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There isn’t one screen that shows every heart measurement from your Apple Watch. Use the Watch’s Heart Rate app for a quick reading, the iPhone Health app for historical metrics and recordings, and Health’s export tool when you need the broader underlying record.
Choose the right place to look
- Current or recent reading: open Heart Rate on Apple Watch.
- Trends and past readings: open Health on iPhone and go to Search → Heart.
- ECG or AFib records: open the relevant item under Health → Search → Heart.
- Everything stored in Health: use Export All Health Data. This produces an XML archive, not a reader-friendly heart report.
Apple Watch provides quick summaries; the iPhone Health app is the better place to inspect history. Apple’s heart-rate guide and Health app guide describe these views.
See your current heart rate on Apple Watch
- Open the Heart Rate app on your Watch.
- Read the current heart-rate value.
- Turn the Digital Crown to view available summaries such as Range, Resting Rate and Walking Average.
- Tap the information button for more context.
The Watch measures while you wear it, but the sensor needs good skin contact. A loose fit or other sensing conditions can affect readings. This app is convenient for a quick check, not a complete historical record.
Find historical heart data on iPhone
- Open the Health app.
- Tap Search, then Heart.
- Choose a metric, such as Heart Rate, Resting Heart Rate or Heart Rate Variability.
- Use the chart’s available controls to change the time period, then scroll for details, source information and individual readings where provided.
Available chart ranges and controls vary by metric and software version; not every page offers identical views. Add frequently checked metrics to Favorites to make them easier to reach from Summary. Summary also includes Highlights and Trends, but open a metric’s detail page when you need its fuller chart or records.
#1 Best Overall
![Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 46mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - M/L. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/416RQ0rtsUL._SL160_.jpg)
- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
- KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
- GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
- SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.
What the heart metrics show
- Heart Rate: a series of recorded samples, not necessarily a second-by-second record at all times. Workout readings may be more frequent than routine background measurements. Movement, fit, skin contact, tattoos, temperature and other conditions can affect readings.
- Resting Heart Rate: a useful measure to follow over time, but not a diagnosis and not meaningful in isolation.
- Walking Average: a separate summary available in the Watch’s Heart Rate app and in Health history.
- Heart Rate Variability (HRV): a distinct measure from heart rate. It should not be treated on its own as a direct measure of fitness or disease.
- Cardio Fitness: Apple’s estimate of VO₂ max. Find it at Health → Search → Heart → Cardio Fitness; available chart ranges include D, W, M, 6M and Y, and Show All Cardio Fitness Levels displays comparison categories. Apple says Series 3 or later can estimate this during outdoor walking, running or hiking workouts; indoor workouts do not count. An initial estimate may require at least 24 hours of Watch wear, several qualifying outdoor workouts and passive measurements. See Apple’s Cardio Fitness requirements.
The entries you see depend on Watch model, region, setup, software and which devices or apps have contributed data.
Review ECG recordings
If supported and available in your region, find recordings at Health → Search → Heart → Electrocardiograms (ECG). Tap a recording to review its waveform and classification. To share one, use Export a PDF for Your Doctor when available.
Rank #2
![Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 42mm] Smartwatch with Rose Gold Aluminum Case with Light Blush Sport Band - S/M. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31caPPnRysL._SL160_.jpg)
- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
- KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
- GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
- SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.
Apple supports the ECG app on Apple Watch Series 4 or later and all Apple Watch Ultra models; it is not supported on Apple Watch SE. It is not intended for people under 22. An Apple Watch ECG is a single-lead-style recording, not a clinical 12-lead ECG, and it cannot rule out every heart condition. See Apple’s ECG instructions and limitations.
Understand heart alerts and AFib features
High- and low-heart-rate notifications
Set thresholds in Apple Watch app on iPhone → My Watch → Heart → High Heart Rate or Low Heart Rate. These notifications are available on Series 1 or later for people age 13 and older. An alert is based on the heart rate remaining above or below the selected threshold while you have been inactive for at least 10 minutes. The thresholds are settings, not universal diagnostic cutoffs.
Rank #3
![Apple Watch SE 3 [GPS 40mm] Smartwatch with Starlight Aluminum Case with Starlight Sport Band - S/M. Fitness and Sleep Trackers, Heart Rate Monitor, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31YiTby0pOL._SL160_.jpg)
- GET SMARTER HEALTH INSIGHTS—Apple Watch SE 3 is an advanced health tracker that helps you better understand your body. The smartwatch sends alerts for an irregular heart rhythm, or an unusually high or low heart rate.* You can view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app,* track your sleep score, and get sleep apnea notifications.*
- A GREAT FITNESS TRACKER—SE 3 can track your workouts in a healthy number of ways—from running and strength training to simply achieving your 10K steps a day. With real-time metrics and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone,* you’ll hit your goals like never before.
- KEEP HELP CLOSE AT HAND—SE 3 is a smartwatch that can detect a hard fall or severe car crash and automatically help connect you to emergency services and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- WOMEN’S HEALTH INSIGHTS—SE 3 has advanced sensors that track your wrist temperature while you sleep. With this smartwatch, you can log your periods and symptoms, get period predictions, and get notified of cycle deviations.*
- GREAT BATTERY LIFE AND FASTER CHARGING—Enjoy a smartwatch with all-day, 18-hour battery life* from sunup to sundown. Then charge up to twice as fast as SE 2* and get up to 8 hours of battery in just 15 minutes.*
Irregular Rhythm Notifications
Set up the feature at Health → Search → Heart → Irregular Rhythm Notifications → Set Up. After setup, its setting can also be managed in Apple Watch app → My Watch → Heart → Irregular Rhythm. The feature periodically checks for an irregular rhythm that may suggest AFib; it does not monitor continuously or detect every episode. It is not intended for people already diagnosed with AFib or for people under 22, and availability varies by region. More details are in Apple’s heart-health notifications guide.
AFib History
AFib History is for people with a physician diagnosis of AFib, not a general-purpose detector. View it at Health → Search → Heart → AFib History. Apple estimates the percentage of time the heart showed signs of AFib; it does not send an alert each time AFib occurs.
Rank #4
![Apple Watch SE 3 [GPS 40mm] Smartwatch with Midnight Aluminum Case with Midnight Sport Band - S/M. Fitness and Sleep Trackers, Heart Rate Monitor, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31Gq8SToFJL._SL160_.jpg)
- GET SMARTER HEALTH INSIGHTS—Apple Watch SE 3 is an advanced health tracker that helps you better understand your body. The smartwatch sends alerts for an irregular heart rhythm, or an unusually high or low heart rate.* You can view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app,* track your sleep score, and get sleep apnea notifications.*
- A GREAT FITNESS TRACKER—SE 3 can track your workouts in a healthy number of ways—from running and strength training to simply achieving your 10K steps a day. With real-time metrics and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone,* you’ll hit your goals like never before.
- KEEP HELP CLOSE AT HAND—SE 3 is a smartwatch that can detect a hard fall or severe car crash and automatically help connect you to emergency services and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- WOMEN’S HEALTH INSIGHTS—SE 3 has advanced sensors that track your wrist temperature while you sleep. With this smartwatch, you can log your periods and symptoms, get period predictions, and get notified of cycle deviations.*
- GREAT BATTERY LIFE AND FASTER CHARGING—Enjoy a smartwatch with all-day, 18-hour battery life* from sunup to sundown. Then charge up to twice as fast as SE 2* and get up to 8 hours of battery in just 15 minutes.*
For consistent estimates, Apple says to wear the Watch at least 12 hours a day on 5 days a week, with Heart Rate and Wrist Detection enabled. Weekly estimates may arrive on Mondays after enough readings; Highlights require about six weeks of sufficient readings. The feature is not intended for people under 22 and is not available everywhere. To share a report, use Options → Export PDF on the AFib History page. See Apple’s AFib History guidance.
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Health can contain data from Apple Watch, iPhone, other Apple devices, approved apps and compatible devices. Open a metric and scroll to Data Sources & Access or the equivalent section; the label can vary. This helps explain duplicate or unexpected values before you assume they came from the Watch.
Best Value
![Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 42mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - S/M. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41s72HIk5TL._SL160_.jpg)
- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
- KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
- GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
- SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.
To inspect app access, open Health → Summary → profile picture or initials, then under Privacy tap Apps or Devices. Select an item to review or change its read and write permissions. Apple documents these controls in its Health data sharing guide.
Export all Health data
- Open Health on iPhone and tap Summary.
- Tap your profile picture or initials in the upper-right corner.
- Tap Export All Health Data.
- Choose where or how to share or store the export.
The export is an XML archive of Health and fitness data, not just heart records. It can be useful for a backup or for a recipient who specifically needs the underlying data, but it is not a polished report that is easy to browse. For a single ECG or AFib History report, the feature-specific PDF is usually more practical. Apple explains the export in its Health sharing guide.
If heart data is missing
- Check fit and contact: wear the Watch so its back stays in contact with your skin.
- Check Heart Rate access: on Watch, go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Health → Heart Rate; on iPhone, check Watch app → My Watch → Privacy → Heart Rate.
- Wear it consistently: background measurements and features that estimate trends need readings over time.
- Check Wrist Detection: confirm it is enabled, especially if AFib History is not producing estimates.
- Check Low Power Mode: it can turn off background heart measurements and may prevent AFib History estimates.
- Confirm compatibility and region: ECG, AFib features and notifications have model, age and geographic limits.
- Review permissions and sources: an app’s access may have changed, or another app/device may be adding data that looks inconsistent.
- Update both devices: Apple recommends the latest available iOS and watchOS for setting up these features. Interface labels can change between releases.
What Apple Watch heart data can—and cannot—tell you
Heart measurements and alerts can help you notice patterns, but they are not a diagnosis. Irregular-rhythm checks are periodic, not continuous; AFib History can miss episodes; and a normal result does not prove that your heart is healthy. Apple Watch cannot detect a heart attack or stroke. Do not change medication based on Watch data without speaking with a clinician.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFor persistent or concerning results, contact a healthcare professional. Seek emergency help for symptoms such as chest pain or pressure, severe shortness of breath, fainting or suspected heart attack, even if the Watch has not sent an alert.
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