Google is expanding automatic activity tracking across selected Fitbit and Pixel Watch devices, increasing the number of recognised exercise types from 10 to more than 100.

The upgrade is designed to reduce the need for users to manually start a workout or switch activity modes when moving between different forms of exercise.

The expanded detection system is coming to Fitbit Air, Fitbit Edge and Pixel Watch 3, 4 and 5.

Google Fitbit Air (Obsidian)

Google Fitbit Air

Google says the new system can identify a much wider range of activities, including strength training, swimming, racket sports, team sports, golf, cardio equipment and high-intensity workouts.

Rather than relying only on movement, Google Health can also consider a user’s previous exercise habits, activity history, manual corrections and, where permission is granted, location data.

Google claims the added context makes workout detection almost twice as accurate while reducing missed activities by more than half.

For an exercise session to be logged automatically, it generally needs to meet a minimum duration, set to 15 minutes by default, and include an elevated heart rate.

Detected activities should then appear in Google Health within around 30 minutes.

Users can correct any incorrectly identified workout, with those changes used to help improve future detection.

The feature is being delivered through Google Health version 5.11. It is already widely available on iOS and continues to roll out on Android.

Users receiving the update are also seeing a new setup screen for expanded activity detection.

Fitbit Air is also gaining another health feature later this month through Health Guardian for Google Health Premium subscribers.

Health Guardian can monitor trends including blood pressure and insulin resistance and generate a monthly report for users who meet the required wear-time thresholds.

Google Health Coach can then use those trends to adjust fitness and wellness recommendations.