Galaxy Watch Not Counting Steps: How To Fix?

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The Galaxy Watch, renowned for its sleek design and advanced features, has gained popularity among fitness enthusiasts as a reliable activity tracker and step counter. However, a frustrating issue faced by some users is when their Galaxy Watch fails to accurately count steps. If you find yourself in a similar situation, fear not, as I have compiled a comprehensive guide to help you troubleshoot and resolve this problem of Galaxy Watch 4 or 5 not counting steps correctly.

In this article, we will explore the possible causes behind inaccurate step counting on the Galaxy Watch and provide practical solutions to get your device back on track. So let’s dive in and discover how to fix the issue of the Samsung Watch not counting steps accurately.

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Quick Takeaway
There can be many reasons why your Galaxy Watch is not counting steps properly. For example, the watch software is not up to date, wrong wrist placement, hardware issues, etc. However, these issues can be resolved by simply updating your watch to the latest firmware, wearing the watch correctly on your wrist, resetting the step counter, clearing the cache, etc.

Why Is My Galaxy Watch Not Counting Steps Properly?

Galaxy watch not counting steps

Following can be some common reasons why your Samsung Galaxy watch is not counting steps correctly on the floor, while you are on a treadmill, pushing a stroller, or climbing stairs.

Wrong Wrist Placement: The positioning of your Galaxy Watch on your wrist plays a crucial role in step counting accuracy. If the watch is too loose or too tight, it may not accurately detect your movements, resulting in inaccurate step counts on the Samsung Watch.

Firmware or Software Glitches: Like any other electronic device, the Galaxy Watch can experience software glitches or firmware bugs that may affect its step-counting functionality. However, updating the firmware or performing a software reset could potentially resolve the inaccurate step counting on the Galaxy watch.

Motion Detection Sensitivity: The motion detection sensors in the Galaxy Watch may have sensitivity settings that need adjustment. If the sensitivity is set too high or too low, it can impact step counting accuracy on your watch.

Environmental Factors: Unusual environmental conditions, such as extreme vibrations or excessive humidity, can interfere with the motion sensors in your Galaxy Watch, leading to inaccurate step counting.

Hardware Damage: Physical damage or wear and tear on the Galaxy Watch’s sensors or internal components can impact its ability to accurately count steps. Inspect the device for any visible damage that may be affecting its functionality.

How To Fix Samsung Galaxy Watch Step Counter?

Without knowing the main cause of why your Galaxy Watch 4 or Galaxy Watch 5 is not counting steps accurately it’s hard to fix the issue. If you have found the reason why your Samsung watch is not counting steps properly then you can skip to the solution of that particular problem from below.

However, if you don’t know why your Galaxy Watch step counter not working accurately then you can go through all of these solutions one by one, I am quite sure one of these solutions will definitely fix your problem.

1. Restart the Watch

Sometimes, a simple restart can solve minor software glitches. On your Galaxy Watch, press both buttons together for a few seconds and the watch will automatically reboot. Allow the watch to restart completely and check if the step counter starts working accurately.

2. Right Wrist Placement

Ensure that you are wearing your Galaxy Watch correctly on your wrist. It should be snug but not too tight. Adjust the strap to ensure a comfortable fit that allows the watch to move freely with your arm’s natural motion.

3. Update The Watch Firmware To The Latest Edition

Check if there are any available firmware updates for your Galaxy Watch. Open the Galaxy Wearable app on your connected smartphone, navigate to “Watch Software Update,” and install any pending updates.

Watch software update

These updates often include bug fixes and performance improvements that can help resolve step-counting issues.

4. Reset Step Counter

In the Samsung Health app on your smartphone, go to the “Steps” section. Now tap on the three-dot menu icon, and select “Reset steps.” This action will reset your step counter to zero and may help recalibrate the tracking.

5. Adjust Motion Sensitivity

Adjust the motion sensitivity settings on your Galaxy Watch. Open the Galaxy Wearable app on your smartphone, navigate to “Motion” or “Sensors,” and adjust the sensitivity level. You can experiment with different settings to find the one that provides the most accurate step counting for your needs.

6. Grant Samsung Health Access to Galaxy Watch Sensors for Accurate Tracking

To ensure accurate step tracking on your Galaxy Watch 3, 4, 5, 5 Pro, Active 2, Active 3, or Active 4, it’s crucial to grant the Samsung Health app permission to access the watch’s sensors. Without this permission, the step-counting feature may not function properly. To enable this permission, follow these steps:

  • Open the Samsung Health app on your Galaxy Watch.

Samsung health

  • Access the Settings menu.

Settings

  • Scroll through the options and locate “Share Data with Devices and Service.”

share data

  • Tap on “Health Platform.”

health platform

  • Choose “Allow All” to grant access to all sensors or select specific sensors for step-counting purposes.

Allow all

  • Once you’ve made your selection, tap “Done” to save the changes.

done

By allowing the Samsung Health app to access the necessary sensors, you’ll ensure that your Galaxy Watch accurately tracks, counts, and logs your steps.

7. Clear Cache for Improved Step Tracking on Samsung Health

Clearing the cache of your Samsung Health app can resolve issues related to accurate step tracking. Follow these steps to clear the cache:

  • On your paired phone, navigate to Settings.
  • Tap on Apps (or Application Manager, depending on your device).

Apps

  • Find and select Samsung Health from the list of installed apps.

samsung health app

  • Go to Storage. Choose Clear cache to clear the app’s cache specifically for Samsung Health.

clear cache

Additionally, repeat the same process for the Galaxy Wearable app to clear its cache as well.

Once the cache is cleared, put on your Galaxy Watch and take a short walk, ensuring your arms swing freely (as some Samsung watches only count steps when there is hand movement). Monitor your step count on the watch face or within the Samsung Health app (or any other preferred app) to see if it accurately updates your steps.

8. Change Watch Face

If your watch face has a step counter on it then you may face the issue of your Samsung watch not counting steps properly. To solve this issue you can find a simple, plain watch face without a step counter or heart rate display.

Use this plain watch face instead of the ones with step counters.

fix inaccurate step count on galaxy watch

When you wear the watch with a plain watch face, the step count should update accurately.

Final Verdict

In conclusion, the Galaxy Watch is a popular device for fitness tracking. However, some users may encounter issues with inaccurate step counting. This article has provided various solutions to address this problem. Verifying proper wrist placement, updating the watch firmware, adjusting motion sensitivity settings, and clearing the cache can help improve step-counting accuracy.

Granting Samsung Health access to the watch’s sensors is crucial, and using a plain watch face without a step counter may also resolve the issue. While these solutions may not be perfect, they offer practical steps to troubleshoot and resolve the problem. Remember to check for software updates from Samsung to ensure optimal performance.

Other tutorials related to Samsung Galaxy Watch:

FAQs

Why Is My Galaxy Watch Not Counting Steps Accurately?

Some common reasons behind inaccurate step counting on Galaxy watches are incorrect wrist placement, firmware or software glitches, motion detection sensitivity, etc.

How Can I Fix The Step Counter On My Samsung Galaxy Watch?

You can fix the step counter on your Galaxy Watch 4 or 5 by restarting the watch, ensuring proper wrist placement, updating the watch firmware, resetting the step counter, etc.

Can Changing The Watch Face On My Galaxy Watch Help Improve Step-Counting Accuracy?

Yes, using a plain watch face without a step counter can improve step counting accuracy, as certain watch faces may interfere with accurate step tracking.

Hemant Mendiratta

Hemant's love for watches started when his grandfather gifted him his Rolex watch when he turned 18! Being a teenager it was a big deal for him. Later when he got his first job he bought Fossil Palm Pilot back in 2003 which was a smartwatch. Since then smartwatches have come a long way and so is Hemant's love for them. His experience with watches inspired him to start Wearholic and share his knowledge of wearables including watches, smartwatches, smart glasses, & smart clothing.

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