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    Health & Wellness Tech
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    4 min read 4 stepsApril 19, 2026Verified April 2026

    How to Use the Apple Watch ECG and Heart Rate Features

    Apple Watch can take an ECG reading and detect irregular heart rhythms. Here's how to use these health monitoring features and what to do with the results.

    In this guide (4 steps):

    1. 1.Check if your Apple Watch supports ECG and set it up
    2. 2.Take an ECG reading
    3. 3.View and share ECG results with your doctor
    4. 4.Set up irregular heart rhythm notifications
    1

    Check if your Apple Watch supports ECG and set it up

    ~36s
    ECG requires Apple Watch Series 4 or later and iPhone 6s or later. Before you can use ECG, you must set up the Health app on your iPhone. Open the Health app → tap "Browse" → "Heart" → "Electrocardiograms (ECG)" → follow the setup prompts. You'll enter your date of birth (the feature is only available for ages 22 and older). After setup, the ECG app appears on your Apple Watch.

    Quick Tip

    Quick Tip: ECG is only available in certain countries. In the US, it has been cleared by the FDA. Open the Health app on your iPhone to confirm ECG setup is available on your device.

    2

    Take an ECG reading

    ~40s
    On your Apple Watch, open the ECG app (red heart with lines icon). Rest your arm on a flat surface. Place the finger of your opposite hand on the Digital Crown (the dial on the side of the watch). Hold still and maintain gentle pressure for 30 seconds. The watch records your heart's electrical activity. After 30 seconds, results appear on the watch screen: Sinus Rhythm (normal), Atrial Fibrillation, Low or High Heart Rate, Inconclusive, or Poor Recording (usually means you moved too much — try again).

    Quick Tip

    Quick Tip: For accurate results: rest comfortably before taking the reading, make sure the watch is snug but not too tight on your wrist, keep your arm still and relaxed, and do not take a reading during or right after exercise.

    3

    View and share ECG results with your doctor

    ~40s
    All ECG readings are saved in the Health app on your iPhone. Open HealthBrowseHeartElectrocardiograms to see your history. Tap any reading to see the waveform and result. To share with your doctor: tap the reading → "Export a PDF for your Doctor" → save or email the PDF. This PDF shows your ECG waveform in a format physicians can read. Bring this to your next appointment or message your doctor through MyChart or your patient portal.

    Warning

    A "Sinus Rhythm" result means no AFib was detected during that 30-second window. It does not mean your heart is completely healthy. The ECG is not a substitute for a comprehensive cardiac evaluation — share findings with your doctor for proper interpretation.

    4

    Set up irregular heart rhythm notifications

    ~24s
    Apple Watch monitors your heart rhythm passively throughout the day and can notify you if it detects signs of AFib even when you are not actively taking an ECG. To enable: Health appBrowseHeartIrregular Rhythm Notifications → turn on. You will receive an alert if your watch detects an irregular rhythm. These notifications are a prompt to check in with your doctor, not a diagnosis.

    You Did It!

    You've completed: How to Use the Apple Watch ECG and Heart Rate Features

    Need more help? Get Expert Help from a TekSure Tech

    The Apple Watch Series 4 and later can take an electrocardiogram (ECG) — the same type of heart tracing used in doctors' offices — from your wrist. While it is not a medical diagnostic device and cannot detect all heart problems, it can detect signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib), an irregular heart rhythm that increases risk of stroke and is often missed because it comes and goes.

    Apple Watch also monitors your heart rate continuously throughout the day and can alert you if your resting heart rate seems unusually high or low. For older adults, these features provide a valuable window into cardiovascular health between doctor visits.

    This guide shows you how to use the ECG feature and understand what it tells you.

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    Official Resources

    Medicare.govMedlinePlus — Health InfoAARP Health & Technology

    Sources used to create and verify this guide. View all sources →

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    How to Use the Apple Watch ECG and Heart Rate Features — Step-by-Step Guide | TekSure