How to Add Steps in MyFitnessPal

Evan Gower February 10, 2020

MyFitnessPal is one of the most effective apps that can help you keep track of your calorie intake and exercise. It can help you stay motivated and reach your fitness goals faster. MyFitnessPal can be synced with other health apps for better results.

However, some people are having difficulties when it comes to this feature on their phone. Sometimes, the MyFitnessPal app doesn’t count steps as an exercise and they have to add them manually. If you are experiencing a similar problem, keep reading because we have a solution for you.

Android: Sync Samsung Health with MyFitnessPal

Android users sometimes have issues with the MyFitnessPal app. It seems that the app is recording steps while you walk but doesn’t add them as an exercise. If this happens to you, the first thing that you have to do is to check whether Samsung Health is synced with MyFitnessPal.

Although it should happen automatically, sometimes it doesn’t and you have to do it manually. Go to Settings and allow MyFitnessPal to have access to Samsung Health data. The other way to do it is to add Samsung Health as one of the step sources. When you do that, all the steps that you take during the day will be counted and automatically added to MyFitnessPal.

iOS: Sync the Health App with MyFitnessPal

If you are experiencing this issue on an iPhone, maybe the Health app is not synced with MyFitnessPal. To check whether that is the problem, go to your Health app and click on Profile. Then scroll on to Privacy and click on Apps. In that section, you can see all of the apps you have previously allowed to sync with Health. If MyFitnessPal is not on the list, then select it from the list of apps and enable sharing. MyFitnessPal should now appear as one of the apps that are synced with Health.

How to Manually Add an Exercise to MyFitnessPal

It is possible to add all kinds of exercise to MFP. You can even add the duration and intensity of the exercise, as well as calories burnt. This can help you a track of your fitness journey and you will always be able to compare your results on a daily or weekly basis. At the bottom of the Diary page is the clickable ADD EXERCISE. After clicking on it, you can choose one of three types of exercise: Cardio, Strength, and Workout Routine.

If you want to record your Cardio exercise, you can name it and write down the duration and calories burnt.

If you have been lifting weights, then you can select Strength. There is a space to record the number of sets and repetitions per set. You can even add the weight used in each set.

If you did a more complex workout, you can select Workout Routine. This option gives you the possibility to select from a list of exercises such as Jumping Jacks and different types of Squats. For example, there are more than 20 types of Squat listed. Specifying the exercises performed will help you keep track of your progress so you can plan your next workout accordingly.

How to Manually Add Steps to MyFitnessPal

Sometimes the app just won’t sync. If you don’t have time to look for a solution and you just want to add the steps you have taken that day, it is possible to add them manually. Go to Diary and press Add Exercise. Select Cardio and you can enter all the details: duration and calories burnt.

Is It Better to Count Minutes or Steps?

What makes MyFitnessPal app different from other fitness apps is that it tracks minutes instead of the number of steps. Some people find it difficult to adjust but you will get used to it over time.

There are lots of fitness experts who believe that it is actually better to track the duration than the number of steps. The latter is a good indicator of physical activity but it’s the duration that can tell you whether you are doing enough of the right type of exercise.

For example, people who want to reduce the risk of heart disease should have at least 10 minutes of active exercise a day. It can be anything, even moderate-intensity walking counts as an active exercise. But there is a caveat: those 10 minutes should be constant and you shouldn’t take any breaks.

Help Is on the Way

If it seems that you can’t add steps to MyFitnessPal, don’t panic. Try all of the abovementioned tips and be patient. MyFitnessPal is a great fitness app, and although it has minor flaws as all other apps, it can help you reach your fitness goals.