Google Health 5.11: 100 Workout Types Now Detected Automatically

Google is releasing version 5.11 of its health application this week to improve how wearables track physical activity.

The automatic activity tracking feature is live on the Fitbit Air, Pixel Watch 3, 4, and 5. The Fitbit Edge will receive the update upon its launch on October 27. This change expands the number of recognizable activities from 10 to 100. The new categories include strength training, swimming, and various racket and team sports.

Google states that the system uses contextual reasoning to analyze user routines, historical data, and manual edits. The company reports that this approach makes detections nearly twice as accurate. It also reduces missed workout logs by more than 50 percent. A session must meet a 15-minute duration threshold and show sustained elevated heart rate to be logged automatically. A summary typically appears in the app within 30 minutes. The system refines future predictions when users confirm or edit logged activities.

Health Premium subscribers with a Fitbit Air or Fitbit Edge can access two new Health Guardian features. Blood pressure trends and insulin resistance trends are available for setup now. The first reports for blood pressure trends are scheduled for the beginning of November. These reports are for users who wore a Fitbit Air for five or more consecutive days in October. Insulin resistance trends will be available to those who wore their watch for seven or more days and nights during the month.

The app renames the Blood glucose section to Glucose and updates associated charts. Users can set custom time-in-range goals for connected continuous glucose monitors. In the US, users can now connect Lingo by Abbott directly to the app. Glucose readings from this device appear within 30 minutes. Premium members can also ask Google Health Coach questions about their glucose trends.

Sleep tracking has been adjusted to factor in step data. This helps the system better identify short awakenings, such as getting up to use the bathroom. Users can also remove a nap directly from the nap card if it does not match their day.

Version 5.11 is available on iOS and is currently rolling out to Android users.