If you have an Android phone, you may have noticed that MigraineMe asks for permission through something called Health Connect. You may have thought, "What is that? I just want my Fitbit data."
Here is the short version: Health Connect is a bridge. It sits in the middle. Your devices and apps put their numbers into Health Connect, and MigraineMe takes its numbers out of Health Connect. The two never need to talk to each other directly.
Let's draw it in words.
The bridge, in words
Picture three boxes lined up.
- On the left, your Fitbit, or your food diary app, or your Samsung Health app.
- In the middle, the Health Connect app.
- On the right, MigraineMe.
The arrows go like this:
Your Fitbit → Health Connect → MigraineMe
Health Connect is the middle box. It gathers readings from all your devices into one place. Then, with your permission, other apps (like MigraineMe) can read from it.
Do I have Health Connect?
If your phone runs Android 14 or newer, Health Connect is already built in. You do not need to download it.
If your phone runs Android 13 or older, you may need to install Health Connect from the Play Store. It is free, made by Google, and tiny.
- Open the Play Store.
- Type Health Connect into the search bar.
- Tap the result by Google LLC.
- Tap Install.
That is all. Once it is installed, it works the same as on newer phones.
Why it works this way
You might say, "Why not just connect Fitbit straight to MigraineMe?" There are good reasons for the bridge.
- One place for everything. You can have many devices, and they all land in Health Connect. MigraineMe only needs to ask one place for data.
- Privacy by design. Health Connect lives on your phone. Your numbers stay on your phone unless you choose otherwise. MigraineMe must ask for permission, category by category, before it can read anything.
- You stay in charge. You can turn off any data type at any time. MigraineMe will stop reading it the moment you flip the switch.
What "categories" means
In Health Connect, your data is sorted into categories: Steps, Sleep, Heart Rate, Weight, Blood Pressure, and so on. When MigraineMe asks for permission, you see a list. You can say yes to some and no to others. MigraineMe only reads the ones you say yes to.
How to check what MigraineMe is reading
- Open the Settings app on your phone.
- Tap Apps (or Apps and notifications).
- Find and tap Health Connect.
- Tap Data and access, then App permissions.
- Find and tap MigraineMe.
You will see a list of switches. Green or blue means MigraineMe can read that category. Grey means it cannot.
If you ever want MigraineMe to stop reading something, flip the switch off here.
What happens behind the scenes
MigraineMe checks Health Connect for new readings (last night's sleep, today's steps) each time you open the app, and about once an hour in the background. It only fetches what changed. No constant chatter, no battery drain.
If something goes wrong
- The most common cause: the device's own app has not been told to write to Health Connect.
- Open that app (Fitbit, Samsung Health, your food diary, and so on).
- In its settings, look for Health Connect.
- Tap Connect and tap Allow.
- Now open MigraineMe, tap the gear icon, then Data and Notifications, and check that the matching category is on.
Health Connect is just a quiet helper that keeps everything tidy and keeps your data on your phone.
