Written by Sara Hamilton, Developer Relations Engineer
As different health and fitness data points are interconnected, it’s essential to bring this data together and give users a holistic view of their health data. To achieve this goal, Android Health aims to simplify the process of developing robust health and fitness apps, combining two essential platforms for developers; Health Connect and Health Services.
What is Android Health?
Android Health’s two major platforms are:
Health Connect: An on-device data store that offers APIs for sharing and storing health and fitness data between Android apps. Health Connect provides a consistent set of 40+ data types, making it easier for developers to share data between apps and granting users more control over data sharing permissions.
Health Services: An API surface for accessing sensor data on Wear OS devices in a power-efficient way, providing a consistent API surface across all Wear OS 3+ devices to enable developers to write once and run on all devices, while reducing battery usage.
What’s New?
Improved Health Connect
Health Connect will be available as a core feature of Android 14, making it available on all Android mobile devices and accessible directly from Settings on users’ devices, simplifying data sharing and making it easier for people to monitor their health data.
Several new features will be shipped with the Health Connect Android 14 release, including the Exercise Routes feature, which allows users to share their workout maps via Health Connect. Improvements have also been made to help people log their menstrual cycles better, and Health Connect updates will be available through Google Play System Updates, enabling more frequent updates.
Expanded Health Services Capabilities
Android Health Services now include the Batching Modes feature, which enables developers to adjust the data delivery frequency of heart rate data to support home gym use cases. Health Services also has added API capabilities, such as golf shot detection.
With the arrival of Wear OS 4, Health Services will deliver additional updates, primarily improved background body sensor permissions, delivering improved battery life for the next generation of Wear OS watches.
Growing Developer Ecosystem
Over 50 apps are currently integrated with Health Connect, including Peloton, Withings, and Oura, whereas over 100 apps integrated with Health Services are seeing higher engagement with wear apps, enabling their users to use the apps for more extended periods.
Get Started with Android Health
Developers who want to create unique health and fitness experiences for their users are encouraged to integrate with Android Health. Wear developers are recommended to use Health Services to obtain maximum battery performance and future proofing for coming Wear OS devices.
For more information on Android Health, check out the Health Services documentation, Health Connect documentation, and code samples to get started!
