Posted by Brenda Shaw – Well being & Dwelling Accomplice Engineering Technical Author
At Google, we’re dedicated to empowering builders as they construct distinctive well being and health experiences. Core to that dedication is Well being Join, an Android platform that permits well being and health apps to retailer and share the identical on-device information. Android gadgets working Android 14 or which have the pre-installed APK will mechanically have Well being Join by default in Settings. For pre-Android 14 gadgets, Well being Join is offered for obtain from the Play Retailer.
We’re excited to announce important Well being Join updates just like the Jetpack SDK Beta, new datatypes and new permissions that may allow richer, extra insightful app functionalities.
Jetpack SDK is now in Beta
We’re excited to announce the beta launch of our Jetback SDK! Since its preliminary launch, we have devoted important effort to bettering information completeness, with a selected concentrate on enriching the metadata related to every information level.
Within the newest SDK, we’re introducing two key modifications designed to make sure richer metadata and unlock new potentialities for you and your customers:
Make Recording Technique Obligatory
To ship extra correct and insightful information, the Beta introduces a requirement to specify considered one of 4 recording strategies when writing information to Well being Join. This ensures elevated information readability, enhanced information evaluation and improved consumer expertise:
In case your app at the moment doesn’t set metadata when making a file:
Earlier than
StepsRecord( depend = 888, startTime = START_TIME, endTime = END_TIME, ) // error: metadata isn't supplied
After
StepsRecord(
depend = 888,
startTime = START_TIME,
endTime = END_TIME,
metadata = Metadata.manualEntry()
)
In case your app at the moment calls Metadata constructor when making a file:
Earlier than
StepsRecord( depend = 888, startTime = START_TIME, endTime = END_TIME, metadata = Metadata( clientRecordId = "shopper id", recordingMethod = RECORDING_METHOD_MANUAL_ENTRY, ), // error: Metadata constructor not discovered )
After
StepsRecord( depend = 888, startTime = START_TIME, endTime = END_TIME, metadata = Metadata.manualEntry(clientRecordId = "shopper id"), )
Make Gadget Kind Obligatory
You’ll be required to specify gadget sort when making a Gadget object. A tool object can be required for Robotically (RECORDING_METHOD_AUTOMATICALLY_RECORDED) or Actively (RECORDING_METHOD_ACTIVELY_RECORDED) recorded information.
Earlier than
Gadget() // error: sort not supplied
After
Gadget(sort = Gadget.Companion.TYPE_PHONE)
We consider these updates will considerably enhance the standard of knowledge inside your functions and empower you to create extra insightful consumer experiences. We encourage you to discover the Jetpack SDK Beta and evaluation the up to date Metadata web page and familiarize your self with these modifications.
New background reads permission
To allow richer, background-driven well being and health experiences whereas sustaining consumer belief, Well being Join now incorporates a devoted background reads permission.
This permission permits your app to entry Well being Join information whereas working within the background, supplied the consumer grants express consent. Customers retain full management, with the flexibility to handle or revoke this permission at any time by way of Well being Join settings.
Let your app learn well being information even within the background with the brand new Background Reads permission. Declare the next permission in your manifest file:
"android.permission.well being.READ_HEALTH_DATA_IN_BACKGROUND" /> ...
Use the Characteristic Availability API to verify if the consumer has the background learn characteristic accessible, based on the model of Well being Join they’ve on their gadgets.
Permit your app to learn historic information
By default, when granted learn permission, your app can entry historic information from different apps for the previous 30 days from the preliminary permission grant. To allow entry to information past this 30-day window, Well being Join introduces the PERMISSION_READ_HEALTH_DATA_HISTORY permission. This permits your app to supply new customers with a complete overview of their well being and wellness historical past.
Customers are in charge of their information with each background reads and historical past reads. Each capabilities require builders to declare the respective permissions, and customers should grant the permission earlier than builders can entry their information. Even after granting permission, customers have the choice of revoking entry at any time from Well being Join settings.
Extra information entry and kinds
Well being Join now gives expanded information varieties, enabling builders to construct richer consumer experiences and supply deeper insights. Try the next new information varieties:
- Train Routes permits customers to share train routes with different apps for a seamless synchronized exercise. By permitting customers to share all routes or one route, their related train actions and maps for his or her exercises can be synced with the health apps of their selection.

- The pores and skin temperature information sort measures peripheral physique temperature unlocking insights round sleep high quality, reproductive well being, and the potential onset of sickness.
- Well being Join additionally gives a deliberate train information sort to allow coaching apps to jot down coaching plans and exercise apps to learn coaching plans. Recorded workout routines (exercises) could be learn again for customized efficiency evaluation to assist customers obtain their coaching targets. Entry granular exercise information, together with classes, blocks, and steps, for complete efficiency evaluation and customized suggestions.
These new information varieties empower builders to create extra related and insightful well being and health functions, offering customers with a holistic view of their well-being.
To be taught extra about all new APIs and bug fixes, take a look at the full launch notes.
Get began with the Well being Join Jetpack SDK
Whether or not you’re simply getting began with Well being Join or need to implement the newest options, there are various methods to be taught extra and have your voice heard.
- Subscribe to our e-newsletter: Keep up-to-date with the newest information, bulletins, and assets from Google Well being and Health. Subscribe to our Well being and Health Google Developer Publication and get the newest updates delivered straight to your inbox.
- Try our Well being Join developer information: The Well being and Health Developer Heart is your one-stop-shop for constructing well being and health apps on Android – together with a strong information for getting began with Well being Join.
- Report a difficulty: Encountered a bug or technical situation? Report it on to our group by way of the Situation Tracker so we will examine and resolve it. It’s also possible to request a characteristic or present suggestions with Situation Tracker.
We are able to’t wait to see what you create!