Pacer’s default method is to use your phone’s built‑in motion sensors to count steps. However, Pacer can also integrate with several wearables and health hubs. This article explains which devices and services are supported and how to use them on iOS and Android.
Supported wearables & integrations summary
| Platform | Health hub / App | Wearables supported | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| iOS | Apple Health | Apple Watch, other Apple Health–compatible wearables | Pacer writes and reads data from Apple Health. |
| Fitbit (Premium/Virtual Challenge/Teams required) | Fitbit devices | Direct sync; steps, calories, active time and distance imported; GPS exercise/workouts exported. | |
| Garmin (Premium/Virtual Challenge/Teams required) | Garmin wearables | Direct sync; steps and activities imported; some charts disabled. | |
| Android | Samsung Health | Samsung Watch and other devices that sync to Samsung Health | Direct sync; use Steps Data Source in Pacer to select Samsung Health. |
| Google Fit | (various devices) | Direct sync; imports steps and manually logged activities; Google Fit service will be discontinued in 2026. | |
| Fitbit (Premium/Virtual Challenge/Teams required) | Fitbit devices | Direct sync; similar to iOS. | |
| Garmin (Premium/Virtual Challenge/Teams required) | Garmin wearables | Direct sync; similar to iOS. |
iOS integrations
Apple Health & Apple Watch
- Apple Health – Pacer can sync directly with Apple Health. When connected, Pacer writes your steps, walking & running distance and active energy to Apple Health and reads the final number back.
- Apple Watch – Pacer’s Apple Watch app lets you view Pacer data on your watch. If your watch is set as the top data source in Apple Health, Pacer can use your watch steps as the primary source.
- To connect: open Pacer → Profile (avatar) → Steps Data Source, select Apple Health/Watch and enable Use Apple Health as Primary Data Source. Ensure Motion & Fitness permissions are granted via iPhone settings.
Fitbit (iOS)
- Pacer Premium, Virtual Adventure Challenge or Pacer for Teams participants can connect Fitbit devices directly to Pacer.
- Data imported: steps, calories, active time, distance and manually logged activity.
- Data exported: GPS exercise and workouts to Fitbit.
- Only data from the day of connection onward is imported and some 24‑hour charts will be disabled because Fitbit does not provide hourly data.
Garmin (iOS)
- Pacer supports direct syncing with Garmin wearables for Premium, Virtual Adventure Challenge or Teams users.
- Data imported: steps and activities; data from prior to the connection date is not imported.
- Limitations: 24‑hour charts are disabled and GPS runs recorded in Pacer will not count toward virtual events when Garmin is the primary source.
Android integrations
Samsung Health & Samsung Watch
- Pacer Android supports direct syncing with Samsung Health.
- After connecting, Pacer can pull steps and activities recorded in Samsung Health; only data from the day you link Samsung Health will be imported and certain charts (e.g., 24‑hour activity) are disabled.
- You can sync a Samsung Watch by pairing it with Samsung Health and then linking Samsung Health as the primary data source in Pacer.
Google Fit
- Pacer Android supports direct syncing with Google Fit, but Google Fit’s service will be discontinued in 2026 and syncing may be unstable on OS 13+.
- Data imported: steps and manually logged activities; calories and distance are not imported—Pacer calculates these metrics from steps.
Fitbit (Android)
- Fitbit syncing is available for Premium, Virtual Adventure Challenge or Pacer for Teams users.
- Data imported: steps, calories, active time, distance and manually logged activity; data exported: GPS exercises and workouts.
- Only the last four days of data are pulled when you first connect and 24‑hour charts are disabled.
Garmin (Android)
- Garmin syncing is available for Premium, Virtual Adventure Challenge or Teams users.
- Data imported: steps and activities from the day of connection; data prior to connection is not imported.
Unsupported wearables & apps
- Pacer does not support direct integration with other fitness wearables or apps besides those listed above.
- On iOS, Pacer cannot sync with Samsung Health or Google Fit.
- On Android, Pacer cannot sync with Apple Health or Apple Watch.
Choosing your step source in Pacer
To ensure Pacer uses the correct data, open Pacer, tap your profile icon, and select Steps Data Source. From there you can choose Phone, Apple Health/Watch, Fitbit, Garmin, Google Fit (Android), or Samsung Health (Android) depending on your device. Only one primary source can be selected at a time.
Final tips
- Make sure you have the latest version of Pacer and the relevant 3rd party app installed.
- Grant all required permissions when connecting to a health hub or wearable.
- If syncing issues occur, try disconnecting and reconnecting the service, restarting the app and phone, or contacting Pacer Support.
- Remember that phone‑sensor tracking continues even when a wearable is connected, but the chosen primary source determines which data appears on your Pacer home screen.