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Quick answer: On a compatible Galaxy Watch, open Samsung Health → Heart rate → Measure and stay still until the result appears. For automatic readings, go to Samsung Health → Settings → Heart rate on the watch and choose a tracking mode. ECG and irregular-rhythm notifications are separate features in Samsung Health Monitor, with stricter device and regional requirements.
This US-focused guide covers Galaxy Watch, Galaxy Fit, Galaxy Ring and compatible Galaxy phones. Menus and availability can vary by model, software version and country.
What Samsung Health measures—and what it does not
Ordinary heart-rate tracking estimates your pulse in beats per minute (BPM), typically using optical sensors against the skin. A manually requested reading is a snapshot; background readings and workout readings are collected in different circumstances and should not be treated as interchangeable. Samsung describes Galaxy Watch heart-rate measurement and its setup in its heart-rate support guide.
- Resting heart rate: Useful as a trend when readings are taken under similar, relaxed conditions. One unusual value is less informative than a repeated pattern. Age, fitness, medication, illness, stress and temperature can all affect heart rate, so there is no single number that is right for everyone.
- Workout heart rate: Useful for observing exercise response, but movement, sweat, fit and activity type can affect optical readings or cause lag. Start the appropriate workout on the watch when you want workout-specific data.
- ECG: A short recording of electrical heart activity, not simply another heart-rate reading. It requires the separate Samsung Health Monitor app and compatible devices.
- Irregular Heart Rhythm Notification (IHRN): A periodic check while you are still—not continuous ECG monitoring and not a guarantee that an irregular rhythm will be detected.
Samsung Health is the app for ordinary heart-rate tracking, workouts and trends. Samsung Health Monitor handles ECG and IHRN where supported. Neither app turns a wearable reading into a diagnosis.
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Which Samsung devices can measure heart rate?
| Device | What to expect | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Galaxy Watch | Manual and automatic heart-rate tracking; available features vary by model and software. | ECG and IHRN require a compatible Galaxy phone and watch, supported software and regional availability. |
| Galaxy Fit | Heart-rate tracking, with menus and controls that differ from Watch. | Samsung’s current guide says Fit does not use the same manual-measurement path as Watch; controls, including alerts, are more limited. |
| Galaxy Ring | Automatic heart-rate recording and manual readings through its Heart rate tracker; certain high- and low-rate alerts are available. | No on-device screen like a watch, and it does not provide Watch ECG functionality. |
| Galaxy phone | Samsung Health may offer Measure if that phone has a built-in heart-rate sensor; otherwise it usually displays data synced from an accessory. | Do not assume every Galaxy phone has a sensor for direct measurement. |
For Samsung Health Monitor, Samsung’s US support page lists a compatible Galaxy phone running Android 12 or later and a compatible Galaxy Watch (Active2 or newer in the cited documentation), as well as current applicable software and availability in the user’s country. Samsung says Health Monitor is not available on iPhone, non-Samsung Android phones or Galaxy Fit. Check the current compatibility requirements for your region and devices before relying on ECG or IHRN.
Take a manual heart-rate reading on Galaxy Watch
- Wake the watch and swipe up to open the Apps screen.
- Open Samsung Health, then swipe to Heart rate.
- Tap Measure.
- Keep still until the watch displays a result.
If automatic tracking is enabled, the Heart rate screen may show the latest or current reading instead of a Measure button. Older watches may label settings HR and stress measurement or Auto HR settings; exact wording differs by software.
For a steadier resting check, sit quietly, wear the watch snugly just above the wrist bone, and ensure the sensor and skin are clean and dry. Avoid talking or moving during the reading. If you have just exercised, pause first. If a result looks unexpected, rest and repeat it rather than treating one reading as conclusive.
Turn on automatic heart-rate tracking
On a Wear OS Galaxy Watch, open Samsung Health, scroll to the bottom, tap Settings → Heart rate, then select Measure continuously. Samsung provides this path and notes the battery trade-off in its continuous heart-rate instructions.
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Depending on your model and software, the choices may include:
- Measure continuously (or Always): more frequent, ongoing heart-rate data.
- Every 10 mins while still (or Frequent): periodic readings when you are still.
- Manual measurement only (or Never): readings when you request them.
Continuous tracking uses more battery. For occasional checks, manual mode may be enough; for broad daily trends, periodic readings can be a compromise; choose continuous tracking when its extra data or related features matter enough to accept more battery use. These modes describe heart-rate tracking, not IHRN’s separate periodic rhythm checks.
Set high- or low-heart-rate alerts
On a compatible Wear OS Galaxy Watch, open Samsung Health → Settings → Heart rate. Make sure measurement is not set to manual-only, scroll to Heart rate alert, enable High HR and/or Low HR, then tap an alert to set its threshold. Samsung describes these as alerts for a rate that remains above or below the selected threshold while you are resting for about 10 minutes.
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These alerts are not emergency warnings or personalized medical advice. A high reading during exercise may be expected; whether an unusual resting rate matters depends on context, symptoms, medication and health history. Do not set thresholds as a substitute for advice from a healthcare professional.
Review heart-rate history and trends
On the connected phone, open Samsung Health → Heart rate. Review the chart, select a date to inspect readings, and compare patterns over days or weeks. Labels and chart detail can vary by device and measurement mode. On some watches, open the Heart rate tile or widget, tap it and swipe up to see recent trends.
A blank section in the chart does not necessarily mean a health event occurred. The watch may have been in manual-only mode, or movement, loose fit, poor skin contact or an obstructed sensor may have interrupted measurement. Consider the conditions and tracking mode before drawing conclusions from gaps.
Record an ECG with Samsung Health Monitor
An ECG records electrical activity for a short period; it is not continuous monitoring. Samsung’s US instructions describe ECG and IHRN as informational tools for adults aged 22 and older. The cited compatibility information requires a supported Galaxy phone and watch, current software and regional availability. Samsung also lists important restrictions, including implanted electronic devices such as a pacemaker or defibrillator and known arrhythmias other than atrial fibrillation. Review Samsung’s compatibility guidance and Health Monitor information for current requirements; they can change by country and version.
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To set it up, pair the watch to the compatible Galaxy phone through Galaxy Wearable, update the watch, and install or open Samsung Health Monitor from the Galaxy Store. Complete the app’s profile and permissions steps. Then follow the app’s prompts to configure ECG.
For a recording:
- Rest quietly for about 5–10 minutes. Clean and dry your wrist and the watch sensor, and wear the watch snugly just above the wrist bone.
- Open Samsung Health Monitor on the watch and tap ECG.
- Rest your forearms on a table. Lightly place a fingertip on the watch’s top button without pressing it.
- Stay still and do not talk during the roughly 30-second recording.
- Review the result on the watch or connected phone. Samsung says recordings can be saved and shared from the phone, including as a report for a healthcare professional.
How to read the app’s ECG categories
- Sinus rhythm: The app classified the recording as a regular rhythm within its analysis parameters. It does not rule out every heart problem.
- Atrial fibrillation: The recording showed a pattern suggestive of AFib. Contact a healthcare professional for guidance rather than treating the result as a diagnosis.
- Inconclusive: The app could not classify the recording. This can happen with movement, poor contact, a heart rate outside the app’s supported classification range or a rhythm it cannot classify.
- Poor recording: The signal quality was insufficient. Improve contact and stillness, then try again if appropriate.
For exact category definitions and supported ranges, use the current regional instructions for use; thresholds may differ by software or market. Samsung’s ECG troubleshooting guide covers poor and inconclusive recordings.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What IHRN does—and does not do
After setting up Samsung Health Monitor, Samsung’s current process asks the user to complete an ECG that is not classified as poor quality, then tap Get started from the ECG home screen in the phone app and follow the activation steps.
IHRN checks periodically while you are still; it is not continuously recording an ECG or constantly searching for AFib. Samsung says it may not detect every episode and does not notify for episodes lasting less than one hour. A lack of notification does not rule out AFib. If you receive a notification, follow the app’s guidance to record an ECG and discuss concerning results with a healthcare professional.
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Improve unreliable readings
Optical sensors need stable skin contact. Samsung identifies cold, a dirty sensor, hair or dirt between sensor and skin, a loose or overly tight fit, thin wrists, movement, smoking or alcohol before measurement, incorrect positioning and skin conditions as factors that can affect results. During exercise, sweat and motion add further challenges.
Try this sequence when readings are missing or implausible:
- Stop moving, relax and repeat the reading.
- Move the watch slightly above the wrist bone and adjust it to a secure, comfortable fit—not painfully tight.
- Clean and dry the sensor and skin; remove any protective film covering the sensor.
- If your wrist is cold, warm it and try again.
- Check that the chosen tracking mode supports the reading you expect and that the watch is on the intended wrist.
- Update Samsung Health, Samsung Health Monitor, Galaxy Wearable and watch software, then restart the watch.
- For ECG problems, confirm the phone and watch are paired over Bluetooth and meet the Health Monitor requirements in your country.
- If repeated results remain implausible, or you have symptoms, do not rely on the wearable alone; contact a healthcare professional or use a suitable clinically validated device as advised.
For exercise analysis, start the workout manually when possible. Do not compare a resting value directly with a mid-workout value. If responsive exercise heart-rate data is the priority, a compatible chest-strap monitor may be worth considering; fit, compatibility and suitability vary, and a consumer strap is not automatically a medical device.
When not to rely on Samsung Health
Samsung Health cannot diagnose a heart attack, and ordinary heart-rate tracking is not a substitute for a clinical ECG, Holter monitor, blood-pressure cuff, pulse oximeter or professional evaluation. Each measures something different; none should be treated as interchangeable. Do not change medication or treatment based on a wearable reading. Samsung warns users not to use Health Monitor results as a diagnosis or to change treatment without a qualified healthcare professional.
If you have severe or concerning symptoms—such as chest pain, severe shortness of breath, fainting or sudden serious illness—do not wait for a watch reading or notification; contact local emergency services. For repeated unusual resting readings or an ECG result that concerns you, seek professional medical guidance. A single heart-rate number has no universal emergency cutoff for every person.
Choose the Samsung option that fits your goal
| Your goal | Potential fit | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Occasional resting check | Manual Galaxy Watch reading | A snapshot, not a trend. |
| All-day trends | Periodic or continuous watch tracking | Battery use and possible gaps. |
| Workout data | Galaxy Watch workout tracking | Movement and sweat can affect optical results. |
| High/low resting-rate notifications | Supported Watch or Ring alert | Not an emergency system or diagnosis. |
| Rhythm snapshot or possible AFib awareness | ECG and, where supported, IHRN on compatible Galaxy devices | Regional and device restrictions; IHRN is periodic and can miss episodes. |
| Discreet passive tracking | Galaxy Ring | Less direct interaction than a watch; no ECG equivalent. |
| Clinically important monitoring | A device or test recommended by a healthcare professional | Choice depends on the clinical question; consumer wearables are not substitutes. |
Choose a Galaxy Watch if you want a screen, on-demand readings, workout tracking and the broadest access to supported Samsung health features. A Galaxy Ring suits readers who prioritize discreet, passive tracking and accept different controls. Galaxy Fit may suit basic fitness tracking, but not those seeking ECG. If the goal is diagnosis or medically important monitoring, ask a healthcare professional which validated device or test is appropriate.
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