Digital Wellbeing code says walking detection is going away. We think Google is making a mistake.
Strings in Digital Wellbeing beta 1.48 say walking detection is going away soon. The feature still works today.
Launched in 2021, it uses motion sensors to spot when you walk while using your phone and nudges you to look up.
Likely reasons are battery cost from sensor tracking and low use as a buried, opt-in setting.
Google never promoted it during setup or in Pixel Drops. Low adoption shows people never found it.
Surface it, make it lighter on battery and let it evolve. Deleting a safety feature over bad marketing is the wrong fix.
Google Shouldn’t Kill Android’s Heads Up Alerts. It Should Make People Use Them