How do I edit calories on MFP?

December 26, 2025 •

3 min read

According to research published by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, manually setting calorie goals based on individual needs can lead to more precise tracking and better results. In this guide, you will learn exactly how do I edit calories on MFP to take full control of your nutrition plan.

Quick Summary

A step-by-step guide to manually updating your daily calorie target in MyFitnessPal using both the mobile app and website. The article covers how to disable automatic calorie adjustments and set custom nutritional and macro goals for a more personalized diet plan. Instructions are tailored for premium and free users.

Key Points

Edit Goals Directly: Access the 'Goals' section within the MyFitnessPal app or website to manually enter your new daily calorie total.
Disable Auto-Adjustments: Turn off 'Exercise Calories' in your settings to prevent the app from automatically increasing your calorie target based on logged activity.
Website vs. App: Use the MyFitnessPal website to edit goals if syncing issues persist with the mobile app.
Premium Features: Premium users can set specific calorie goals for different days of the week and adjust macronutrients in exact gram amounts.
Forcing a Recalculation: Temporarily changing and then re-entering your current weight can trigger the app to update your goals.
Consistency is Key: Manual calorie editing is crucial for those following personalized plans, preventing unexpected goal changes that can derail progress.

Why Edit Calories on MyFitnessPal?

While MyFitnessPal’s automated system is a great starting point for many, it doesn't always account for highly specific needs. For individuals following a diet plan from a registered dietitian, targeting a precise calorie intake for a specific goal, or simply preferring manual control, adjusting the default setting is essential. The automatic calculation can also become less accurate as your weight changes, requiring a manual fix to prevent plateaus. By manually setting your goals, you can better align your tracking with a personalized, expert-recommended strategy.

Step-by-Step Guide for Mobile App (iOS and Android)

Adjusting your calorie goal on the MyFitnessPal mobile app is a straightforward process, though the exact interface can vary slightly between operating systems.

For iOS Users:

Tap 'More': Find and tap the 'More' icon in the bottom right corner of the screen.
Navigate to 'Goals': Select 'Goals' from the menu that appears.
Find Nutrition Goals: Under the 'Nutrition Goals' section, tap 'Calories, Carbs, Protein & Fat Goals'.
Edit Your Calories: Tap on the calorie field and enter your desired daily total.
Save Changes: Tap the checkmark in the top right corner to save your new goal.

For Android Users:

Open the Menu: Tap the three horizontal lines (the 'hamburger' menu) in the top left corner.
Select 'Goals': Choose 'Goals' from the menu.
Access Nutrition Goals: Tap 'Calories, Carbs, Protein & Fat Goals' under 'Nutrition Goals'.
Change Calorie Total: Input your new calorie target.
Confirm Update: Press the checkmark to save your changes.

Disabling Automatic Adjustments

One common issue users face is the app automatically adjusting calorie goals based on synced exercise data, which can interfere with a consistent, manual plan. Here's how to turn off this feature:

Go to Goals: Navigate to the 'Goals' section of the app (as detailed above).
Scroll to the Bottom: Look for an option related to exercise calories or adjustments.
Turn Off Exercise Calories: If available, toggle the setting for 'Exercise Calories' off. For users with a fitness tracker synced, you may need to disable the app's read permissions from your phone's settings or disconnect the device to fully prevent automatic adjustments.

Comparison: Free vs. Premium for Calorie Editing


Feature	MyFitnessPal (Free)	MyFitnessPal (Premium)
Manual Calorie Edit	Yes. Can manually input a total daily calorie goal.	Yes. Can manually input a total daily calorie goal.
Macro Percentage Edit	Yes. Adjusts macros in 5% increments, which automatically recalculates calories based on the distribution.	Yes. Offers more granular control, allowing macro goals to be set in precise gram increments.
Custom Daily Goals	No. The same calorie goal applies to every day.	Yes. Allows for setting different calorie and macro goals for specific days of the week, useful for rest days versus workout days.
Ad-Free Experience	No. Contains ads within the app interface.	Yes. The app is completely ad-free.

Other Methods to Adjust Calories

Besides direct manual entry, there are other triggers that can prompt a recalculation or change your calorie goals.

Using the MyFitnessPal Website

For some users, editing via the website provides a more stable experience, and changes sync back to the app.

Log In: Sign in to your account at myfitnesspal.com.
Go to 'Goals': Click 'My Home', then 'Goals'.
Edit Daily Nutrition: Click the 'Edit' button next to 'Daily Nutrition Goals'.
Adjust and Save: Make your changes and click 'Save Changes'.

Forcing a Recalculation

If your weight loss stalls, forcing a new calculation based on your current weight can reset your calorie target to be more accurate.

Go to Goals: Navigate to the 'Goals' section.
Update Your Weight: Change your 'Current Weight' to a different value, save it, then immediately change it back to your correct current weight.
Recalculate: The app will recognize the weight change and prompt a recalculation of your calorie goal.

Conclusion

Knowing how do I edit calories on MFP empowers you to take precise control over your health and nutrition journey. By following the steps outlined for either the mobile app or the website, you can manually set and adjust your daily calorie goals to match your specific dietary plans or fitness objectives. Whether you are a free user or a premium subscriber, managing your goals effectively is the key to consistent progress and hitting your targets. For those needing a highly customized approach, remember to disable automatic adjustments from synced fitness trackers to maintain consistency.

For more detailed information on MyFitnessPal's features, visit their official support page.

Resources

MyFitnessPal Support

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, free MyFitnessPal users can manually edit their daily calorie goals. You can access this function via the 'Goals' section in both the mobile app and the website.

To turn off automatic calorie adjustments from a synced fitness tracker, navigate to the 'Goals' section, scroll to the bottom, and toggle off the setting for 'Exercise Calories'. For some devices, you may also need to adjust app permissions in your phone's settings.

MyFitnessPal automatically adjusts your calorie goal downward as you lose weight because a smaller body requires fewer calories to function. This helps ensure you maintain a calorie deficit to continue losing weight.

This feature is available exclusively to MyFitnessPal Premium subscribers. Premium users can set custom daily goals for calories and macros, which is useful for alternating between high-activity and rest days.

If your goal doesn't sync, try editing it on the MyFitnessPal website, as changes made there are typically more stable and will eventually push to your mobile app. Some Android users have reported success by clearing app data or reinstalling the app.

On iOS, tap the 'More' icon in the bottom-right corner. On Android, tap the three horizontal lines in the top-left corner. 'Goals' will be an option in the menu that appears.

Yes, MyFitnessPal allows you to edit calorie goals by meal. To enable this, go to the 'Goals' menu, select 'Calories By Meal,' and toggle the feature on. You can then set specific calorie targets for each meal.