The transition won't affect existing users until a later date
After first teasing details of an account transition earlier this year, Fitbit has confirmed that new users will have to log in with a Google Account from this summer onwards.
While the transition from a Fitbit login to a Google one won’t be forced upon existing users until 2025, those registering a new Fitbit tracker or creating a new account will soon have to do so through Google.
No specific date has yet been set for the rollout in the latest blog post, with the company currently talking up the unified controls and “industry-leading privacy and security” set to be introduced through the migration.
The move will also see an end to multiple logins being required for devices that also tap into the Fitbit dashboard, such as the Google Pixel Watch.
And given that there don’t appear to be any real changes to the experience or existing data, the change does feel like a bit of a no-brainer.
For those concerned about their data living in their Google Account, as well, the company has also clarified that none of these health and wellness details will be used for Google Ads.
Ultimately, this is all part of the increased Google-fication of Fitbit we’ve seen over the last few months.
And after third-party apps were removed from Fitbit watches and Community features in the Fitbit app were killed off, this latest act should prove a bit more positive.
Looking ahead, it could even make it easier for other Wear OS vendors – not just Google – to potentially use Fitbit to power the fitness tracking element of the watch experience.
It’s something Fossil VP Brook Eaton hinted at in an interview with Wareable last year, but it remains unclear whether such a move is officially in the pipeline.
In the meantime, stay tuned for more on this login transition – we’ll be keeping an eye out for just when it begins appearing for users this summer.
