Can't get the steps from Samsung Watch through the Fitbit API with Health Connect synced to Fitbit

[voidgiggling]

Hi, I have a website that collects my steps each day. I have a Samsung Watch with Samsung App synced with Health Connect, and I also have Fitbit synced with Health Connect. The problem is that the Fitbit API only shows me the steps counted by my phone (Fitbit's own app), but not the steps counted by my Samsung Watch.

Is there any solution?

Thank you.

[Gondwana]

Interesting question. I assume you're talking about the Fitbit Web API. My understanding (which is phenomenally tenuous) is that Health Connect maintains its own records, and that's where Fitbit and Samsung data will be aggregated. You may need to use Health Connect APIs to get the Samsung or combined data. I'm just getting started with those APIs; it's quite different to the Fitbit Web API.

It's possible that some app (Health Connect? Fitbit mobile app? Third-party app?) can show combined results without you needing to use the API directly.

[voidgiggling]

Thank you for your response!

Yes, I'm talking about the Fitbit Web API. I have migrated from Google Fit Web API, which will be shut down in June 2025. Google itself recommended to use Fitbit Web API if we want to keep our web apps that count user activity. Now, I have another related question, when I set up Health Connect to sync with Fitbit App, Fitbit sends data to Health Connect, but can Fitbit App get data from Health Connect and then through Fitbit Web API get all the steps? If not, I may have to use a third party API to get all the data combined.

[voidgiggling]

Oh (I almost forgot), about the Health Connect API, my understanding is that the API is only available for android apps, and not for web apps.

[Gondwana]

Have a look in 'Health Connect data' in the 'You' tab of the Fitbit mobile app. That claims to be able to list data from non-Fitbit Health Connect sources.

I doubt that that data would be coming directly from the Fitbit Web API. My guess is that the Fitbit app queries the Health Connect API to get it.

Yes, the Health Connect API is Android-based rather than Web-based. This definitely limits its accessibility.

You might be able to find a third-party product that exposes Health Connect data via a web API, although the privacy and security implications of that are scary. It might be easier to write your own (second-party) gateway.

[voidgiggling]

Yes, Fitbit gets steps from Health Connect provided by the Samsung Watch, but I would love to see Fitbit also sync steps to its own server, and not just locally.

True, a second-party API is safer in terms of privacy and security; I'll give it a try.

[Gordon-C]

Hi @voidgiggling 

The Health Connect documentation states "We don't recommend migrating to Health Connect if you're an existing Google Fitbit Web API developer."  One of the problem we've seen is duplicate data.  Also, I only recommend using Health Connect is your environment is Android only.   If you need to support iOS or another platform, I recommend sticking with the Web APIs if you can.   I'm trying to confirm if Health Connect writes data to Fitbit.  If it does, which I think is yes, Health Connect will use the Fitbit Web API to do it.  Therefore, you're only going to get recorded activity data through the Create Activity Log endpoint, and the step count associated with the activity.  There isn't a Web API endpoint which sends ALL steps to Fitbit.  

A person in this forum post said there is an app Health Sync that can sync data between Samsung Health and Fitbit.  I don't know much about the app, but it might be worth looking into to see if you can get your data from the Samsung Watch to Fitbit.   And, there might be other apps that do this.  

[Gordon-C · Accepted solution]

Hi @voidgiggling 

I think this might answer your question.   In this help article, the question Can I see data from Health Connect on my Fitbit device? states "No, Health Connect data from third-party devices doesn't sync to your Fitbit device."   Look through the other questions in that help article.  It goes into more detail about the Health Connect and Fitbit integration, and what you can expect.

Even though 3rd-party device data doesn't sync to Fitbit now, that doesn't mean it won't in the future.   You can chat with the Health Connect support team at health-connect-support@google.com to see what they know.