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Google Health adds two-way Apple Health syncing on iPhone for Fitbit

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Why This Matters

The addition of two-way syncing between Google Health and Apple Health on iPhone marks a significant step towards seamless health data integration, empowering users with more control and flexibility over their health information. This enhancement simplifies data sharing across platforms, improving the user experience and fostering more comprehensive health tracking and management. For the tech industry, it signals a move towards greater interoperability and user-centric health ecosystems, potentially influencing future app development and partnerships.

Key Takeaways

Back in May, the Google Health app launched alongside the new line of affordable Google Fitbit Air health trackers.

Google Health initially included one-way Apple Health integration. The app could read and import health data recorded by an iPhone, Apple Watch, and other HealthKit-connected apps, but it couldn’t write Fitbit data back to Apple Health.

Today’s Google Health iOS app update adds the missing half of that connection.

Google Health can now write to Apple Health, not just read from HealthKit

Version 5.05 specifically highlights Apple Health syncing in its release notes:

“Share your data like your exercise records, sleep, vitals, steps, and more from Google Health to Apple Health.”

Exercise records, sleep, vitals, steps, and other Fitbit data can become available to other HealthKit-compatible apps, subject to the permissions selected by the user.

Before this year, users who wanted Fitbit data in Apple Health generally needed a third-party syncing utility or an indirect connection through another service.

The gap goes all the way back to 2014. Shortly after Apple introduced HealthKit with iOS 8, Fitbit said it had no plans to support the platform.

Version 5.05 also adds Smart Health Links, which allow users to share medical records with a healthcare provider or family member.

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