Fitbit Air and Health Connect: how to share your data with apps

A screenless band like the Fitbit Air only records. The apps on your phone show the numbers. This guide explains how the data reaches an app such as Lift Log.

The path your data takes

Your band records steps, sleep, heart rate and workouts.
The band syncs to the Google Health app on your phone.
The Google Health app can share that data to Health Connect, a store built into Android.
Other apps ask you for permission to read from Health Connect.

Menu names can change between app versions. If you cannot find a setting, search the Google Health app for 'Health Connect'.

What Health Connect is

Health Connect is an Android service that keeps health data in one place on your phone. Apps can only read or write the kinds of data you allow, and you can change that at any time.

Setting it up

Install and open the Google Health app, then pair your band.
Turn on sharing with Health Connect for the data you want to share.
Open the app that wants the data and tap its Connect button.
On the permission screen, tick only what you are comfortable sharing.

What Lift Log asks for

Lift Log asks to read steps, sleep, workouts, heart rate, resting heart rate, heart rate variability and active calories. It never writes to Health Connect. It does not ask for cycle, glucose or other sensitive data. See the privacy page.

What to check if no data shows

Open Health Connect and check App permissions to see that your band's app can write data.
Make sure the band has synced recently.
Allow the reading app all the data types it asks for.
Wear the band to sleep. Recovery and sleep scores need a few nights of data.

Once data flows, learn what the numbers mean in sleep, recovery and strain explained.

Keep reading

Track it in Lift Log

Log your sets, keep a weekly streak and see your progress in one place. Lift Log is a private gym log that works offline and syncs to your phone.

Open the app