Monitoring your health on Android phones

Android phones can get Google Fit for free

If you use an Android smartphone, it may have come with Google Fit already installed, or you can download it for free from the Play Store using your Google Account’s username and password.

While each model of Android smartphone is a bit different, Google Fit should work on any phone that’s less than three years old. Remember to check that your operating software is up to date.

Some phones have a manufacturer health app too

Some Android phone brands have their own health suite app from the manufacturer, such as Samsung, for example. You can use this app instead of Google Fit if you like, and it will have most of the same features and work in a similar way.

You might need to create an account with the phone manufacturer to use their health app, so make sure to choose a strong and secure password.

How Google Fit works

The Google Fit app customises its coaching and advice based on what you do, such as how often you move around or how often you get your heart pumping. The app then provides tips and advice based on this data, for example it may recommend that you walk a bit further or stand up more often.

The app isn’t pushy about this, and you can always set goals manually to levels you are comfortable with, by using the app’s controls.

All about Heart Points

When you open Google Fit, the app shows how many steps you’ve taken today, along with another score called Heart Points.

Heart Points are calculated based on how much activity you’ve done, such as moving around, standing up, and elevating your heart rate with exercise. These calculations are based on the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommendations for exercise and movement.

Google Fit can connect to other apps

You might prefer to use another app for specific activities. For example, you might use an app called Down Dog to do yoga, or the Headspace app for meditation.

These two apps, and many others, can sync their data with Google Fit, so the activity you do in the app (such as a yoga session) is added to your Google Fit Heart Points.

Check the app’s page on the Play Store or its website to see if it can sync with Google Fit.

Google Fit is like a health journal

Because Google Fit records your activity over time, you can use it like a health journal and review how your health changes. This can be great for staying motivated, or you might just be interested to see how all those steps add up over a year or more.

How Google Fit uses your location

To use some of its features, Google Fit will from time to time gather data about your precise location. It does this so it can see how far you walk, and measure other movements. When you first use Google Fit, it will ask for your permission to use Location services, and will help you turn this feature on, if it is turned off on your phone.

eSafety tip

Google Fit won’t share location data or any other data with any third party, but it does record your movements and may also access your photos and contacts. The app will always ask for permission first, and if you uninstall the app, your data will no longer be accessed.

Google Fit also works on the iPhone

You can use Google Fit if you have an iPhone and want to see if you prefer it to Apple’s own Apple Health app. However, some features may not work on iPhone, and some other health apps might not be able to sync their data either.

eSafety tip

Google Fit is a great resource for keeping an eye on your basic level of exercise and daily movement, but the advice it gives is general. You should always follow your doctor’s advice or instruction over anything Google Fit or another health app recommends.

Well done!

This is the end of the Monitoring your health on Android phones activity. You’ve learned how Google Fit works on your phone, and what sorts of data it can access.

Up next, you can find out more about the equivalent health suite app from Apple, in the Health monitoring included on Apple iPhone activity.