Google has removed Fitbit adventures, challenges, and open groups

While your Fitbit hardware tracker will continue to count your steps, Fitbit’s new owner - Google - has been removing some of the features that made Fitbit unique.

In May 2026, Google announced that the Fitbit app would be absorbed into the broader Google Health ecosystem. The Fitbit app will be rebranded as Google Health, and Fitbit users will now be required to use a Google account instead of their Fitbit logins.

Additionally, it has been reported that Google is removing some features of the Fitbit app that users have come to love, including:

• Personalized workout plans
• Nutrition guidance
• Recovery suggestions
• Sleep analysis
• Photo-based meal tracking
• Context-aware wellness coaching

In March 2023, Fitbit announced and then removed the adventures, challenges, and open groups features from the app.

The Fitbit Adventures feature allowed users to count their steps towards “virtual walks” through famous landmarks and earn virtual rewards along the way. The Fitbit Challenges feature allowed Fitbit friends to compete in different competitions, such as the “Weekend Warrior” challenge that would place a virtual crown on who achieved the most steps between Saturday and Sunday.

It seems odd to kill off these features as they were what helped make the FitBit unique and provided some motivation by way of gamification. After the March 27th date, Fitbit users also lost access to the virtual trophies they earned through these features.

Is Fitbit being discontinued?

So is Fitbit being discontinued? No, the Fitbit hardware will continue to function, but “Fitbit” as a brand seems to be going away and becoming part of Google Health. While the basic functions, such as counting steps, are still supported on various FitBit devices like the FitBit Charge 6, Fitbit Inspire 3, and FitBit Versa, it seems like Google is dismantling the Fitbit system little by little.

It seems that Google is transforming Fitbit from a standalone fitness-tracking brand into an AI-driven health platform integrated into the broader Google ecosystem. The transition includes mandatory Google accounts, the rebranding of the Fitbit app as Google Health, removal of several legacy Fitbit social and gamified features, and a new emphasis on AI coaching and health analytics.

I am sad to see the FitBit brand being dismantled. Even when I purchased my first Apple Watch, I still wore my FitBit One for close to a year in addition to the smartwatch because I had many friends in the FitBit ecosystem and liked the friendly step competitions. If you’re looking for an alternative to FitBit, check out our guide of the best FItBit alternatives.

How can I save and backup my Fitbit data?

FitBit owners will likely want to export all their Fitbit data from their FitBit wearables so they have a backup copy just in case it is discontinued in the future. Here are the steps to do so.

1. Go to fitbit.com and sign in.
2. From the fitbit.com dashboard (where you see your steps and activites), click the gear icon in the upper-right corner.
3. Click Settings
4. On the page that loads, click Data Export on the left side.
5. Under “Export Your Account Archive,” click Request Data. (On this page, you’ll also notice a section at the bottom that allows you to save 31 days of data at a time. You could use this to download your data once-a-month going forward to keep your archive up to date.)
6. You’ll receive an email at the address associated with your Fitbit account. Open the email and confirm your data archive request.
7. You’ll receive another email with a link to download your Fitbit account data.
8. Download and save the data file to your computer.

Please note that if you have a large amount of Fitbit data, it can take up to a few days to generate your account data archive. Check the status of your request in your Data Export account settings (steps 1-4 above).

FAQs

Are Fitbits still relevant in 2026?

Fitbits are still relevant in 2026, but their role has shifted: they now sit alongside full smartwatches like the Pixel Watch 3 rather than competing head‑on, appealing most to people who want a simpler, health‑first fitness tracker with strong battery life and Fitbit features.

In fact, Google has announced a new Fitbit device in 2026. The Fitbit Air is a new screenless fitness tracker announced by Google under the Fitbit brand in May 2026. It’s designed as a minimalist wearable focused on passive health tracking rather than smartwatch features.

Fitbits vs smartwatches

Modern smartwatches like the Pixel Watch 3 offer deep smart features (apps, calls, Google Assistant, Wallet, etc.) but have shorter battery life and are more expensive than basic fitness trackers.

What’s replacing FitBit?

Nothing is strictly “replacing” Fitbit; instead, it is being repositioned while Google’s Pixel Watch line effectively replaces Fitbit-branded smartwatches for people who want a full watch OS and apps. Classic Fitbit fitness trackers are still continuing, with new Fitbit hardware confirmed for 2026 rather than being retired.

Photo by Adam Birkett on Unsplash