Modular is my go-to, but you can browse other Apple Watch faces here.

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How to Get Pedometer++ Complication Directly from the Apple Watch

You can use your Apple Watch to download the Pedometer++ app and set up the complication to show steps on your watch face. It can be a little easier to do this from your iPhone.
  1. Press the Home button to see all your apps on your Home Screen.

    Press the Home button to see all your apps on your Home Screen.
  2. Open the App Store app.

    open the app store on apple watch
     
  3. Search for Pedometer++.

    Search for Pedometer++.
     
  4. You can use your voice to speak the app name or write it using scribble.

    You can use your voice to speak the app name or write it using scribble.
     
  5. Scroll down until you see Pedometer++ and tap GET. If you already have the app's data saved in iCloud, tap the download from iCloud symbol instead of GET.

    tap get to download apple watch step tracker
     
  6. Return to your watch face. You can do this by pressing the Home button.

    Press the Home button to see all your apps on your Home Screen.
  7. Tap and hold the display until it zooms out and you see two buttons at the bottom.

    Tap and hold the display until it zooms out and you see two buttons at the bottom.
     
  8. Tap Edit.

    Tap Edit.
     
  9. Depending on the watch face, you may need to swipe left or right to get to the complications options. On Infograph Modular, you can tap the area where you want to put the complication.

    apple watch step counter on apple watch face
     
  10. Scroll down to Pedometer and pick the option you want to see. I prefer Steps & Distance.

    Scroll down to Pedometer and pick the option you want to see.
     
  11. It will save automatically, or you can press the Home button.

    Press the Home button to see all your apps on your Home Screen.

Did you know? If your watch runs out of battery on a walk, your iPhone step counter will continue to count your steps using the Pedometer++ app.

If you don't want your steps to be visible on your main watch face, you can add the step complication to a secondary watch face and switch between Apple Watch faces by swiping.

Related: 25 Best Apple Watch Complications by Third-Party Developers

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How to See Steps on Apple Watch in the Activity App

While the Pedometer++ complication allows you to display steps on your Apple Watch face, it may not always give you the most up-to-date data. If you need to see steps on your Apple Watch and only the most up-to-date number will do, it's best to go directly to the Apple Watch Activity app. For more great Apple Watch tutorials, check out our free Tip of the Day
  1. Press the Home button (Digital Crown) to see all your apps on your Home Screen.

    Press the Home button to see all your apps on your Home Screen.
  2. Open the Activity app.

    apple watch activity app
  3. Scroll down using the Digital Crown or with your finger and see your steps under TOTAL STEPS. You can also see the distance tracker info under TOTAL DISTANCE.

    see your steps under TOTAL STEPS and your distance walked under TOTAL DISTANCE

Now you know how to check steps on Apple Watch! 

FAQ

So does Apple Watch count steps? Yes, and now you know how to track steps on Apple Watch and see them directly on your watch face! Next, learn how to see total calories on Apple Watch or how to add other complications to your Apple Watch face.

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Author Details

Olena Kagui's picture

Author Details

Olena Kagui

Olena Kagui is a Feature Writer at iPhone Life. In the last 10 years, she has been published in dozens of publications internationally and won an excellence award. Since joining iPhone Life in 2020, she has written how-to articles as well as complex guides about Apple products, software, and apps. Olena grew up using Macs and exploring all the latest tech. Her Maui home is the epitome of an Apple ecosystem, full of compatible smart gear to boot. Olena’s favorite device is the Apple Watch Ultra because it can survive all her adventures and travels, and even her furbabies.