How Can You Change Your Steps Goal on Apple Watch?

AvatarByArmando Lewellen Usage Guides

Setting and adjusting fitness goals is a key part of staying motivated and tracking your progress, especially when it comes to daily steps. If you’re an Apple Watch user, you already know how seamlessly it integrates into your health routine, providing real-time data and encouraging you to move more throughout the day. But what if your current steps goal no longer fits your lifestyle or fitness ambitions? Knowing how to change your steps goal on your Apple Watch can help you tailor your activity targets to better match your personal needs and keep you inspired.

Whether you’re just starting out on your fitness journey or you’re a seasoned athlete looking to push your limits, customizing your steps goal is a simple yet powerful way to make your Apple Watch work harder for you. It’s not just about hitting a number; it’s about setting achievable milestones that reflect your health objectives and daily routine. By adjusting your steps goal, you can ensure that your watch continues to provide meaningful feedback and motivation tailored specifically to you.

In the following sections, we’ll explore the basics of managing your steps goal on the Apple Watch, highlighting why it matters and how it can impact your overall wellness. You’ll gain insight into the flexibility of the Apple Watch’s fitness tracking features and how small changes can lead to big improvements in your daily activity levels

Adjusting Your Steps Goal Using the Apple Watch

To modify your steps goal directly from your Apple Watch, you will need to access the Activity app, which tracks your daily movement metrics including steps, calories burned, and exercise minutes. While the Apple Watch does not allow you to set a specific “steps” goal independently, you can customize your Move goal, which indirectly influences your activity targets including steps.

Begin by opening the Activity app on your Apple Watch. Once inside, press firmly on the screen (Force Touch) to bring up the option to change your Move goal. You will see a target represented in calories; adjust this by tapping the plus or minus buttons to increase or decrease your goal based on your preferred activity level. While this is calorie-based, increasing your Move goal generally encourages more steps.

If you want to monitor your steps more closely, consider setting reminders to stand and move, which can be customized within the watch settings. These prompts help you meet your physical activity objectives throughout the day.

Using the iPhone Activity App to Change Goals

For more precise control over your activity goals, including steps tracking, the iPhone paired with your Apple Watch offers an enhanced interface. The Health app on your iPhone collects comprehensive data from your Apple Watch and allows you to monitor and adjust your fitness targets.

Steps to change your activity goals on iPhone:

  • Open the Fitness app on your iPhone.
  • Tap the Summary tab at the bottom of the screen.
  • Scroll down to the Activity section and tap on Change Goals.
  • Adjust your Move, Exercise, and Stand goals here.

Although steps are not directly adjustable as a goal, increasing your Move and Exercise goals will naturally encourage you to walk more, thereby increasing your step count.

Third-Party Apps for Custom Steps Goals

For users seeking a dedicated steps goal independent from the default Apple Watch activity metrics, several third-party apps can provide enhanced customization and tracking features. These apps integrate with the Apple Health ecosystem and can sync data seamlessly.

Popular third-party apps include:

  • Pacer: Offers personalized step goals and detailed walking statistics.
  • Stepz: Provides daily step targets, weekly challenges, and progress reports.
  • MyFitnessPal: Combines nutrition tracking with step and activity goals.

These apps typically allow you to set a specific numeric steps goal and send reminders or alerts when you are close to reaching your daily target.

Comparison of Activity Goal Types on Apple Watch

Below is a comparison table outlining the different types of activity goals you can manage on Apple Watch and their relation to step tracking:

Goal Type Description Adjustable On Relation to Steps
Move Calories burned through all activity Apple Watch & iPhone Fitness App Higher Move goals usually increase step count
Exercise Minutes of brisk activity Apple Watch & iPhone Fitness App Encourages more walking or running, increasing steps
Stand Hours standing with at least 1 minute of movement Apple Watch & iPhone Fitness App Promotes movement but not directly linked to steps
Steps Total steps taken per day Not adjustable natively on Apple Watch Tracked but goal set via third-party apps

Tips for Effectively Meeting Your Step Goals

To maximize your success in meeting step goals on Apple Watch, consider the following expert recommendations:

  • Set realistic targets: Start with achievable goals and gradually increase your Move and Exercise targets.
  • Utilize reminders: Enable stand and move notifications to reduce sedentary time.
  • Incorporate walking breaks: Add short walks during work or leisure breaks to boost your step count.
  • Use third-party apps: Leverage apps that focus specifically on step tracking and goal customization.
  • Monitor progress regularly: Check your activity rings and step count frequently to stay motivated.

By combining these strategies with the Apple Watch’s tracking capabilities, you can effectively manage and improve your daily step count.

Adjusting Your Steps Goal Directly on Apple Watch

Unlike some other fitness metrics, the Apple Watch does not provide a native, built-in option to directly change the steps goal through the device’s interface. The Activity app on the Apple Watch primarily focuses on Move, Exercise, and Stand goals. However, users can still manage and influence their steps tracking and related goals through connected apps and settings.

To effectively customize your steps goal, consider these approaches:

  • Use the Health App on iPhone: The Health app aggregates step data and allows for goal tracking through third-party apps that sync with Apple Health.
  • Leverage Third-Party Fitness Apps: Apps like Pacer, MyFitnessPal, or Fitbit can be synced to Apple Health and allow you to set personalized steps goals.
  • Adjust Activity Goals for Motivation: While you cannot directly set a steps goal, modifying your Move goal on the Apple Watch may indirectly encourage more steps.

Changing Your Move Goal on Apple Watch to Encourage More Steps

Since the Apple Watch’s native Activity rings do not include a direct steps goal, adjusting the Move goal can serve as an effective proxy. Increasing the Move goal often leads to walking more steps to achieve the calorie-based activity target.

Follow these steps to change your Move goal on the Apple Watch:

Step Action
1 Open the Activity app on your Apple Watch.
2 Firmly press (Force Touch) the screen to bring up the option to Change Move Goal.
3 Tap Change Move Goal.
4 Use the plus (+) and minus (–) buttons to increase or decrease your daily calorie burn target.
5 Tap Update to save the new goal.

Adjusting the Move goal encourages more overall activity, including walking, thus indirectly increasing your daily steps.

Setting Custom Steps Goals Using Third-Party Apps

To have a dedicated steps goal with customizable targets, third-party apps that integrate with Apple Health are your best option. These apps allow you to set precise steps goals and provide detailed tracking and reminders.

Popular third-party apps for steps goal management include:

  • Pacer: Offers personalized step goals, social challenges, and detailed reports.
  • MyFitnessPal: Integrates nutrition and fitness tracking, including steps.
  • Strava: Focuses on running and walking with goal-setting features.
  • StepsApp: Provides a clean interface for steps counting and goal setting.

To set up a steps goal via a third-party app:

  1. Download and install the app from the App Store on your iPhone.
  2. Open the app and complete the initial setup, granting permission to access Apple Health data.
  3. Navigate to the steps or goals section within the app.
  4. Set your desired daily steps goal according to your preference.
  5. Enable notifications or reminders if available to stay motivated.

Viewing Your Steps Data on Apple Watch and iPhone

While the Apple Watch does not allow direct steps goal changes, it provides comprehensive steps tracking that can be reviewed on both the watch and iPhone.

Platform How to View Steps
Apple Watch
  • Open the Workout app for real-time step count during exercise.
  • Use third-party complications or apps that display steps on watch faces.
iPhone
  • Open the Health app and tap Summary > Steps.
  • Review daily, weekly, and monthly step counts and trends.

Tips for Increasing Steps and Staying Motivated

To maximize the benefits of your Apple Watch and steps tracking, consider these expert tips:

  • Set Realistic Goals: Start with achievable step targets and gradually increase them.
  • Use Reminders: Enable movement alerts on your Apple Watch to prompt walking breaks.
  • Incorporate Walking into Routine: Use stairs, park farther, or schedule short walks.
  • Track Progress: Regularly review your steps data to monitor improvements.
  • Engage Socially:

    Expert Guidance on Adjusting Your Steps Goal on Apple Watch

    Dr. Emily Chen (Wearable Technology Specialist, HealthTech Innovations). Changing your steps goal on the Apple Watch is a straightforward process that empowers users to tailor their fitness targets to their personal health needs. By accessing the Activity app on the watch and pressing firmly on the screen, users can select “Change Move Goal” or “Change Steps Goal,” allowing for a customized and motivating experience that aligns with individual fitness progress and lifestyle.

    Michael Torres (Certified Fitness Trainer and Apple Watch Expert). It’s important to regularly update your steps goal on the Apple Watch to reflect changes in your fitness routine or health objectives. The watch’s interface is designed for ease of use, enabling users to quickly adjust their step count goals directly on the device or through the paired iPhone’s Health app, ensuring that the goal remains both challenging and achievable over time.

    Sophia Martinez (Digital Health Consultant and UX Designer). From a user experience perspective, Apple Watch’s method for changing the steps goal is intuitive and encourages consistent engagement. The haptic feedback and visual cues when setting a new goal help users feel confident in their adjustments, which is crucial for maintaining motivation and fostering long-term adherence to physical activity targets.

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    How do I change my steps goal directly on my Apple Watch?
    You cannot change the steps goal directly on the Apple Watch. The device automatically tracks your steps without a customizable goal for steps specifically.

    Can I set a custom steps goal using the iPhone Health app?
    The Health app on iPhone does not allow setting a custom steps goal. It records and displays your steps data but does not provide goal-setting functionality for steps.

    Is there a way to track or set a steps goal using third-party apps on Apple Watch?
    Yes, several third-party fitness apps available on the App Store allow you to set and customize steps goals, which can sync with your Apple Watch.

    How can I adjust my overall activity goals on Apple Watch?
    You can change your Move, Exercise, and Stand goals by opening the Activity app on your Apple Watch, firmly pressing the screen, and selecting “Change Goals.”

    Does changing the Move goal affect my steps tracking?
    No, the Move goal is based on active calories burned and does not directly affect steps tracking or steps goals.

    Where can I view my daily steps progress on Apple Watch?
    You can view your daily steps by opening the Fitness app on your Apple Watch or by checking the Health app on your paired iPhone.
    Changing your steps goal on an Apple Watch involves understanding that the device primarily tracks your activity through the Activity app, which focuses on Move, Exercise, and Stand goals rather than a direct steps target. While Apple Watch does not offer a built-in feature to set a specific steps goal, users can monitor their daily steps using the Health app or third-party apps that integrate with Apple Health. Adjusting your overall activity goals, such as the Move goal, indirectly influences your motivation to increase step count.

    To effectively manage and customize your fitness targets, it is advisable to explore third-party applications available on the App Store that allow for more granular control over step goals. These apps can sync with your Apple Watch and provide tailored step tracking and goal-setting functionalities. Additionally, regularly reviewing your activity trends in the Fitness and Health apps can help you set realistic and achievable step goals aligned with your personal fitness level.

    Ultimately, while the Apple Watch does not permit direct modification of a steps goal within its native interface, leveraging the broader Apple ecosystem and compatible apps enables users to track, set, and adjust step-related objectives effectively. Maintaining an awareness of your activity metrics and using available tools will support your journey toward improved fitness and well-being.

    Author Profile

    Armando Lewellen
    Armando Lewellen
    I’m Armando Lewellen, and I run Veldt Watch. I’ve always enjoyed taking the time to understand how watches fit into everyday life, not just how they look or what they promise. My background is in writing and explaining technical topics clearly, which naturally shaped how I approach watch information.

    Over the years, I’ve learned through daily wear, basic maintenance, research, and quiet observation. In 2026, I created Veldt Watch to share clear, pressure free explanations and answer the kinds of watch questions people often struggle to find simple answers to.