To enable Samsung’s Irregular Heart Rhythm Notification (IHRN), pair a supported Galaxy Watch with a compatible Galaxy smartphone, update the watch and Samsung Health Monitor, complete the app profile, set up ECG, record a usable ECG, and then turn on IHRN from the ECG screen in Samsung Health Monitor.
The feature is available only on supported watch and phone combinations, in supported markets, and for eligible users. It is designed to identify a pattern that may suggest atrial fibrillation (AFib); it is not a continuous heart monitor or a diagnosis.
Before you start: check the requirements
Samsung’s current instructions identify the following Galaxy Watch models as compatible with Samsung Health Monitor and IHRN:
- Galaxy Watch4 and later released Galaxy Watch models
- Not Galaxy Fit
You also need:
- A compatible Samsung Galaxy smartphone paired to the watch over Bluetooth
- The Galaxy Wearable app, with the watch connected
- Current watch software
- The latest Samsung Health Monitor app on both the phone and watch, where applicable
- A completed Samsung Health Monitor profile
- To meet Samsung’s age requirement: Samsung states that Samsung Health Monitor users must be at least 22 years old; the U.S. FDA-cleared IHRN indication is for adults 22 and older
- A watch and paired phone configuration from a market where Samsung Health Monitor and IHRN are available
If you do not yet have compatible hardware, a compatible Samsung Galaxy Watch—specifically a Galaxy Watch4 or later released model—is the relevant starting point. Buying a Galaxy Watch does not by itself guarantee access: availability can also depend on the model, market of purchase, paired smartphone, carrier, and software.
How to turn on irregular heart rhythm notifications
1. Pair the watch with your Galaxy phone
Use Bluetooth to pair the watch with a compatible Galaxy smartphone. Open Galaxy Wearable, select or connect the watch, and confirm that the watch is communicating with the phone.
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If the watch is not connected through Galaxy Wearable, Samsung Health Monitor may not be able to complete setup or synchronize ECG results.
2. Update the watch and Samsung Health Monitor
In Galaxy Wearable, check for and install any available watch software update. Then update Samsung Health Monitor on the phone and watch when updates are offered. Samsung’s setup instructions call for the latest available version of the app.
Restarting the phone and watch after a major update can also help if the ECG or IHRN setup option does not appear, although the essential requirement is that the devices and app are supported and up to date.
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Download Samsung Health Monitor from the Galaxy Store if it is not already installed. Open the app on the phone, accept the applicable terms and privacy materials, and complete the profile setup.
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Depending on the watch model and software version, opening Samsung Health Monitor on the watch may prompt you to download or finish setting up the phone app. Follow that setup flow if it appears.
4. Set up ECG
On the paired phone:
- Open Samsung Health Monitor.
- Tap ECG.
- Follow the on-screen setup instructions.
You need a usable ECG recording before Samsung will let you activate IHRN. For the best chance of getting a readable recording, Samsung recommends:
- Remain still for about 5–10 minutes beforehand.
- Clean and dry the rear watch sensor.
- Wear the watch snugly, positioned away from the wrist bone.
- Rest your arms on a flat surface during the recording.
5. Record an ECG that is not classified as poor
Start an ECG recording and wait for the result. If Samsung Health Monitor labels the result Poor recording, record it again after improving the watch fit, sensor contact, and your position. A poor recording does not satisfy the activation requirement.
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Do not move, talk, or repeatedly adjust the watch during the measurement. Skin contact, moisture, a loose band, and movement can all interfere with the recording.
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6. Enable IHRN
After you have a usable ECG:
- Open Samsung Health Monitor on the paired phone.
- Return to the ECG home screen.
- Tap Get started.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to enable Irregular Heart Rhythm Notification.
The exact wording or screen order can vary slightly by watch model, software version, and market, but the activation flow begins from the ECG home screen in Samsung Health Monitor on the phone.
What IHRN does after you enable it
When IHRN is active, the watch checks pulse data a few times per day while you are still. If it detects an irregular rhythm pattern suggestive of AFib for about one hour, the watch and phone may notify you.
Samsung describes the feature as analyzing pulse-rate data and suggesting that you record an ECG when the pattern may indicate AFib. It is therefore a prompt for follow-up, not a medical diagnosis.
What IHRN does not do
- It is not continuous AFib monitoring. The watch checks periodically rather than analyzing every moment continuously.
- It cannot detect every AFib episode. Episodes lasting less than an hour may not generate a notification.
- No notification does not prove that your heart rhythm is normal. Samsung and the FDA-cleared indication state that the feature is not intended to notify users about every qualifying episode.
- It does not identify every arrhythmia or cardiac condition. IHRN is aimed at rhythms suggestive of AFib, not all possible causes of an irregular heartbeat.
- It does not replace clinical care. Do not use the feature to make medication changes or other treatment decisions without speaking with a qualified healthcare professional.
What to do if you receive an irregular rhythm notification
- Record an ECG as soon as possible. Use Samsung Health Monitor and follow the recording instructions.
- Review the ECG result. The recording synchronizes to the paired Galaxy smartphone.
- Generate the PDF report if needed. Samsung Health Monitor can create a PDF report that you can share with a healthcare professional.
- Discuss the notification and ECG with a healthcare professional. Treat the watch alert and ECG as information to support that conversation, not as a diagnosis.
Do not wait for a watch alert if you have serious symptoms. Seek emergency medical care immediately for symptoms that could indicate a cardiac emergency, such as severe or persistent chest discomfort, severe shortness of breath, fainting, or other sudden concerning symptoms. Samsung states that its ECG app cannot diagnose a heart attack and is not a substitute for professional diagnosis or treatment.
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- NEW DESIGN. LIGHTWEIGHT FEEL: Maximize your days with a minimalist design. The sleek, thinner-than-ever silhouette makes Galaxy Watch8 look as good as it functions. With a snug fit and sporty style, it gives you readings without getting in your way.
- A PERSONAL ASSISTANT, RIGHT ON YOUR WRIST: Your Watch just became your personal assistant.⁴ Stay one step ahead of your day with a watch that helps you navigate your tasks and to-do lists.
Safety limitations and precautions
Samsung’s U.S. guidance includes important restrictions for the ECG app and IHRN-related workflow:
- The U.S. indication is intended for adults aged 22 and older.
- The feature is intended to identify rhythms suggestive of AFib, not every arrhythmia.
- Do not use the ECG app with an implanted pacemaker, implanted cardiac defibrillator, or another implanted electronic device unless a qualified healthcare professional specifically advises you otherwise.
- Samsung’s U.S. instructions say not to use the ECG app for users with a known arrhythmia other than AFib.
- Do not interpret an ECG or notification as a diagnosis, and do not change medication based on it without medical advice.
These limitations apply even if the watch records an ECG successfully. A successful recording means the app obtained usable signal data; it does not establish that the result is medically definitive.
If the IHRN option is missing
Work through these checks in order:
- Check the watch. Confirm that it is a Galaxy Watch4 or later released Galaxy Watch model. Galaxy Fit devices are excluded.
- Check the phone. Confirm that the watch is paired to a compatible Galaxy smartphone through Galaxy Wearable, not merely connected to the phone by an incomplete Bluetooth setup.
- Update everything. Install available updates for the watch and Samsung Health Monitor on the relevant devices.
- Finish the profile. Reopen Samsung Health Monitor and verify that its profile and initial setup are complete.
- Check the age requirement. Samsung states that users must be at least 22 to use Samsung Health Monitor, and the U.S. IHRN indication is for adults 22 and older.
- Complete ECG setup first. IHRN activation requires a usable ECG. Record another ECG if the previous result was classified as poor.
- Improve the recording conditions. Clean and dry the sensor, wear the watch snugly away from the wrist bone, stay still, and rest your arms on a flat surface.
- Check regional availability. IHRN availability depends on the watch and phone market, device model, software, and paired-device configuration. Imported hardware or a phone from an unsupported market may not expose the feature.
Do not assume that changing the device region or attempting an unsupported region modification will make the feature available. Samsung’s official IHRN availability documentation is the appropriate reference for supported markets.
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Optional ownership fixes for ECG reliability
You do not need to buy an accessory to enable IHRN. However, if the watch will not stay snugly in the correct position, a Galaxy Watch replacement band that fits securely may help maintain consistent contact during an ECG. Samsung recommends a snug fit, but it does not require a particular band or claim that any replacement band improves medical accuracy.
Likewise, a replacement charging cable is not part of Samsung’s activation requirements. It is relevant only if the watch cannot remain charged for setup and normal use. Solve compatibility, software, profile, and ECG-recording problems first.
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Quick activation checklist
- Supported Galaxy Watch4 or later model
- Compatible Galaxy smartphone
- Bluetooth pairing completed in Galaxy Wearable
- Watch software updated
- Samsung Health Monitor updated on the phone and watch
- Samsung Health Monitor profile completed
- User meets the applicable age requirement
- ECG setup completed
- At least one ECG recorded without a “Poor recording” result
- IHRN enabled from the ECG home screen by tapping “Get started”
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can’t I find Irregular Heart Rhythm Notification on my Galaxy Watch?
The most common reasons are an unsupported watch or phone, incomplete pairing in Galaxy Wearable, outdated software, an incomplete Samsung Health Monitor profile, a missing usable ECG, or regional restrictions. Confirm each requirement before troubleshooting further.
Does Galaxy Watch continuously monitor for AFib after IHRN is enabled?
No. IHRN checks pulse a few times per day while you are still. It may miss episodes, including episodes lasting less than one hour, and a lack of notification does not rule out a heart rhythm problem.
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Does an irregular rhythm notification diagnose AFib?
No. It indicates that the watch detected a pattern suggestive of AFib and recommends recording an ECG. Discuss the notification and ECG with a healthcare professional.
What should I do if my ECG says “Poor recording”?
Clean and dry the rear sensor, wear the watch snugly away from the wrist bone, remain still, rest your arms on a flat surface, and try again. IHRN activation requires a usable ECG recording.
The Bottom Line
Enable IHRN by completing ECG setup in Samsung Health Monitor and tapping Get started on the ECG home screen after recording a usable ECG. The feature can provide an important prompt to follow up on a possible AFib pattern, but it is periodic—not continuous—and cannot replace emergency care, diagnosis, or treatment from a healthcare professional.
