My thoughts about the Fitbit app and Google migration

[tidal]

The privacy and personal information issues are of huge concern or should be do all who have bought a Fitbit watch - in my case a Charge 6. I had a Versa 2 but it burned out literally. For a 1/3 discount, I bought a Charge 6. What could go wrong? 

1. Trying to "add" the Charge 6 to my Fitbit account on an iPhone, the message prompts me to "first move your account to Google." It states "should" move account. But, that should is stronger than the word implies. When I selected "maybe later" the app recycles me back to the beginning. Effectively, there is no way to proceed without migrating your Fitbit account to Google. Wait! It gets worse. 

2. Out of curiosity having at this point decided I do not want a product from a company that forces me to make decisions I don't want to, I select "proceed" to continue the migration of my account to Google. I'm then told "are you sure you want to leave this screen?" I'm not sure but have no choice. I'm then taken to another screen where there's information about the meaning of Fitbit being Google. I "get started." I then choose my Google account. I then "review and confirm" my Fitbit setup. 

3. Now, the cautionary language happens. "Fitbit profile info, like your height and weight, will move to your Google account along with your health and wellness data..." Hmmmm.....do I want Google computers to know this much about me. I'm fine with my docs knowing this information but a sales and marketing behemoth....not so much. For curiosity sake, knowing I'm not going to complete this registration, I continue. 

4. I decline allowing Google Fitbit to inundate me with "news, updates, research invitations...." And, now get to the clincher - Step 3 which states "Review how Google uses Fitbit data and agree to move." I'm given the invitation to continue with this "take a moment to learn what information will be collected about you, how it's used, and the privacy controls available to you." I'm thinking at this point the best privacy control that I have is not to allow them to have my information in the first place. Granted, there is language that states "your Fitbit health and wellness data won't e used for Google Ads....." Do we really believe behemoth Google has our best interests at heart in the use of very personal and specific data of our fitness and health? How long have you had your blinders on? 

5. There are then multiple more steps to which you must agree; there is no negotiation. Sound familiar? 

6. This leaves me and hopefully others with the questions - when is too much too much? When are we consumers going to say "enough!" Or, are we going to proceed with the next bright and shiny object being led off cliffs into an abyss of now knowing who and what knows everything about us?

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[Kathi_1]

I just got the email about "quickly, before it gets deleted on Feb 2026" today... To be honest, I am not "worried" per se about the data being accessible, because as was said previously Google did have Fitbit for a long time and could access my data if they wanted to. However the phrase "Fitbit profile info, like your height and weight, will move to your Google account along with your health and wellness data..." feels weird. My Google account is one thing, and my Fitbit account is another. It´s like connecting your Facebook and your LinkedIn. Two totally different sets of data, because they are used for something diametrically different. No, I do not want to have my menstrual health data in my Google account. Plus, I really do NOT believe when Google tells me they "won´t use XYZ for targeted ads." No offense, but Google is ALL about targeted ads and has been for years. I was actually thinking about something new, my Fitbit watch display isn´t working for years (it still tracks everything, so I kept it, I don´t really need the display 😂)... But this year I already have about a gazillion things to buy and/or take care of and my ADHD brain can really not take on anything more for now. I guess I will download all my data at some point this year - or if I don´t forget (99,9% chance I will) next year and go elsewhere. Or nowhere. The only real "benefit" it had for me personally was the menstrual calendar. And there are thousands of apps for that.

[LaineW84]

What concerns me also is that I'm constantly battling to have memory space to be able to use my email address because of the back up. I can't work out how to switch it off and when I set it up I didn't know it would stop me being able to use the email address when the memory is full because my yahoo doesn't have a memory limit (nor my Hotmail when I used that). Plus, I have my son's account on my account and from what I'm seeing so far, transferring to Google could cause problems for his account but I'm struggling to find clear information on that.

[Wyshynski]

Don’t do it until the very end. Did it today and all my data is completely messed up. Sucks. 

[KDBW]

I agree completely. There is no option to decline a transfer to Google. Google is manipulative in their process. If I had known about the forced transition I would not have bought a Charge 6. To be honest, I will wear it, while saving up for a different brand of non-invasive device. doesn't 

[Soundwave]

Similarly, I only use the desktop app (and the website, when it still existed), and I was all set to migrate it (begrudgingly) over to Google, only for it to tell me I can only do it through my phone app.  Kinda hard to do that, Google, when I don't have a smartphone...

But I didn't know Google no longer supports Windows on PC, which sucks since my computer's OS is Windows.

[Tovli]

I, too, am distressed over not being able to use the PC. I do have a smartphone (reluctantly), but the large screen on the PC is easier to use if you have visual limitations or impairments. I am sorry Google bought out Fitbit—it is not as accessible to the needs of many folks, especially those with visual limitations.

[Me-chelle]

The whole look of it will change and they are making it have AI interface with Gemini. I found this: "

There's a lot of excitement around the potential of AI to transform health and wellness in general," Florence Thng, a director of product management at Google, said. "So we want to explore that potential, but we will also want to do it very thoughtfully."

Fitbit Labs is an umbrella term for new AI-powered experimental health tools in the Fitbit app. Insights Explorer, the first "lab" that's beginning to roll out, is meant to test whether a large language model can understand questions about health and wellness data and provide personalized answers. It's based on Google's Gemini models..."

Etc.

Im bummed. Nothing against AI and Gemini but I like my fitbit the way it is. The whole layout of the app and pretty much eveything is going to be different my next year.

I like it the way it us. All of these tech companies but literally eveything out. I just like my Fitbit the way it is.

Im not paying 79.99 @year for a forced change I dont want and cannot opt out of. 

[Me-chelle]

They are also phasing put all Fitbit watches. They want it to be only Google Pixel trackers.

Basically they bought out Fitbit as competition and are killing off the app and the watch/trackers.

"Fitbit smartwatches are being phased out, with Google no longer manufacturing new models after the Versa 4 and Sense 2. Google is focusing on its own Pixel Watch series, but Fitbit trackers like the Charge 6 and Inspire 3 remain available, though their future is uncertain"

Im going to find another product not connected to google samsung apple or any of those companies. They are out of control and consuming everything. Really sick of jt.

[Tovli]

Greatly disappointed about the phasing out of Fitbit products. Not sure what to do...we did go to Samsung when Google announced their "take over". At first, the Galaxy was great—a real solution. But as time went by—the product is nowhere as versatile or reliable as Fitbit, and the customer service/help is useless. We've not heard great things about "the ring"—but I wonder if it would be worth it to go with Garmin. I don't really know what else to do. Very depressing. As consumers, we are being forced to "buy" Google and like it!

[Kathi_1]

I am currently thinking about the same. I really don´t use it for anything other than the sleep and menstrual tracking, steps counting or other things are nice to have but really not something I need or want to track primarily. I´ve heard some negative things about the ring too, some friends have Garmin and are happy with it, but they are actually tracking their steps and workouts, so that might be a bit irrelevant for me. I don´t know if I will go into another watch tbh.

[Psychotubby]

I'm gradually de-Googling my life because of the same kind of concerns. I've already switched from a smartphone to a feature phone, so my Inspire 3 is really just a glorified step-counter and wristwatch anyway.

I refuse to migrate my account, and no longer sync with the app, so no doubt the device will stop working eventually due to lack of updates, but I'll be interested to see if there's a built-in time bomb set to kill it on 2 February 2026.