What's New in Google Health 5.06

Google released version 5.06 of the Google Health app on August 14, 2026, for both Android and iOS . The headline feature is a new "Coaching" settings section that lets users control whether AI Coach insights appear on the Today tab (the app's home screen) .

The Two Modes

• Standard — The default mode, which continues to show full AI Coach messages, proactive conversational insights, and daily summaries on the Today tab .
• No Coach insights — Removes all Health Coach commentary and guidance from the Today tab, leaving only basic activity and sleep metrics. Users can still access Health Coach on-demand through other parts of the app .

How to Change the Setting

To switch modes: tap your profile icon in the upper right of the app, go to Google Health settings, then select the Coach menu. From there, choose between "Standard" and "No Coach insights" .

Why Google Made the Change

This update is a direct response to the significant user backlash that began in May 2026, when Google Health replaced the standalone Fitbit app .

Fitbit users flooded social media and support forums with complaints that the AI Coach was:

• Too verbose — one user described it as having "inanely comment[ed] on things you've already done"
• Hallucinating — reports of the AI Coach creating workout summaries for exercises that never happened
• Cluttering the interface — many said the redesign prioritized AI commentary over easy access to core fitness data

A survey by Android Authority even found that 50% of users didn't like the new Google Health app . Google acknowledged the criticism, promised fixes, and version 5.06 is the most direct result of that promise .

Rollout Details

The update is rolling out in phases over the course of about a week, depending on carrier and device . Google described the release as beginning on August 14 and continuing in stages, which is consistent with its typical staged server-side rollout approach for Health app updates .

Historical Context: The Fitbit Transition

The backlash against the AI Coach was part of a larger storm that started when Google officially replaced the 14-year-old Fitbit app with Google Health on May 26, 2026 . The transition was widely criticized for:

• Removing beloved features like badges and sleep animals
• Introducing syncing problems and a cluttered redesign
• Forcing the AI-powered Health Coach onto users' home screens

Google has been releasing near-monthly updates (5.01, 5.02, 5.03, 5.04, 5.05) to address these complaints, with version 5.06 being the most significant user-requested change .

Related AI Policy Changes at Google

Separately, in August 2026, Google updated several AI governance documents:

• Generative AI Prohibited Use Policy — refreshed to explicitly prohibit generating content that facilitates violent extremism, non-consensual intimate imagery, or illegal activities .
• Gemini Apps Privacy Hub — last updated June 29, 2026, clarifies that Google relies on user consent for features like Voice Match, Memory, and using audio/Live recordings for service improvements .
• Google Workspace Generative AI Privacy Hub — updated August 14, 2026, confirms that enterprise-grade data protections apply automatically to Gemini and that content is not shared externally without permission .

These changes reflect a broader push to tighten AI consent and data usage policies across Google's ecosystem.

What This Means for Users

If you're a Fitbit veteran who's been frustrated by the AI Coach taking over your home screen, the new "No Coach insights" mode in version 5.06 is exactly what you've been waiting for. It doesn't remove the Coach entirely—you can still chat with it for specific questions or access it in other parts of the app—but it finally gives you the option to see your data without the commentary.

What's New in Google Health 5.06

Google released version 5.06 of the Google Health app on August 14, 2026, for both Android and iOS . The headline feature is a new "Coaching" settings section that lets users control whether AI Coach insights appear on the Today tab (the app's home screen) .

The Two Modes

• Standard — The default mode, which continues to show full AI Coach messages, proactive conversational insights, and daily summaries on the Today tab .
• No Coach insights — Removes all Health Coach commentary and guidance from the Today tab, leaving only basic activity and sleep metrics. Users can still access Health Coach on-demand through other parts of the app .

How to Change the Setting

To switch modes: tap your profile icon in the upper right of the app, go to Google Health settings, then select the Coach menu. From there, choose between "Standard" and "No Coach insights" .

Why Google Made the Change

This update is a direct response to the significant user backlash that began in May 2026, when Google Health replaced the standalone Fitbit app .

Fitbit users flooded social media and support forums with complaints that the AI Coach was:

• Too verbose — one user described it as having "inanely comment[ed] on things you've already done"
• Hallucinating — reports of the AI Coach creating workout summaries for exercises that never happened
• Cluttering the interface — many said the redesign prioritized AI commentary over easy access to core fitness data

A survey by Android Authority even found that 50% of users didn't like the new Google Health app . Google acknowledged the criticism, promised fixes, and version 5.06 is the most direct result of that promise .

Rollout Details

The update is rolling out in phases over the course of about a week, depending on carrier and device . Google described the release as beginning on August 14 and continuing in stages, which is consistent with its typical staged server-side rollout approach for Health app updates .

Historical Context: The Fitbit Transition

The backlash against the AI Coach was part of a larger storm that started when Google officially replaced the 14-year-old Fitbit app with Google Health on May 26, 2026 . The transition was widely criticized for:

• Removing beloved features like badges and sleep animals
• Introducing syncing problems and a cluttered redesign
• Forcing the AI-powered Health Coach onto users' home screens

Google has been releasing near-monthly updates (5.01, 5.02, 5.03, 5.04, 5.05) to address these complaints, with version 5.06 being the most significant user-requested change .

Related AI Policy Changes at Google

Separately, in August 2026, Google updated several AI governance documents:

• Generative AI Prohibited Use Policy — refreshed to explicitly prohibit generating content that facilitates violent extremism, non-consensual intimate imagery, or illegal activities .
• Gemini Apps Privacy Hub — last updated June 29, 2026, clarifies that Google relies on user consent for features like Voice Match, Memory, and using audio/Live recordings for service improvements .
• Google Workspace Generative AI Privacy Hub — updated August 14, 2026, confirms that enterprise-grade data protections apply automatically to Gemini and that content is not shared externally without permission .

These changes reflect a broader push to tighten AI consent and data usage policies across Google's ecosystem.

What This Means for Users

If you're a Fitbit veteran who's been frustrated by the AI Coach taking over your home screen, the new "No Coach insights" mode in version 5.06 is exactly what you've been waiting for. It doesn't remove the Coach entirely—you can still chat with it for specific questions or access it in other parts of the app—but it finally gives you the option to see your data without the commentary.