Does a step counter work offline or in airplane mode?
Short answer: It can. PrivateSteps counts steps with the phone's built-in sensor and stores them on the phone, so it works the same in airplane mode, in a dead spot or with no data plan. The app has no internet access of its own and never needs a connection.
Why steps do not need the internet
Your phone already has a sensor that notices each step. Counting is done on the phone, adding up is done on the phone, and the charts are drawn on the phone. There is nothing a server has to do.
That is also why the app can be so small and quiet. It is not waiting for a reply from anywhere, so there is nothing to load and nothing to time out.
What works with no connection
- Counting steps all day
- Day, Week, Month and Year reports
- Goals, records and your streak
- Track a walk, with GPS distance measured on the phone
- The home screen widget
- Reminders to walk, scheduled on the phone itself
- Export, import and erase
Offline also means your data is not waiting to be sent later. Nothing is queued up, because nothing is ever uploaded.
Good places to use it
Trails with weak signal, long flights, rural roads, hospital waiting rooms, or any time you have switched off data to save battery. The count carries on regardless.
Some phones put apps to sleep to save power, which can interrupt counting even when the signal is fine. PrivateSteps guides you to set Battery to Unrestricted so counting keeps going in the background.
The one online step
The only time the internet is involved is when the store handles a subscription. The app itself never connects. For more on what that means, see our guide to a step counter without ads or tracking and battery settings on Samsung phones.
If you are curious, try it once. Switch on airplane mode in the morning, walk as usual, and look at your Day report in the evening. We expect it to match what you would normally see.
Keep your steps on your phone
Free to start. See the store listing for current pricing.
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Questions
Will my steps still be counted in airplane mode?
Yes. Counting uses the built-in step sensor, which does not depend on any connection.
Do I need Wi-Fi to see my reports?
No. Reports are drawn on the phone from data stored on the phone.
Does the app need internet to set up?
No. After installing from the store, it works straight away without a connection.
PrivateSteps records and draws your own numbers. It does not diagnose, interpret or give medical advice. Talk to your own doctor or care team about your health.