FTMS Stair Stepper

What FTMS Stair Stepper Does

The FTMS Stair Stepper datafield lets your Garmin device talk directly to FTMS-compatible stepper machines over Bluetooth. During your workout, it reads metrics like steps per minute, total floors, elevation, and calories from the machine and logs them into your activity so you can review everything later in Garmin Connect.

FTMS Stair Stepper runs as a datafield screen inside Garmin’s built-in activities (such as Stair Stepper), not as a standalone app. If you’re new to datafields, the setup guide below will walk you through the configuration.

Free Trial & Unlock Model

You can use FTMS Stair Stepper in a free trial mode, limited to the first 10 minutes of each activity. During the trial window:

• All features are active, including Dynamic Training Profiles (where supported)
• You can confirm your stepper is compatible and metrics are recording correctly

To remove the time limit and record full sessions, you can unlock the app via an annual subscription processed securely through Gumroad. Details and pricing are explained on the Purchase & Unlock page.

Prefer a one-time purchase instead of a subscription? Consider FTMS All Sync, which supports all trainer types in a single app with full Dynamic Training Profile support.

How It Looks on Your Watch

FTMS Stair Stepper provides a full-screen data page showing up to six metrics at once, ideal for tracking floors, steps, and cadence while you climb.

Note: Exact layouts and available metrics depend on your stepper model and device.

Smart Trainer Metrics

These metrics are read directly from your FTMS-compatible stair stepper (when supported by your trainer) and recorded into the activity file:

• Total Floors
• Steps per Minute
• Average Steps per Minute
• Total Steps
• Calories
• Elevation (Ascent)
• Elapsed Time

Garmin Device Metrics

These values come from your Garmin watch itself and can be shown alongside stepper data:

• Heart Rate
• Average Heart Rate
• Max Heart Rate
• Energy Expenditure (Cal/min)
• Clock Time

All of these are stored in your activity, so you can review them later on the Stats and Charts pages in Garmin Connect or in compatible third-party platforms.

Compatibility Notes

FTMS Stair Stepper is designed for machines that support the standard FTMS Bluetooth profile. In many product descriptions this may be listed as:

• “FTMS”
• “Bluetooth Smart Trainer”
• “BLE FTMS support”

Some commercial or gym steppers use proprietary Bluetooth protocols and may not be detected by the app. If your machine isn’t being found, check the FAQ & Troubleshooting page for steps to verify FTMS support and test using the BleScan tool.