To turn on background distance tracking, go to Main Menu → Settings → General → Adventure Sync in Pokémon GO and grant the requested fitness-data and location permissions. To receive event-related push notifications, use the separate setting at Map View → Main Menu → Settings → Notifications → Push Notifications → Events, Offers, and Updates. These controls do different jobs: Adventure Sync tracks walking distance, while the second setting controls event announcements.
Adventure Sync works while the game is closed, but it is not an event-alert switch. Conversely, enabling event notifications does not make the game read your steps. Set up each feature independently, then use the in-game calendar as the reliable way to inspect current and upcoming events.
What is the difference between Adventure Sync and event notifications?
Adventure Sync can record walking distance while Pokémon GO is closed. That distance may help hatch Eggs, earn Buddy Candy, and complete weekly activity reports and milestone rewards. Event notifications are push alerts about events, offers, and updates. Neither setting turns on the other.
| Control | Purpose | In-game location | What it needs | Useful fallback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adventure Sync | Background distance that can contribute to Egg hatching and Buddy Candy, plus weekly activity reports and milestone rewards | Settings → General | Fitness-data access and the required location permission | Check the fitness-app connection, permissions, device tracking, and battery settings |
| Events, Offers, and Updates | Push notifications related to events, offers, and updates | Settings → Notifications → Push Notifications | The in-game preference and permission for Pokémon GO notifications on the phone | Check current and upcoming listings in the in-game event calendar |
Adventure Sync is optional and is available only to Trainers at Level 5 or above. The official guidance states: “Adventure Sync is only available for Trainer Levels 5 and above.” You do not need a Pokémon GO Plus +, another Bluetooth accessory, or a purchase to activate it.
The Pokédex alert is another separate notification control. It concerns a single Pokémon you have previously seen, not event announcements. The Pokédex alert requires both Adventure Sync and Pokémon GO push notifications; the event-alert instructions do not list Adventure Sync as a prerequisite. Thus, do not treat the Pokédex bell or any individual-Pokémon alert as the place to enable event news.
How do I turn on Adventure Sync?
Adventure Sync is optional and available to Trainers at Level 5 or above. To enable it, switch it on in the game, then allow the requested fitness and location access. The feature depends on the phone and its supported fitness service recording activity; it is not a manual exercise log.
- Reach the required level: Make sure your Trainer is at least Level 5. The option is not available to lower-level accounts.
- Open the settings: From the map, tap Main Menu, then Settings, then General.
- Enable Adventure Sync: Tap Adventure Sync and follow the prompts to turn it on.
- Grant fitness-data access: Allow the connection to Apple Health on Apple devices or Google Fit on compatible Android devices when prompted. The fitness service must be able to record the activity that Pokémon GO will read.
- Allow location access: Grant the location permission the game requests. Pokémon GO’s guidance says always-on location permission is needed for Adventure Sync to record distance while the game is not open.
- Confirm the connection: Open the relevant fitness app and check that it records activity and lists Pokémon GO as connected. If the app itself shows no walking data, Pokémon GO has nothing to synchronize.
Once the switch and permissions are in place, close Pokémon GO normally and let the phone record movement. Adventure Sync is designed to credit distance without leaving the game open. It can then feed eligible distance into Egg, Buddy, and weekly-activity systems. Synchronization is not necessarily immediate, so a short delay does not by itself mean setup failed.
Apple permission prompts
On iOS, the permission flow may be staged. The first prompt may offer Allow While Using App, followed later by an option such as Change to Always Allow. Menu wording can vary by operating-system version. If the game does not offer the required permission immediately, follow its prompts and inspect the device’s location permissions for Pokémon GO. The important result is that the game is allowed to obtain the location access required for background tracking, not that every iPhone displays the same label.
Android and Google Fit requirements
Compatible Android devices use Google Fit for the supported fitness connection. Compatibility matters: a device that cannot use Google Fit cannot use that fitness-tracking option for Adventure Sync. Check that Google Fit is installed and recording activity, then confirm Pokémon GO appears among its connected apps. A phone’s step sensor or other distance-tracking hardware also needs to function normally.
How do I turn on Pokémon GO event notifications?
Enable Events, Offers, and Updates in the game’s push-notification settings. Then make sure the phone itself permits Pokémon GO to send notifications. These are two separate notification layers: an in-game preference can be enabled while the operating system still blocks delivery, or the phone can allow notifications while the Pokémon GO preference remains off.
- Open the game setting: From the map, tap Main Menu → Settings → Notifications → Push Notifications.
- Enable the event preference: Turn on Events, Offers, and Updates. This is the event-related control identified in Pokémon GO’s settings guidance.
- Check the phone’s notification permission: Confirm that Pokémon GO is allowed to send notifications at the device level.
- Test the arrangement sensibly: Return to the game settings and verify the switch remains enabled after leaving the screen. Do not assume that the absence of an immediate alert means the control is broken; the setting is not a guarantee of a separate reminder for every event.
On Android, the general route is Settings → Notifications → App notifications. Select Pokémon GO and allow notifications, then inspect any available notification categories or alert controls. Google notes that phone menus vary by device and Android version, so the names and order may differ. Look for the operating system’s app-specific notification page rather than relying on an identical path on every handset.
On iPhone, check the device’s notification permission for Pokémon GO as well as the in-game preference. The exact iPhone menu path can vary, so use the notification controls available on your device rather than relying on a single path for every iOS version. If Pokémon GO is not permitted at the device level, enabling the game’s event preference cannot override that block.
The official setting is described as “Events, Offers, and Updates.” It is a broad preference for event-related messages, not a promise that the game will send an individual reminder for every event. Delivery can therefore be absent even when both switches are on, and an alert should not be treated as a complete schedule.
Use the event calendar as the dependable check
For the schedule itself, tap the calendar icon in the lower-right corner of the map to view current and upcoming events. The former Happening Now section was moved into that calendar. This gives you a direct way to confirm whether a Community Day, Raid Hour, or another listing is currently active or planned, instead of waiting for a push message.
Why isn’t Adventure Sync counting my steps?
Check the tracking chain from the phone’s sensors through the fitness app to Pokémon GO. A permission, connection, compatibility, synchronization, or battery-saving issue at any point can prevent distance from appearing. Work through the checks below in order.
- Verify eligibility and the switch: Adventure Sync requires Trainer Level 5 or above. Reopen Main Menu → Settings → General → Adventure Sync and make sure it is still on.
- Check the phone’s tracking capability: Make sure the phone’s step and distance sensors are working. Walk with the phone and confirm that the supported fitness app records new activity. If the fitness app records nothing, Pokémon GO cannot import distance.
- Check location access while the game is closed: Confirm that Pokémon GO has the location permission needed for background tracking, rather than only access while the app is open. On iOS, the staged permission prompts may require changing from Allow While Using App to an always-allow option.
- Check the fitness-app connection: Apple devices use Apple Health; compatible Android devices use Google Fit. Confirm Pokémon GO appears as connected and that the account or service being used is the one recording your activity.
- Check compatibility: A device incompatible with Google Fit cannot use that Google Fit-based tracking feature. In that situation, changing an in-game toggle will not create a supported fitness connection.
- Wait for synchronization: Distance can take several hours to sync. If activity is present in Apple Health or Google Fit but missing in Pokémon GO, wait, then restart Pokémon GO and check again.
- Review battery-saving settings: Battery-saving features on the device or in the fitness app can interfere with tracking while Pokémon GO is closed. Temporarily review those restrictions and make sure the fitness service can run and update in the background.
- Do not rely on manually entered activity: Fitness data entered manually does not count toward Adventure Sync distance. The activity needs to be captured through the supported device and fitness-app tracking setup.
- Check for a reset after refreshing data: If you use Refresh Game Data, return to Settings → General → Adventure Sync afterward and verify that the switch is still on. Official troubleshooting says the refresh can leave Adventure Sync untoggled.
Do not judge the feature from a single short walk. First verify that the fitness app has captured the movement, then allow time for synchronization. Restarting the game can help after the waiting period, but it cannot compensate for missing sensor data, a blocked permission, an unsupported device, or activity entered by hand.
A practical diagnostic sequence
- Check that the account is Level 5 or higher and that Adventure Sync is enabled.
- Walk with the phone and look for newly recorded activity in Apple Health or Google Fit.
- Confirm Pokémon GO is listed as connected in that service.
- Review background location permission and any battery-saving restriction.
- Wait several hours, restart Pokémon GO, and inspect the distance again.
- If you used Refresh Game Data, recheck the Adventure Sync switch before testing again.
Why am I not getting Pokémon GO event notifications?
Check both notification layers: the game’s Events, Offers, and Updates preference and the phone’s permission for Pokémon GO. If both are enabled, use the in-game calendar to check whether the event is listed rather than assuming an alert will be sent for each event.
- If the game setting is off: Reopen Settings → Notifications → Push Notifications and enable Events, Offers, and Updates.
- If the phone blocks notifications: Allow Pokémon GO notifications in the device’s app-notification settings. On Android, the route is generally Settings → Notifications → App notifications, followed by Pokémon GO; menu labels vary. On iPhone, check the device’s notification permission without assuming one path applies to every version.
- If a notification category is disabled: Inspect the phone’s app-specific notification controls and ensure event-related alerts have not been silenced. The exact category labels depend on the operating system and device.
- If you are looking for a particular event: Tap the calendar icon in the lower-right corner of the map to inspect current and upcoming listings. The calendar is the fallback when a push message never arrives.
- If you are seeing a Pokédex alert instead: That alert is for a previously seen Pokémon and is separate from the event-announcement preference. It has its own prerequisite involving Adventure Sync and Pokémon GO push notifications.
- If you expected a message for every listing: Remember that the event preference does not promise an individual reminder for every event. An enabled switch means you have opted into that class of messages, not that every listing will produce a notification.
Adventure Sync is not required for the event-alert setting. You can enable event notifications without using background distance tracking. The controls live in different sections because they serve different purposes: General for fitness-based distance and Notifications → Push Notifications for event-related messages.
Do I need an accessory to enable either setting?
No. Adventure Sync and event push notifications are software settings; a purchase or Bluetooth accessory is not required to switch them on. A phone with the supported permissions and services is the relevant requirement.
Optional walking accessory: Pokémon GO Plus + can interact with nearby Pokémon and PokéStops over Bluetooth while the phone is asleep or the game runs in the background. It is optional. It does not activate Adventure Sync, grant the fitness-data permission, or turn on event push notifications. Buying it will not fix missing step synchronization or a blocked notification permission.
Optional event-day power: A portable battery pack and charging cable may be useful preparation for a long event day. They help keep the phone powered, but they do not change either setting and do not make notifications more complete.
Do Adventure Sync and event alerts share any settings?
They share the Pokémon GO app but not the activation path or core permission. Adventure Sync needs fitness-data access and the location access required for background tracking. Event alerts need the in-game event preference and the phone’s permission to send Pokémon GO notifications. Turning on one does not satisfy the other.
This distinction also explains why troubleshooting differs. Missing distance calls for checks of sensors, Apple Health or Google Fit, location, synchronization delay, and battery restrictions. Missing event messages calls for checks of the game’s push preference, the operating system’s app-notification permission, and the event calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
What level do I need for Adventure Sync?
Adventure Sync is available to Trainers at Level 5 or above. If the option is missing on a lower-level account, reaching the eligibility level is required before activation.
Does Adventure Sync work when Pokémon GO is closed?
Yes. It is designed to record walking distance while the game is not open, provided the required location permission, fitness-data connection, device tracking, and supported service are working.
Does Pokémon GO count exercise I enter into a fitness app by hand?
No. Manually entered fitness data does not count toward Adventure Sync distance. For distance to register, activity needs to be captured through the supported device and fitness-app tracking setup.
Can Adventure Sync use Google Fit on every Android phone?
No. The feature depends on a compatible Android device and Google Fit. If the device is incompatible with Google Fit, that fitness-tracking option is unavailable.
Do I need Adventure Sync for event alerts?
No. Event alerts use the separate Events, Offers, and Updates preference under Notifications → Push Notifications, plus the phone’s permission for Pokémon GO notifications. Adventure Sync is not listed as a prerequisite for event announcements.
Why did my Adventure Sync switch turn off?
A refresh of game data can leave Adventure Sync untoggled. After using Refresh Game Data, return to Settings → General → Adventure Sync and turn it on again if necessary.
How long does Adventure Sync take to update?
Synchronization can take several hours. Confirm that Apple Health or Google Fit recorded the activity, check the connection and permissions, then restart Pokémon GO if the distance still has not appeared.
Can I rely on event notifications as a complete event calendar?
No. The in-game preference enables event-related push notifications, but it does not guarantee a separate alert for every event. Tap the calendar icon in the lower-right corner of the map to check current and upcoming listings.
Where is the event calendar now?
From the map, tap the calendar icon in the lower-right corner. The former Happening Now section was moved into that calendar.
Will Pokémon GO Plus + turn on Adventure Sync or event alerts?
No. Pokémon GO Plus + is an optional Bluetooth accessory for interacting with nearby Pokémon and PokéStops while the phone is asleep or the game runs in the background. It does not activate either setting.
What should I check on Android when event alerts are missing?
Verify Events, Offers, and Updates in Pokémon GO, then open the phone’s app-notification controls—generally Settings → Notifications → App notifications—and allow notifications for Pokémon GO. Google notes that menu names vary by device.
The Bottom Line
Adventure Sync and event alerts are separate. Enable Adventure Sync at Main Menu → Settings → General → Adventure Sync and grant fitness-data and background-location access. Enable event messages at Settings → Notifications → Push Notifications → Events, Offers, and Updates, then allow Pokémon GO notifications on the phone. If distance is missing, check sensors, Apple Health or Google Fit, permissions, battery restrictions, synchronization time, and the switch after Refresh Game Data. If an event alert is missing, check both notification layers and use the map’s calendar icon to see the schedule.