Google Health 5.11 Expands Activity Detection to 100 Workouts and Adds Fitbit Air Health Guardian Tools

Google is rolling out version 5.11 of its Google Health app this week, a sizeable update for Fitbit trackers and the Pixel Watch that touches workout detection, health monitoring, glucose tracking and sleep data.

The headline change is an overhaul of automatic activity tracking. The feature is available now on the Fitbit Air and on the Pixel Watch 3, 4 and 5, while the Fitbit Edge will receive it when it launches on October 27. Devices can now recognize up to 100 types of activity, up from 10, including strength training, swimming, and racket and team sports.

Google says the detection relies on contextual reasoning that draws on a user's workout routines, historical data and manual edits. According to the company, this makes detections nearly twice as accurate and cuts missed workouts by more than half. Sessions that reach the minimum duration threshold, set to 15 minutes by default, with a sustained elevated heart rate are logged automatically, and a summary typically reaches the Google Health app within 30 minutes. When users confirm or edit a logged activity, the feature learns from it and refines later predictions.

Subscribers to Google Health Premium who own a Fitbit Air or Fitbit Edge are also getting two new Health Guardian features. Blood pressure trends and insulin resistance trends can be set up now, and the first reports are due at the beginning of November.

Blood pressure trends are meant to help users follow patterns before they put strain on the heart. They will appear in the Health Guardian section of the Health tab for people who have worn a Fitbit Air for five or more consecutive days in October. Insulin resistance trends, which follow monthly shifts in metabolic health, will be available to those who have worn their watch for seven or more days and nights during the month.

The app also renames "Blood glucose" to "Glucose" throughout, with updated charts and graphs. Users can set custom time-in-range goals for data from connected continuous glucose monitors by opening the Metabolic section of the Health tab, tapping Glucose, entering Settings and choosing Set goal.

In the US, Lingo by Abbott can now be connected directly to the Google Health app, so glucose readings appear within 30 minutes. Premium members can ask Google Health Coach questions about their glucose trends. The connection is made by tapping the profile icon and selecting Partner Apps.

Sleep tracking has been refined in two ways. The system now factors in step data to better capture short awakenings, such as getting up to use the bathroom. Users can also remove a nap that does not match their day directly from the nap card.

Version 5.11 is available on iOS and is still rolling out to Android users.