How to Get Steps from Smart Watch on Pokemon Go

Syncing your smart watch with Pokémon GO lets you track steps even when your phone is in your pocket. This guide walks you through setup, troubleshooting, and tips to maximize your in-game progress using real-world movement.

Key Takeaways

Enable Adventure Sync in Pokémon GO: This feature allows the app to pull step data from your phone’s health app, which can sync with your smart watch.
Use compatible smart watches: Apple Watch, Wear OS devices (like Samsung Galaxy Watch), and some Fitbit models work best with Pokémon GO.
Grant proper permissions: Allow Pokémon GO and your health app access to motion and fitness data for accurate step tracking.
Keep Bluetooth and location on: These settings ensure your watch and phone stay connected and sync data reliably.
Check for app updates: Regular updates fix bugs and improve compatibility between Pokémon GO and smart watches.
Restart devices if sync fails: A simple reboot often resolves connection or syncing issues.
Walk with your phone occasionally: Pokémon GO may require periodic phone movement to validate step data and prevent cheating flags.

How to Get Steps from Smart Watch on Pokémon GO

If you’re a Pokémon GO player who loves walking but hates carrying your phone everywhere, you’re in luck. Thanks to smart watch integration, you can now track your steps and earn in-game rewards—like hatching eggs and earning candies—without keeping your phone in hand. Whether you’re using an Apple Watch, a Samsung Galaxy Watch, or another compatible device, syncing your smart watch with Pokémon GO is easier than you think.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to get your smart watch steps counted in Pokémon GO. You’ll learn how to set up Adventure Sync, connect your watch, troubleshoot common issues, and maximize your walking rewards. By the end, you’ll be able to leave your phone at home (or in your bag) and still make progress in the game just by moving your body.

Let’s get started!

Why Use a Smart Watch with Pokémon GO?

Visual guide about How to Get Steps from Smart Watch on Pokemon Go

Image source: pockettactics.com

Pokémon GO rewards players for walking. The more you move, the more you can hatch eggs, earn buddy candy, and complete research tasks. But let’s be honest—carrying your phone while walking, jogging, or doing chores can be annoying. That’s where smart watches come in.

Smart watches track your steps using built-in accelerometers and sync that data with your phone’s health app. Pokémon GO can then pull that step data through a feature called Adventure Sync. This means you can walk, run, or even do housework while your watch counts your steps—and your phone stays tucked away.

Using a smart watch also helps with accuracy. Many fitness trackers are designed to filter out false steps (like when you’re driving or typing), so your step count in Pokémon GO is more reliable. Plus, it’s just more convenient. No more pulling out your phone every time you want to check your progress.

What You’ll Need

Before we dive into the setup, make sure you have the following:

A compatible smart watch: Apple Watch (Series 3 or later), Wear OS watches (like Samsung Galaxy Watch, Pixel Watch), or select Fitbit models (see compatibility notes below).
A smartphone with Pokémon GO installed: iPhone (iOS 12 or later) or Android (6.0 or later).
Adventure Sync enabled in Pokémon GO: This is the key feature that allows step tracking without the app being open.
Bluetooth and location services turned on: These are required for syncing between your watch and phone.
Access to your phone’s health app: On iPhone, this is the Health app. On Android, it’s usually Google Fit or Samsung Health.

If you’re using an Apple Watch, you’re in great shape—Apple and Niantic (the developer of Pokémon GO) have a strong partnership, and integration is smooth. Wear OS devices also work well, especially if you use Google Fit. Fitbit users may have more limited support, but some models still work with third-party apps.

Step-by-Step Guide: Syncing Your Smart Watch with Pokémon GO

Now that you know what you need, let’s go through the setup process step by step. We’ll cover both iPhone and Android users, with specific instructions for Apple Watch and Wear OS devices.

Step 1: Enable Adventure Sync in Pokémon GO

Adventure Sync is the magic feature that lets Pokémon GO read your step data even when the app is closed. Here’s how to turn it on:

Open the Pokémon GO app on your phone.
Tap the Poké Ball icon at the bottom of the screen to open the main menu.
Tap the Settings gear icon in the top-right corner.
Scroll down and find Adventure Sync.
Toggle it ON.
You’ll be prompted to grant permissions. Allow access to your health data (iPhone) or fitness data (Android).

Once enabled, Pokémon GO will start collecting step data from your phone’s health app. But to get steps from your smart watch, you’ll need to make sure your watch is syncing with that health app.

Step 2: Connect Your Smart Watch to Your Phone

Your smart watch needs to be paired with your phone and syncing step data to your health app. Here’s how to do it for different devices.

For Apple Watch Users

Make sure your Apple Watch is paired with your iPhone via Bluetooth.
Open the Health app on your iPhone.
Tap the Sources tab at the bottom.
Look for your Apple Watch in the list. If it’s not there, open the Watch app on your iPhone, go to My Watch > Privacy > Motion & Fitness, and make sure Fitness Tracking is enabled.
The Health app should now show step data from your Apple Watch.

For Wear OS Users (Samsung, Pixel, etc.)

Ensure your Wear OS watch is connected to your Android phone via Bluetooth.
Open the Google Fit app on your phone (or Samsung Health if you’re using a Samsung watch).
Make sure step tracking is enabled on your watch. On most Wear OS devices, this happens automatically.
Check that your watch is listed as a data source in Google Fit. Go to Profile > Settings > Manage connected apps and confirm your watch is connected.
Your step data should now appear in Google Fit, which Pokémon GO can access.

For Fitbit Users

Fitbit has limited direct support with Pokémon GO, but you can use a workaround:

Install the Fitbit app on your phone and sync your watch.
Download a third-party app like SyncSolver (iOS) or Health Sync (Android) that can transfer Fitbit step data to your phone’s health app.
Follow the app’s instructions to link Fitbit with Apple Health or Google Fit.
Once steps appear in your health app, Pokémon GO should be able to read them via Adventure Sync.

Note: This method may not be 100% reliable and could stop working after app updates. Use at your own discretion.

Step 3: Verify Step Data in Pokémon GO

After setting up Adventure Sync and connecting your watch, it’s time to check if it’s working.

Open Pokémon GO and go to your Journal (tap the menu, then the journal icon).
Look for entries like “Walked X km” or “Hatched an Egg.”
Wait a few hours and check again. If you’ve been walking and your steps aren’t showing up, proceed to troubleshooting.

You can also check your buddy Pokémon’s candy progress or egg hatching distance to see if steps are being counted.

Tips to Maximize Step Tracking

Now that your smart watch is synced, here are some tips to get the most out of your walking in Pokémon GO.

Keep Your Phone Nearby (But Not in Hand)

Even though Adventure Sync works when your phone is in your pocket or bag, it still needs to be nearby. Keep your phone with you—just not in your hand. If you leave your phone at home, your watch steps won’t sync.

Enable Background App Refresh

On iPhone:

Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh.
Make sure it’s turned on for Pokémon GO.

On Android:

Go to Settings > Apps > Pokémon GO > Battery.
Set it to Unrestricted or Allow background activity.

This ensures Pokémon GO can check for new step data even when it’s not open.

Walk with Your Phone Occasionally

Niantic uses anti-cheat measures to detect fake step data. If you only walk with your watch and never move your phone, the game might flag your account or stop counting steps. To avoid this:

Take your phone with you on at least one walk per day.
Open Pokémon GO and let it run for a few minutes while walking.
This “validates” your step data and keeps Adventure Sync active.

Think of it as a quick check-in with the game. It only takes a few minutes and helps maintain trust with the system.

Update Your Apps Regularly

Pokémon GO, your smart watch app, and your health app all receive updates that can affect syncing. Make sure everything is up to date:

Check the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android) for Pokémon GO updates.
Update your smart watch’s companion app (like the Watch app or Galaxy Wearable).
Update your health app (Health, Google Fit, etc.).

Updates often include bug fixes and improved compatibility, so don’t skip them.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Even with the best setup, things can go wrong. Here are some common problems and how to fix them.

Steps Aren’t Showing Up in Pokémon GO

If your smart watch is tracking steps but Pokémon GO isn’t counting them:

Check Adventure Sync: Make sure it’s still enabled in Pokémon GO settings.
Verify health app data: Open your phone’s health app and confirm steps are being recorded from your watch.
Restart your phone and watch: A simple reboot can reset connections and fix syncing issues.
Re-enable permissions: Go back into Pokémon GO settings and toggle Adventure Sync off and on again.

Adventure Sync Keeps Turning Off

Some users report that Adventure Sync disables itself after updates or battery optimizations.

Go to Settings > Adventure Sync and turn it back on.
On Android, check battery optimization settings and exclude Pokémon GO.
On iPhone, ensure Low Power Mode isn’t interfering (it can limit background activity).

Watch and Phone Won’t Sync

If your smart watch isn’t connecting to your phone:

Make sure Bluetooth is on and both devices are charged.
Unpair and re-pair your watch through the companion app.
Reset network settings on your phone (this will remove saved Wi-Fi passwords, so use as a last resort).

Fitbit Steps Not Syncing

As mentioned earlier, Fitbit has limited support. If third-party apps aren’t working:

Try using Health Sync (Android) or SyncSolver (iOS) and follow setup carefully.
Manually log walks in Pokémon GO by opening the app and walking with your phone once a day.
Consider switching to a more compatible watch if step tracking is important to you.

Best Smart Watches for Pokémon GO

Not all smart watches work equally well with Pokémon GO. Here are the top recommendations:

Apple Watch (Series 4 or later): Best overall compatibility with iPhone and seamless Health app integration.
Samsung Galaxy Watch (4 or later): Works well with Samsung Health and Google Fit on Android.
Google Pixel Watch: Native Google Fit support makes syncing easy.
Fitbit Sense or Versa: Possible with third-party apps, but less reliable.
Garmin watches: Limited support; may require manual syncing or not work at all.

If step tracking in Pokémon GO is a priority, go with an Apple Watch or Wear OS device.

Final Thoughts

Getting steps from your smart watch into Pokémon GO is a game-changer. It lets you stay active, earn rewards, and enjoy the game without being tied to your phone. With Adventure Sync and the right setup, your watch becomes a powerful tool for progress.

Remember to keep your apps updated, grant the right permissions, and occasionally walk with your phone to keep things running smoothly. Whether you’re hatching a rare egg or leveling up your buddy, every step counts—and now, your smart watch can help you count them all.

So lace up your shoes, sync your watch, and start walking. Your next Pokémon adventure is just a step away.