Pixel Watch step tracking is now unreliable following Google’s March 2026 firmware update, with the new version inflating step counts and disrupting Fitbit health statistics across multiple watch models. The original Pixel Watch received firmware update BW1A.260305.003, rolled out starting March 16, 2026, which Google described as a minor modem and E911 emergency dialing fix. Instead, users are reporting that their fitness data has become wildly inaccurate.
Key Takeaways
- Pixel Watch step tracking is broken after the March 2026 firmware update, with inflated step counts and missing exercise steps.
- Update BW1A.260305.003 rolled out starting March 16, 2026, phased by carrier and device globally.
- Some users report 6,000-7,000 daily calories burned due to steps being miscounted as caloric burn.
- Google and Fitbit are investigating the bug but have not yet released a fix.
- Original Pixel Watch (2022) has exceeded its three-year update guarantee and will not receive Wear OS 6+.
What’s Actually Wrong With Pixel Watch Step Tracking
The March update introduced a critical bug where Pixel Watch step tracking fails to record steps during certain exercise types while simultaneously inflating calorie burn estimates. Users report that when logging exercises like elliptical workouts or aerobics, the watch stops tracking steps entirely, yet Fitbit records those missing steps as burned calories instead. One user documented logging exercises with the watch showing 6,000 to 7,000 calories burned in a single day—a physically impossible figure that reveals the underlying data corruption.
The bug does not affect all activities uniformly. Walking steps appear to register normally in some cases, but structured exercises create a cascade of errors where step data converts into calorie calculations. This is not a minor display glitch—it corrupts your entire Fitbit health history and makes fitness goals unachievable to track accurately. If you are training for an event or monitoring daily activity for health reasons, this update has rendered your watch’s health data useless until Google releases a fix.
When Did This Update Roll Out
Google began rolling out firmware update BW1A.260305.003 to the original Pixel Watch around March 16, 2026, with a phased deployment across different carriers and regions that continued over the following weeks. The update is Wear OS 5.1 based on Android 15 and arrived as part of Google’s March 2026 Pixel Drop, which also introduced new features like Express Pay and expanded satellite SOS coverage. To check if your watch has received the problematic update, navigate to Settings > System > System updates on your Pixel Watch.
If your watch claims it is fully updated but you want to verify the exact firmware version, you can force a check by going to System settings on the watch and tapping the watch icon at the top multiple times. The update has already affected thousands of users globally, so if you have noticed sudden spikes in your daily step or calorie counts, you likely have the buggy firmware installed.
How This Compares to Previous Pixel Watch Issues
This is not the first time a Pixel Watch update has broken health tracking. Previous firmware versions previously disrupted SpO2 (blood oxygen) and skin temperature readings in Fitbit for some users, establishing a troubling pattern where Google prioritizes modem and security fixes over health data integrity. The Pixel Watch ecosystem has struggled with data reliability since launch, and users who depend on accurate fitness metrics have learned to approach each update with caution.
Unlike smartwatches from competitors that isolate health tracking in dedicated firmware, the Pixel Watch ties step counting and calorie burn calculations to the same system update that handles connectivity and emergency features. This architectural choice means that a modem fix can inadvertently corrupt months of fitness history. Users of other wearables do not typically face this level of data disruption from routine firmware updates.
What Google Has Said (and Not Said)
Google has publicly acknowledged the bug and stated that Fitbit is investigating it, but the company has not provided an estimated fix date or interim workaround. A Fitbit community moderator confirmed awareness of a separate but related bug affecting calorie goal changes and recommended a workaround: instead of updating your calorie target from the Today tab in Fitbit, navigate to You > Goals > Nutrition > Calorie Target. This workaround does nothing to fix the step tracking inflation, however.
The radio silence on a fix timeline is concerning given the severity. Users cannot trust their fitness data, cannot set accurate activity goals, and cannot compare their health metrics across time. For anyone using Fitbit as part of a weight loss or fitness regimen, this update has effectively broken the app’s core functionality.
Should You Update Your Pixel Watch
If your original Pixel Watch (2022 model) has not yet received the update, you face a difficult choice. The update does fix E911 emergency dialing behavior, which is a safety feature you may want. However, the step tracking corruption is a deal-breaker for most users. The original Pixel Watch has already exceeded its three-year update guarantee and will not receive Wear OS 6 or future major releases, meaning this buggy version could be your device’s final firmware for years.
If you have a Pixel Watch 2, 3, or 4, the calculus is slightly different because these models will continue to receive updates. You may want to hold off on updating until Google releases a hotfix, but Google does not offer a way to delay or roll back updates on Wear OS devices. Check your watch settings to see if the update has already been pushed to your device, and if it has not, you may have a brief window to back up your Fitbit data before the update installs automatically.
Will Google Fix This
Google adopted a quarterly update schedule for Pixel devices, with the next expected update arriving in June 2026. That is a three-month wait for users currently suffering from corrupted fitness data. The company may release an emergency hotfix sooner, but there is no guarantee. In the meantime, your Pixel Watch is collecting inaccurate data that will skew your health trends and make it impossible to set realistic fitness goals.
FAQ
Is the Pixel Watch still worth buying with this step tracking bug
Not until Google fixes the step tracking issue. The Pixel Watch 4 45mm WiFi model is currently discounted to £329 from £399 on Amazon UK, but a low price does not compensate for broken health tracking. Wait for confirmation that Google has released a fix before purchasing.
How do I check if my Pixel Watch has the buggy firmware
Go to Settings > System > System updates on your watch to see the current firmware version. If it shows BW1A.260305.003, you have the buggy update. If your watch says it is up to date but you want to force a check, navigate to System settings and tap the watch icon at the top multiple times.
Can I downgrade my Pixel Watch to an earlier firmware version
No. Google does not provide a way to roll back Wear OS updates on the Pixel Watch. Once the update installs, your only option is to wait for Google to release a fix.
The Pixel Watch step tracking bug highlights a fundamental problem with tying health data to system firmware updates. Until Google separates health tracking from modem and security patches, users should approach each Pixel Watch update with extreme caution and back up their Fitbit data before installing anything new. For now, your Pixel Watch cannot be trusted to accurately count your steps or calculate your calories.
This article was written with AI assistance and editorially reviewed.
Source: Android Central
