The Google Health app is replacing the Fitbit app, with the update having started rolling out over the past week. As Fitbit Air pre-orders land on doorsteps, Google has confirmed that it has sped up the rollout since it is required to pair the new fitness tracker.
Google Health 5.0 is the update that replaces Fitbit, and it started rolling out about a week ago. This update is mostly a rebrand, with the same revamped Fitbit experience that Google has been testing in public preview for several months.
iOS users were pretty quick to get the update, but it’s been a bit slower on Android, which causes problems for Fitbit Air buyers. Google’s new fitness tracker isn’t supported in older versions of the app, so lacking Google Health 5.0 means that users can’t set up their tracker at all, a problem seeing as units have been showing up on buyer’s doorsteps for the past few days.
Frustrated Fitbit Air owners took to Reddit over the rollout, where a member of Google’s team confirmed that Google was “accelerating” the rollout on Android.
We are doing our best today to accelerate the rollout of the updated app on Android via Play to accommodate early deliveries and it should be available shortly. Anyone on iOS should be able to update via the App Store already. Look for an update soon, as yes, you do need the new Google Health (version 5.0) to pair and use the [Fitbit Air].
