Pixel Watch 3 and 4 update breaks SpO2 and skin temp data

Pixel Watch 3 and 4 users are reporting another messy Fitbit software issue, this time linked to missing SpO2 and skin temperature tracking after a recent Fitbit update. Several users say permissions were silently reset, causing overnight health metrics to stop recording altogether.

The complaints follow Fitbit update 3.57.1.2.910093395.release. While some users managed to restore tracking by re-enabling permissions or restarting devices, others say the permissions page itself appeared broken and would not allow access to be restored.

The same type of bug keeps returning

The frustration is not really about one failed update. It is that users say similar problems have appeared repeatedly over the past year.

Comments across Reddit describe updates breaking sleep tracking, step counts, SpO2 readings and syncing. One user said they had disabled auto updates entirely. Another said they only realised their blood oxygen tracking had stopped after checking the Fitbit app days later.

That is the awkward thing about background health features. Users expect them to work quietly without needing constant attention. Once people start checking permissions after every update, confidence in the software starts to disappear.

Fitbit acknowledged the issue

This does not appear to be an isolated complaint from a single user. FitbitHelpCommunity responded publicly and said work was underway to restore access to SpO2 and skin temperature tracking after the recent firmware update.

Thank you for the detailed feedback regarding the recent firmware update (3.57.1.2.910093395.release).

We regret the disruption to your health tracking experience caused by these permission resets. Work is underway to restore access to SpO2 and skin temperature tracking features. We appreciate your patience while this is being resolved.

Another community response later claimed the issue had been resolved. However, some users are still reporting problems in the discussion thread.

Not everyone seems affected. One commenter said their Pixel Watch had been stable for over a year. But enough users are reporting similar behaviour that it is becoming a recurring theme around Pixel Watch software updates.

Premium watch, frustrating software

The bigger problem for Google is perception. Pixel Watch 3 and 4 sit in the premium smartwatch category, where buyers expect reliable health tracking without random interruptions.

That matters even more after the recent Fitbit Air release. Google is now pushing further into screenless, passive health tracking, where users are asked to trust the app, the sensors and the background data pipeline without much direct interaction.

That is why bugs involving permissions feel especially damaging. SpO2 and skin temperature are passive features that should work automatically in the background. When updates silently disable them, the watch starts to feel unreliable even if the hardware itself is solid.

Google has improved Pixel Watch hardware steadily over the past few generations. But the software side still feels less consistent than it should in 2026, particularly for products positioned around serious everyday health tracking.