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    Health & Wellness Tech
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    4 min read 5 stepsApril 20, 2026Verified April 2026

    Google Fit: Tracking Steps, Heart Rate, and Activity on Android

    How to set up and use Google Fit on your Android phone or Wear OS smartwatch to track your daily movement and health goals.

    At a Glance

    Category
    Health & Wellness Tech
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Read Time
    4 min read
    Steps
    5
    Topics covered
    Google Fit
    Android
    fitness tracking
    steps
    heart rate
    Wear OS
    activity

    In this guide (5 steps):

    1. 1.Download and open Google Fit
    2. 2.Set up your personal profile
    3. 3.Set your weekly activity goal
    4. 4.Start tracking a workout manually
    5. 5.Review your weekly progress
    1

    Download and open Google Fit

    ~15s
    On your Android phone, open the Google Play Store and search for "Google Fit." Tap Install and then Open when it finishes downloading. Sign in with your Google account — the same Gmail address you use for email or YouTube.
    2

    Set up your personal profile

    ~15s
    Google Fit will ask for your height, weight, sex, and date of birth. Enter these as accurately as you can. They are used to calculate calorie burn and set appropriate activity goals. You can update this information at any time in Settings.
    3

    Set your weekly activity goal

    ~24s
    On the home screen, look for your Heart Points or Move Minutes goal. Tap it to adjust. The default is 150 Heart Points per week (the WHO recommended minimum). If you are new to tracking, consider setting a smaller goal — like 50 Heart Points — and building from there over the first month.

    Quick Tip

    A brisk 30-minute walk earns roughly 30 Heart Points. Three brisk walks per week meets the weekly minimum.

    4

    Start tracking a workout manually

    ~20s
    For activities like walking, cycling, or swimming, tap the plus button (+) at the bottom of the screen and select Add Activity. Choose the type of activity and enter the duration, or tap Start to begin a real-time tracked workout. Google Fit will use your phone's GPS and motion sensors to track distance and calculate Heart Points earned.
    5

    Review your weekly progress

    ~22s
    Tap the Journal tab at the bottom to see a log of all your activities. Tap the Home tab and scroll down to see your weekly Heart Points and Move Minutes charts. Are you on track for your goal? If you are falling short, think about one additional short walk you could add each day — even a 10-minute walk after dinner adds up over a week.

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    Google Fit is a free health tracking app made by Google, designed for Android phones and Wear OS smartwatches. It tracks your daily steps, active minutes, heart rate (if your device has a sensor), and workouts. It also displays a weekly goal based on the World Health Organization's recommended guidelines for physical activity.

    Google Fit uses two main metrics to guide your fitness goals. Heart Points are earned when your heart rate reaches a moderate or vigorous exercise level — 30 Heart Points per week is the recommended minimum for general health. Move Minutes are counted any time you are actively moving — walking, cleaning, playing with grandchildren, or gardening all count.

    These metrics were developed in partnership with the American Heart Association and WHO and are considered more meaningful than step counts alone, because they account for how hard your heart is working, not only how many steps you take.

    Google Fit works on most Android phones running Android 4.4 or later and is available free from the Google Play Store. If you have a Wear OS smartwatch (such as a Fossil Gen 6, Mobvoi TicWatch, or Google Pixel Watch), Google Fit syncs automatically between your phone and watch.

    Google Fit also integrates with other health apps — including MyFitnessPal, Strava, Sleep as Android, and many others — so all your health data can appear in one place.

    Quick Tip: Google Fit's walking detection is automatic — as long as you carry your phone with you during the day, your steps and activity are recorded without you needing to start anything manually.

    Important disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only. Activity tracking apps are wellness tools and do not replace medical advice. Consult your doctor before a lot increasing your physical activity level, especially if you have a heart condition, joint problems, or other health concerns.

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    Google Fit
    Android
    fitness tracking
    steps
    heart rate
    Wear OS
    activity

    Official Resources

    Medicare.govMedlinePlus — Health InfoAARP Health & Technology

    Sources used to create and verify this guide. View all sources →

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