How does Apple Health track steps? (Find out here)

In this guide, we will discuss How does Apple Health track steps, how to use the Apple Health to keep track of your steps, how to use it to track your overall health, how to manage your data if you would like to remove it some time and some additional considerations.

How does Apple Health track steps?

If you wonder, How does Apple Health track steps, let us tell you that it can track the steps with the help of an accelerometer which detects movement. The Health app uses the accelerometer in your phone to measure steps and distance travelled, so as long as you keep your phone with you most of the time, you are likely to get the most accurate and updated information. 

Additionally, tracking steps on an iPhone, for instance, is easy as well as using the Apple Health app. The app will not only track your steps but also you can use it to track your daily physical activities such as time spent at the gym or working out at home. 

How can I use Apple Health to track steps?

To use the Apple Health to track steps, open the Health app and if it is the first time you are using it, it will ask you to set up your health profile. In other words, you are asked to input information such as your weight, age, gender, etc. You don’t have to enter the information but it helps the app personalize your experience.

When you are done setting up your profile, you will be taken to the Summary screen, which is basically the dashboard summarizing your health data. You should already be prompted with the steps data on the screen and without having to activate it or grant any permissions to start the count. However, if you don’t see the step count, here are some instructions on what to do according to digitaltrends.com:

• Step 1: On the Summary screen, tap Edit (near the top-right corner).
• Step 2: Tap the All tab in order to see all the different kinds of activity you could monitor. Scroll down and tap Steps, so that the blue star next to it becomes bold. Then tap Done.
• Step 3: Having tapped Done, you’ll return to the Summary screen. Scroll down and tap Steps.
• Step 4: This brings you to your Steps dashboard. You’ll be able to see a graph that shows you how many steps you’ve taken today (although bear in mind that you obviously need to walk around with your iPhone for it to count your steps). You can see your average steps for the past week, month, or year by tapping on the W, M, and Y tabs above the graph. You can also scroll down to see a variety of “Highlights” summarizing how your step count has changed over certain periods of time.

How can I use Apple Health to track my overall health?

Counting steps is not the only thing the Apple Health is helpful for. You can also use it to track a variety of other metrics and activities. You can begin tracking any activity by tapping the Edit button located in the top-right corner of the summary screen. Next, you can tap ‘All’ to begin scrolling through all the activities that are available and the corresponding measurements.

For instance, if you are on a weight-loss journey or you want to maintain your weight, you will find very useful tracking your weight through the app. Here is what you can do:

• Open the Health app, then tap Edit once you’re on the Summary dashboard. Next, tap the All tab.
• Scroll down to the Body Measurements category. Tap Weight, so that the blue star next to it becomes bold. Then tap Done.
• Back on Summary, scroll down and tap Weight. It will say “No Data.” However, you can begin adding data manually, based, for example, on your morning weigh-ins. Tap Add Data. Doing this will allow you to enter your weight for today. Finally, tap Add.

However, unlike other measurements like steps, this is not done automatically so you are required to input the data on a daily basis. You might find logging the data on the app more useful instead of writing it down since the app will show you a graph where you can check the trend and if you have been losing, gaining or maintaining your weight. 

How can I manage my Apple Health data?

If you would like to share information with other apps, here is how, according to the Apple Support website:

• Open the Health app and tap the Summary tab.
• Tap your profile picture in the upper-right corner. 
• Under Privacy, tap Apps. You can see apps that you already own that are compatible with Health. If you don’t see an app, it might not be compatible. 
• Tap an app and turn on the health categories that you want that app to track.

Moreover, the recorded and stored data is personal and sensitive so needless to say, if you wish to delete the data that Apple has recorded, you can so do by following these steps:

• Step 1: On the Summary screen, tap your Apple ID icon in the top-right corner.
• Step 2: Tap Apps, which is under the Privacy subheading. Then tap Health.
• Step 3: If you want to delete all data you’ve added to the Health app, tap Delete All Data from “Health.” If you want to delete only some data, tap the relevant type of data (e.g. Weight).
• Step 4: Tap Edit. Tap the red, circular Delete symbol on the left of the piece of data you’d like to delete. Then tap Delete, on the right. Alternatively, you can delete all Weight data by tapping Delete All in the top-left corner.

Why is this blog about How does Apple Health track steps important?

As discussed, Apple Health track steps using the accelerometer in your iPhone or device. The accelerometer detects changes in movement and will star tracking steps and even if it is done automatically, you may be required to complete the initial set up so it can start counting your steps. Moreover, you can also track other measurements such as calories burned or weight loss (or gain), so Apple Health is useful not only for tracking steps but it could be beneficial to your overall health. 

Finally,  the information stored on any of the activities is personal and sensitive so you have the right to remove the data at any moment if you want to.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about How does Apple Health track steps

References 

digitaltrends.com

support.apple.com