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The Apple Watch heart rate feature you probably didn’t realize existed
Apple Watch owners may be able to use a dedicated ECG app to obtain a more detailed picture of their heart rhythm than the watch’s standard heart-rate tracking provides. The feature records electrical signals from the heart and can flag certain irregular rhythms, but it is not intended to diagnose heart attacks or replace urgent medical care.
The ECG app is available on Apple Watch Series 4 and later, excluding SE models, as well as all Ultra models, subject to local availability and current iOS and watchOS software. Users set it up through the iPhone Health app, then hold a finger on the Digital Crown for 30 seconds while wearing the watch snugly; results can include sinus rhythm, indicating a uniform rhythm between 50 and 100 beats per minute at the time of measurement, or atrial fibrillation, indicating an irregular rhythm.
In short
- Apple Watch ECG offers more detailed heart-rhythm readings.
- It supports Series 4 onward, except SE models.
- It cannot diagnose heart attacks or replace medical care.
Explained simply
An electrocardiogram, or ECG, records the electrical signals that control the heartbeat. Apple’s ECG app uses sensors in some Apple Watch models to take a brief reading, giving a more detailed view of heart rhythm than routine pulse tracking.
The app is available on Series 4 and later watches, apart from SE models, and on all Ultra models, depending on local availability and software. It can identify patterns such as a regular rhythm or atrial fibrillation, an irregular rhythm linked to a risk of stroke.
An ECG reading is a limited snapshot and cannot diagnose a heart attack or replace medical care. Apple Watch heart features are tools for monitoring, and concerns about symptoms need appropriate medical attention.