Google Fixes Pixel Watch Step Overcounting Bug

Google has rolled out a software fix for a widespread bug affecting Pixel Watch users, which caused the devices to overcount steps and inflate calorie burn estimates following a recent March update. The issue impacted fitness tracking across all generations of the Pixel Watch, from the original model launched in 2022 to the latest versions, leading to inaccurate data that frustrated users relying on the wearables for health monitoring.

The problem emerged shortly after the March feature drop, which introduced new functionalities but also triggered errors in the Fitbit-integrated app and Wear OS platform. Users reported that the watches double-counted steps during tracked workouts, logging them both in exercise sessions and the background pedometer. This resulted in totals that were often nearly double the actual figures; for instance, a 5,000-step run could appear as 10,000 steps for the day. Even on sedentary days, some devices displayed unrealistically high stats, such as thousands of steps from minimal movement like walking to the bathroom. Calorie estimates, derived partly from step data, were similarly exaggerated, prompting concerns over misguided dietary and exercise...