Once your Pixel Watch is set up, you will notice two phone apps doing different jobs. The Pixel Watch app manages the watch itself, while the Fitbit app holds your activity, sleep and exercise history. Knowing which app does what saves a lot of tapping around.
If you have not paired your watch yet, start with our Pixel Watch setup guide. This article picks up from there.
The Simple Split
- The watch: quick glances, workouts, tiles, notifications and controls on your wrist.
- The Pixel Watch app: settings, watch faces, tiles order, notifications and software updates.
- The Fitbit app: steps, heart rate, sleep, exercise history, goals and health trends.
Both apps need to stay installed and signed in. If you remove the Fitbit app, the watch keeps telling time and showing notifications, but your health data has nowhere to sync. If you remove the Pixel Watch app, you lose access to most watch settings from your phone.
Where to Find Common Tasks
| Task | Where to Do It |
|---|---|
| Change or edit a watch face | Watch or Pixel Watch app |
| Choose which apps can send notifications | Pixel Watch app |
| Install a software update | Pixel Watch app or watch settings |
| Start a workout | Watch (Fitbit Exercise) |
| Review sleep and past workouts | Fitbit app |
| Set step or activity goals | Fitbit app |
| Share data with other apps | Fitbit app with Health Connect |
Quick answer: if it is about how the watch looks or behaves, open the Pixel Watch app. If it is about your health or activity numbers, open the Fitbit app.
A Typical Day With Both Apps
- Morning: open the Fitbit app to sync and review last night’s sleep.
- During the day: check steps and heart rate on watch tiles, no phone needed.
- Workout: start it from the Fitbit Exercise app on the watch, then view the summary in the Fitbit app afterward.
- Evening: adjust notifications or bedtime mode in the Pixel Watch app if the watch buzzed too much.
You do not need to open either app constantly. The watch syncs in the background when your phone is nearby. Opening the Fitbit app now and then simply speeds things up and lets you see the full history in one place.
Your Google Account and Data
The Fitbit app now runs on a Google Account, which is where your health history is stored. Our article on the Fitbit Google account switch explains what changed. To send your Fitbit data to other fitness apps on Android, connect it through Health Connect.
When Something Goes Wrong
- Data missing in the Fitbit app: open the app to force a sync, then see our Fitbit syncing fixes.
- Battery dropping fast: review settings in the Pixel Watch app and follow our Pixel Watch battery guide.
- Watch not connecting at all: check Bluetooth and restart both the watch and phone.
Thinking about upgrading? Our Pixel Watch 4 review covers what the newer model adds.
Final Thoughts
Think of the Pixel Watch app as the watch’s control panel and the Fitbit app as your health journal. Once that split clicks, finding any setting or stat takes seconds.
FAQs
Do I need the Fitbit app for a Pixel Watch?
Yes, for health and fitness features. The watch works for notifications without it, but your activity, sleep and workout history live in the Fitbit app.
Where do I change my Pixel Watch face?
On the watch or in the Pixel Watch app. Touch and hold the current face on the watch, or open Watch faces in the app.
Can the Pixel Watch work with an iPhone?
No. The Pixel Watch needs an Android phone for setup and daily use.
Why are my steps different on the watch and in the app?
The app has not synced yet. Open the Fitbit app with the watch nearby and the numbers should match within a few moments.
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