Steps on Strava

Strava users can see the number of steps they take during their walk, hike, or run activities. This feature means that in addition to tracking your distance, pace, and route, you'll also be able to see your step count.

Currently, steps are only available for walking, hiking, and running activities, with steps for your running activity only showing up on challenge leaderboards. If your activity didn’t initially sync or record as a walk, you can change the sport type by following these instructions.

Compatible Devices

Walk and hike activities recorded with the Strava mobile app, Strava Apple Watch app, and Apple Workout app include steps. Steps are displayed both on the activity and on the challenge leaderboards. Please note that you will need to ensure you’ve allowed Strava to read step data by following these steps:

• • From your phone settings: Health > Data Access & Devices > Strava > Toggle Steps on.
  • For iOS & Apple Watch: Go to your phone settings and select Health > Data Access & Devices > Strava and toggle Steps on.
  • For Android: You have to grant physical activity permissions in the Strava mobile app. This allows us to collect step data from your mobile device during the recording process. You should be prompted to enable this when you select 'Walk' as your activity type in the app. If you previously denied the permission, you need to allow it again. Then, go to the sensor menu and enable the running cadence sensor. From the Strava app, select Record > Settings > Sensors.

Run activities recorded with the Strava mobile app will include steps only in challenge leaderboards. The step count will not be displayed on the activity itself.

If you're using a third-party device to record your activities, Strava can still track your steps on walks and hikes. Steps are displayed on the activity and in challenge leaderboards. Supported devices include:

• • Garmin 
  • Coros Apex, Pace, and Vertix
  • Suunto 9 Baro

Please note that, at this time, step data will not sync from Wahoo.

Step Data in Feed

Step data for walk and hike activities will be displayed on the activity details page and in challenge leaderboards. Step data for run activities will be displayed only in challenge leaderboards.

Please note that step data will be displayed on walk activities in the main activity feed unless your walk activity has 100ft/mile or more of elevation gain. Then we will display that metric in the place of steps. The feed will always display steps and elevation gain on hike activities. Learn more about activity stats in the feed here.

FAQ

Why does my step count appear incorrect or lower than expected?

Android: Battery optimization settings on Android can impact how the device will record steps for 'walk' activities. Find your phone’s location settings and ensure that you use the option that allows for the best GPS performance/accuracy.

Then, find and disable your phone’s battery-saving settings. These are typically located in Settings > Battery > Battery Saver. If your phone has a battery management mode, turn it to “off” instead of “medium” or “high.”

iOS: The step count on iOS devices can be directly impacted by the phone's location during the recording process. Ideally, the phone would be in your front pocket or in your hand during the workout to yield the most accurate results. Having the phone in a backpack or stroller can impede the phone's internal accelerometer, which is used to track step count.

Why am I not seeing steps on my activity on the Android mobile app?

Please check and confirm that you’ve granted the physical activity permissions in the mobile app. This allows us to collect step data from your mobile device during the recording process. You should be prompted to enable this when you select 'Walk' as your activity type in the app.

If you previously denied the permission, you need to allow it again. Then, go to the sensor menu and enable the running cadence sensor. From the Strava app, select Record > Settings > Sensors.

Why are there no steps showing on my running activity?

At this time, you will not see steps on Runs from the individual activity detail page. You will only see step data for a given run by checking the applicable small group or global challenge leaderboard.