How I Fixed the KS Fit Walking Pad App So My Steps Actually Count

I was so excited when my walking pad arrived. I bought the WalkingPad Z1 with the full intention of walking while working, hitting my daily step goals, and finally feeling like I’d cracked the work-from-home wellness code. And then… my steps didn’t count. At all.

Cue immediate heartbreak.

The KS Fit walking pad app looked like it was tracking my time and distance just fine, but when I checked Apple Fitness? Barely anything showed up. My Apple Watch wasn’t logging steps correctly either. I quickly realized the issue wasn’t the walking pad itself, it was how the data was being tracked when you’re walking and working.

So I did what I always do: I went deep on Reddit. After reading multiple threads, testing a few things myself, and spending way more time on this than I planned, I finally found a solution that works. And it’s way simpler (and cheaper) than you’d expect.

The KS Fit Walking Pad App + Apple Health Problem

Here’s the core issue:
The KS Fit app integrates with Apple Health, but not Apple Fitness.

That means:

• The walking pad can send data to Apple Health
• Your Apple Watch is also trying to calculate steps
• Apple Health is prioritizing one data source over the other

When you’re walking at a desk, your arms aren’t swinging — so your Apple Watch assumes you’re barely moving. As a result, your steps, distance, and active minutes are undercounted or totally inaccurate.

This problem is widely discussed in the Apple Watch Fitness subreddit, especially for desk treadmills and walking pads. These threads helped confirm I wasn’t losing my mind:

• Reddit discussion on desk treadmill step syncing issues (link here)
• Reddit discussion on Apple Fitness distance not reflecting walking pad activity (link here)

The takeaway? You can’t rely on arm movement-based tracking when your hands are on a keyboard.

Why Your Apple Watch Won’t Track Steps While Working

Apple Watch step tracking depends heavily on arm swing motion. It’s great for outdoor walks or gym sessions — terrible for walking pads under desks.

So when you’re:

• Typing
• Using a mouse
• Resting your hands on a desk

Your watch basically thinks you’re just… standing.

Even though the KS Fit app is logging your walking session, Apple Health can override or conflict with Apple Watch data. That’s why your steps, distance, and calories don’t line up across apps.

At this point, I realized the solution wasn’t more apps, it was choosing one tracking source and sticking to it.

The Solution That Finally Worked

Here’s exactly what fixed it for me:

1. Turn OFF data syncing in the KS Fit app
   • Disable Apple Health syncing inside the KS Fit walking pad app
   • This prevents conflicting step and distance data
2. Use your Apple Watch as the sole tracking device
   • Let the watch calculate steps, distance, and active minutes
3. Move your Apple Watch to your ankle
   • Use an ankle band instead of wearing it on your wrist
   • This mimics natural walking motion and accurately counts steps

I found an Apple Watch ankle band on Amazon for under $10, and it solved everything. Once I switched to ankle tracking, my steps, distance, and minutes finally reflected the actual work I was doing.

Walking pad I bought from WalkingPad

Why This Setup Is Better Than App Syncing

Using your Apple Watch on your ankle:

• Accurately tracks steps while working
• Properly logs active minutes
• Reflects realistic distance totals
• Eliminates Apple Health conflicts

The KS Fit app still works great for:

• Speed control
• Time tracking
• Walking pad settings

But step tracking is best handled by the Apple Watch alone.

Once I accepted that the KS Fit walking pad app wasn’t designed to be the main fitness tracker, everything made more sense, and my motivation came right back.

Final Thoughts

I won’t lie, realizing my steps weren’t counting at first really took the wind out of my sails. I was excited, motivated, and ready to build a new routine, and inaccurate tracking almost killed it.

But after doing a Reddit deep dive and testing this setup, I can confidently say: this works.

If you’re walking while working and frustrated by inaccurate metrics, don’t give up on your walking pad. Turn off app syncing, grab an ankle band, and let your Apple Watch do what it does best.

Sometimes the fix isn’t fancy, it’s just practical.