Can I use my Apple Watch to count my daily steps

It's ridiculous that Apple doesn't have a built-in way to view your Step Count on the Apple Watch face. After all, they promote the watch as a fitness device.

Anyone know why Apple excludes the step count?

Seems like they're driving business to Fitbit etc.; devices that give you live step count stats by just looking st your wrist.

Others have answered the basic question, but I will add one more tip. I not only wanted my watch to count my steps, but I wanted to have my steps display on my watch face in a complication. Apple Watch doesn't have a built-in complication for showing steps, but there are a couple of apps that add that ability: Watch My Health (free) and HealthDash (costs a few dollars). I started with the free one, but ended up paying for HealthDash because it does a better job of keeping the displayed steps up to date. The Watch counts and records your steps either way, and you can always look at them on your phone, but if you want to be able to see your steps at a glance, these apps will let you do that.

In their overall health approach Apple emphasizes move calories over steps. There is a good reason for this: You can make 10,000 steps very slowly with little effort which won't isn't near as good as 10,000 steps at a brisk pace. With the former your red ring will not move very much, with the latter you get far more move calories and they are better for you.

Hi

Yes - both Apple Watch and iPhone 7 Plus are capable of tracking steps taken.

Once it has been set up, the Activity app on Apple Watch runs automatically in the background during general daily wear and also during workouts, tracking activity including steps and distance.

Your daily steps total can be viewed at any time on your watch via the Activity app.

Stats from all available sources are also combined in the Health app on your iPhone, which adjusts results to avoid any double-counting.

More information:

Use the Activity app on your Apple Watch - Apple Support

Absolutely -- I do.

Your information should actually be sent already to the Health App on the iPhone, in addition, the "Activity" app on the watch will also show this information both on the Watch and The App on the iPhone.

On the Health App on iPhone open it and tap on Sources, make sure your Watch is listed there.

The Activity app also monitors your progress towards your three daily goals: Move (Active Calories), Stand and Exercise.

Your daily steps total can be viewed at any time on your watch via the Activity app by scrolling up after opening the app via the watch face complication or the Home screen.