Google Health has enhanced Fitbit Air, making it more compatible for Apple Health users.

      Google Health bridges the gap between Apple Health, medical sharing, and fitness tracking improvements.

      I find it somewhat ridiculous that health applications from various companies and service providers fail to communicate with one another, even when you own the data. Google has taken a small yet significant step toward addressing this issue.

      The rollout of Google Health version 5.05 began today. Compared to the last several updates, this one is relatively modest, particularly following four significant updates in June and July.

      So, what’s new in this release?

      Notably, the latest version is currently accessible to iOS users, while the Android version will be released soon after. The app’s main update specifically targets iPhone users.

      Google Health can now transfer your health and fitness information, including steps, workouts, vital signs, and sleep data tracked via a Fitbit Air device directly into Apple Health. This effectively closes the data synchronization gap between Google's hardware and Apple's ecosystem.

      Setting it up is quick and easy. Just go to your profile icon, select Partner Apps, and then choose Apple Health. From there, follow the on-screen instructions to connect the two platforms. If you’ve previously linked the apps, you can tap “Review permissions” to access the new cross-platform sharing options.

      What other features are included in this release?

      U.S. users are receiving a genuinely beneficial addition—the ability to create secure Smart Health Links that summarize your medical records for sharing with healthcare providers or family members. Some healthcare facilities may even accept these links at check-in, replacing traditional paper forms.

      You can find this feature under the Health tab in the Medical section. By selecting “Shareable records,” you can choose the aspects you wish to include and generate a link. Additionally, Google has addressed some pesky bugs affecting VO2Max readings, exercise map rendering, and the editing of workouts once they’ve already been logged.

      To me, this seems like the start of something more promising. Allowing Google Health to write data back into Apple Health, rather than merely retrieving data, indicates that Google is finally recognizing cross-platform data sharing as a valuable feature, providing Apple users the option to select the Fitbit Air as their health tracker instead of being limited to the Apple Watch.