After months of speculation and gradual rollouts, Google has finally retired the Fitbit app and replaced it with Google Health. The new app, which launched alongside the Fitbit Air wearable, aims to provide an AI-powered coaching experience. But based on early reactions from Fitbit users, the transition has been anything but smooth.
Many longtime Fitbit owners are struggling to adapt to the new interface. The most common complaints center around the heavy emphasis on Google’s AI health coach. The main “Today” screen now dedicates a large portion of real estate to a chatty AI bot that offers encouragement, asks about daily plans, and suggests workouts. For users who simply want to see their steps, heart rate, sleep data, and exercise logs at a glance, this new layout feels intrusive.
One Reddit user summed up the frustration: “I can’t even completely fill up my home screen. They only have 2 large tiles available and I can’t just scroll down to see everything.” Another user complained, “This graphic UI looks like something an 8 year old would make.” And a third wrote, “Why must I now scroll through paragraphs of AI slop on every tab before I can actually see my activities and data? I don’t want or need to read platitudes about my 15 minute walk to the grocery store. I want to see my stats from my morning run.”
The AI coach does have its defenders. Some users appreciate the conversational ability to log missed sleep sessions or design circuit workouts using office gym equipment. One commenter noted, “When I ask it to design a moderate workout using my office gym equipment, circuit style, I usually end up feeling great afterwards.” Another called it “quite a helpful feature.” However, these positive remarks appear to be in the minority based on the volume of negative feedback across Reddit, Google’s help center, and social media.
Google’s own blog post showed a “Today” screen sample that includes an AI chat box and all information neatly arranged, but many users report that their actual experience differs. The AI chat box is not removable, though it can be disabled within the app’s Feature Privacy Controls. This lack of customization is a sore point for those who prefer a simpler, data-focused dashboard.
The new app also hides workout and activity data deeper than before. Instead of scrolling down on the main “Today” page as in the old Fitbit app, users must swipe left within a small top box on the “Today” page, or navigate to a separate “Health” tab, then drill down into “Focus areas” and “Fitness” to find “Exercise days.” This extra layer of navigation has been a major source of frustration, especially for users who rely on quick access to historical data.
A support page indicates that if a supported wearable is connected, Google Health will show two additional tabs for Fitness and Sleep, simplifying access. However, many wearables — including the Nothing Watch Pro 3 mentioned in the article — currently lack support, leaving users stuck with the cluttered interface. Google’s Rishi Chandra earlier told The Verge that third-party wearables will eventually be supported, but that timeline remains unclear.
The transition to Google Health was not a surprise; Google had announced the change months earlier. Yet the execution has left many feeling alienated. One post on Google’s help center reads, “This app is a huge disappointment and a total time drain to get minimal results. How can I get back to using what worked?!” The reply thread agreed, with one user saying, “It’s no longer a genuine fitness app.”
Behind the scenes, Google has been consolidating its health offerings for years. Fitbit, acquired by Google in 2021, was initially seen as a way for Google to enter the wearables market. Over time, Google began integrating Fitbit data into its own Health Connect platform and eventually rebranding the app. The goal has been to create a unified health ecosystem powered by Google’s AI and machine learning abilities. The AI health coach is a central part of that vision, designed to provide personalized recommendations based on user activity, sleep, and other metrics.
But many Fitbit users feel the new app has sacrificed functionality for flash. The old Fitbit app featured a straightforward dashboard with customizable tiles, easy access to challenges and social features, and a clear display of historical trends. Google Health, by contrast, emphasizes daily interactions with the AI coach and pushes detailed analytics to secondary screens. For power users who track multiple metrics and want to see everything in one place, the change is jarring.
Another issue is the loss of community features. The Fitbit app had a strong social component, allowing friends to join challenges, share progress, and compete in step counts or workout goals. Google Health appears to have de-emphasized these social elements, instead focusing on the one-on-one relationship with the AI coach. While some users may prefer the privacy, others miss the camaraderie that made Fitbit a sticky platform.
Google has also faced criticism over data privacy. With the introduction of an AI coach that asks personal questions about daily plans and health habits, some users are wary about how that data is stored and used. Google’s privacy controls do allow disabling the coach, but the default setting is on. For a company that has faced scrutiny over data collection, this approach may not inspire trust.
On the positive side, Google Health does offer some improvements under the hood. The app integrates more deeply with Google’s own services, such as Google Fit and Health Connect, allowing data to flow more seamlessly between Android devices and third-party apps. The AI coach, while controversial, can be genuinely useful for those who want conversational logging or tailored workout suggestions. And the clean, modern design — though criticized by some — is consistent with Google’s Material Design guidelines and may appeal to new users who are not accustomed to the old Fitbit layout.
Still, the backlash highlights a critical challenge for Google: how to transition a beloved product with a loyal user base into a new ecosystem without alienating those users. Fitbit had a distinct identity, built over years of focused fitness tracking. Google Health is a broad platform that tries to be everything — fitness tracker, health coach, medical record repository, and AI companion. For some, that expansion is exciting; for others, it is overwhelming and unwelcome.
In the weeks since launch, Google has not announced any major changes to address the feedback. The app remains in its current form, with no option to revert to the old Fitbit interface. Users who want to continue using their Fitbit devices are essentially forced to adapt. Some have already started looking at alternatives, such as Garmin, Apple Watch, or Whoop, which offer dedicated fitness tracking experiences without the AI overlay.
The long-term success of Google Health will depend on whether Google listens to its user base and iterates on the design. Adding more customization options, allowing users to hide the AI coach, bringing back social challenges, and improving data accessibility could help stem the tide of complaints. But for now, the message is clear: a lot of people want their Fitbit app back.
Source: The Verge News