A factory reset could soon cost Fitbit owners more than their settings and saved preferences. Google is shutting down third-party app and watch face support for several Fitbit smartwatch models, leaving users with no way to recover certain apps once they’re removed. The November 28, 2026 deadline gives owners one last opportunity to install or update supported third-party content before the Fitbit App Gallery changes permanently.
Fitbit Sense and Versa owners are losing third-party app support
Starting November 28, the Fitbit App Gallery will no longer allow third-party apps and watch faces to be installed or updated. Google has confirmed that the gallery will continue operating, but only applications and watch faces developed by Fitbit and Google will remain available. For owners who rely on independent developers for additional smartwatch features, the change effectively closes off a significant part of the Fitbit software ecosystem.
The decision covers eight smartwatch models: Fitbit Sense, Sense 2, Versa, Versa Lite, Versa 2, Versa 3, Versa 4, and Ionic. However, the impact will vary depending on the Fitbit smartwatch model. The Sense 2 and Versa 4 were released without support for third-party applications, although they retained access to compatible third-party watch faces. Owners of older Sense and Versa generations potentially have more functionality to lose.
Google says previously installed third-party apps and watch faces will continue working after the deadline. They won’t disappear automatically from users’ watches. The restriction becomes permanent when an app or watch face is deleted, or when the smartwatch undergoes a factory reset. In either situation, the removed software can no longer be downloaded from the official gallery.
Why a factory reset could permanently erase your favorite Fitbit apps
For longtime Fitbit users, factory resetting a Fitbit smartwatch will carry an additional risk. Restoring factory settings is a common troubleshooting procedure when a device experiences synchronization errors, software glitches, or other problems. Until now, owners could typically reinstall their preferred third-party applications afterward. Starting November 28, that recovery option will no longer exist for affected third-party software.
The restriction matters particularly to runners, cyclists, and other athletes who use third-party apps to supplement Fitbit’s built-in fitness tracking features. Specialized training utilities, customized data displays, and independent watch faces may remain usable on compatible devices, but developers will no longer be able to release updates or fixes through the gallery. Google has not guaranteed that these applications will remain compatible indefinitely with future software changes.
Users who want to preserve their existing software should review their installed apps and watch faces before the deadline. Any third-party content they still want should be installed and updated while it remains available. After November 28, deleting a third-party Fitbit app or watch face means losing access to it permanently through the official gallery, even if it was previously installed or purchased.
Google also recommends updating the companion app to version 5.12 to ensure that Fitbit and Google applications and watch faces continue functioning as expected. This update does not restore third-party support or provide a way to recover removed applications. The company-developed software catalog will remain accessible to supported devices.
Third-party developers face the same November 28 deadline. They will no longer be able to upload new applications or watch faces, or distribute updates to existing ones. Google is also retiring the Gallery Admin tools, meaning developers must download their projects or request their removal before the shutdown takes effect. Their existing content will remain accessible only to users who already have it installed.
The announcement follows an earlier restriction introduced in the European Economic Area in 2024, when Google stopped distributing third-party Fitbit apps and watch faces in that region. The November 2026 change extends the policy to the remaining markets, including the United States. It also highlights the growing distinction between Fitbit’s older smartwatch platform and Google’s Pixel Watch lineup, which uses Wear OS and supports applications distributed through Google Play. For existing Sense and Versa owners, however, the immediate priority is preserving the third-party software already installed on their watches.
