Exporting Fitbit data after the Google acquisition: practical guide

Exporting Fitbit data in 2026 is simpler than it looks, but requires understanding one key thing: after the Google acquisition and forced 2023 migration, your Fitbit data lives in Google infrastructure and downloads via Google Takeout. The old Fitbit.com portal is gone. This guide covers the two main paths: Google Takeout for the full historical archive, Health Connect for the daily flow to third-party apps.

State of the art as of May 2026

• •Account: legacy Fitbit Account doesn't exist since 2025. All accounts are now Google Accounts. Google email login required.
• •Fitbit app: still exists as Android/iOS app, now distributed by Google LLC.
• •Fitbit.com: the public web dashboard was decommissioned. Only the account/privacy area remains accessible.
• •Historical data: fully preserved during migration, accessible via app and via Google Takeout.
• •Health Connect: since 2024 the Fitbit app writes to Health Connect (Android). Pixel Watch likewise.

Path A: Google Takeout (most complete)

Google Takeout is the official Google portal to download data from all products, Fitbit included. It's the structured way to get the full history.

1. Go to takeout.google.com and sign in with the Google Account linked to Fitbit.
2. Click 'Deselect all', then search 'Fitbit' in the list and select it.
3. Expand sub-items (Activity, Sleep, Heart Rate, etc.): you can choose granularly which types to include.
4. Pick export format (JSON recommended, CSV for most activity data) and destination (direct download, Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive).
5. Start the export. Times range from minutes (small account) to hours (years of granular data). You'll get an email when ready.

The package contains folders per data type. Examples: 'Personal & Account → Profile', 'Activities → activities-YYYY-MM-DD.json' (daily summary), 'Heart Rate → heart_rate-YYYY-MM-DD.json' (per-minute samples), 'Sleep → sleep-YYYY-MM-DD.json' with stages. For deep backfills files can weigh GB.

Path B: Health Connect (for daily use)

If you don't need a one-time historical snapshot but a continuous flow of Fitbit data to another app, the path is Health Connect.

1. Make sure the Fitbit app is updated (version 4.10 or higher).
2. Open Fitbit → 'You' tab (bottom right) → look for 'Health Connect' in profile settings.
3. Tap 'Connect' and authorize write access for the data types you want to expose.
4. From then on any third-party Android app with Health Connect permissions can read your Fitbit data.

Important limit: via Health Connect, Fitbit exposes sleep stages only as total duration (not separate REM/Deep/Light/Awake), and doesn't expose workout GPS tracks, VO₂ max or Cardio Fitness Score. For those you need the official Fitbit Web API (OAuth), which requires developer approval and is usually only accessible to already-approved apps.

What to do before closing the account

If you're thinking of leaving Fitbit (to switch to Garmin, Apple Watch, Galaxy Watch), do these three steps in order:

1. Export everything via Takeout first. Once the account is deleted it's too late.
2. Disable cloud sharing you no longer need (Strava, MyFitnessPal sync, etc.).
3. Request GDPR deletion if you want to ensure everything is removed from backups. Go to privacy.google.com and select 'Delete your data'.

In summary

• •After the 2023 migration, Fitbit data lives on Google: export goes via Google Takeout (takeout.google.com), no longer from Fitbit.com.
• •Google Takeout is the most complete method: includes the full history in JSON/CSV, from activities to sleep to per-minute HR.
• •Health Connect is the method for continuous flow: from the Fitbit app to HC, any Android app with HC permissions can read data in real time.
• •HC limit for Fitbit: sleep phases (REM/Deep/Light) are not exposed granularly via HC. GPS and VO₂ max require the Fitbit Web API.
• •Before closing the account: export via Takeout, then request GDPR deletion. Never in the reverse order.