Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
You can send an animated heartbeat through Digital Touch in Apple Messages. On Apple Watch, open a conversation, choose Digital Touch, and hold two fingers on the display. On iPhone, open Digital Touch from the Messages app drawer and touch and hold with two fingers.
This sends an expressive animation—not a live BPM reading, ECG, or export from the Health app.
What “sending your heartbeat” actually means
Digital Touch is an Apple Messages feature that turns gestures into animated effects. A two-finger press creates the heartbeat animation. The recipient sees that animation in the conversation; they do not receive your numerical pulse, rhythm, ECG trace, or access to your Health data.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallThat makes it different from:
- Heart-rate data: a BPM value or chart recorded by Apple Watch or another sensor.
- ECG: a separate electrocardiogram feature available on supported Apple Watch models and in supported regions.
- Health sharing: Apple’s separate system for sharing selected health information with permitted contacts.
- Heart Tapback: the small heart reaction attached to an existing message. A Digital Touch heartbeat is a separate animated message.
Send a heartbeat from Apple Watch
- Open Messages on your Apple Watch.
- Open an existing conversation or start a new one.
- Tap the Apps button, then tap Digital Touch.
- On the Digital Touch canvas, place two fingers on the display.
- Keep both fingers in place until you feel the haptic heartbeat and see the animation.
- Lift your fingers. The heartbeat is sent when you stop touching the display.
These steps follow Apple’s current Apple Watch guide for Digital Touch (Apple Support).
#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.
Digital Touch has several nearby gestures that are easy to confuse:
- One tap sends a tap.
- Repeated taps send a tap pattern.
- Two fingers tapping sends a kiss.
- Two fingers dragged downward send a heartbreak.
- Pressing and holding with one finger sends a fireball.
- Drawing with one finger sends an animated sketch.
Send a heartbeat from iPhone
- Open Messages and enter the conversation.
- Tap the + button beside the text field.
- Swipe up in the app panel to reveal more apps.
- Tap Digital Touch.
- Touch and hold the canvas with two fingers.
- Finish the gesture. Digital Touch sends the effect automatically.
Apple documents this current path in its iPhone User Guide. On older iOS releases, the control may be described as an Apps button rather than a plus button. If the labels differ, expand the Messages app drawer and look specifically for Digital Touch.
You do not need an Apple Watch to perform the basic iPhone gesture. Apple says that, if you have an Apple Watch or another supported heartbeat-recording sensor, Messages may use recorded heartbeat data for the effect. That does not mean every iPhone measures your pulse through the screen, nor does it turn the message into a medical reading.
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.
What the recipient sees
The recipient can tap the notification or the Digital Touch message bubble to view the animation. It is designed as a momentary, expressive effect rather than a persistent health-data record. The recipient cannot infer your exact BPM, heart rhythm, blood pressure, or medical condition from it.
Recipient and connection requirements
Digital Touch is an Apple Messages feature intended for an eligible iMessage conversation. It is not something to assume will work in an ordinary SMS/MMS thread, email, WhatsApp chat, or with an Android recipient. Apple’s iPhone documentation places Digital Touch alongside iMessage features (Apple’s guide).
If the other person cannot receive Digital Touch, send a normal text, emoji, GIF, photo, or video instead. To share an actual heart-rate value, type the BPM manually or use Apple’s separate health-sharing tools; those are different features with their own permissions and requirements.
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.*
The sender also needs a working Messages connection. An Apple Watch can send iMessages over Wi‑Fi or cellular when the paired iPhone is not nearby, but SMS/MMS delivery has stricter connectivity and phone-plan requirements. Availability varies with the watch model, cellular service, carrier, account, and software version.
Add the effect to a photo or video
Digital Touch can also be used as an effect on a photo or video rather than sent on a blank canvas. Open Digital Touch from Messages, choose the camera or photo/video control shown in your version of iOS, capture or select the media, and apply the two-finger heartbeat gesture. Apple notes that the exact placement of these controls can vary between releases, so use the labels displayed on your iPhone.
If Digital Touch is missing on iPhone
- Confirm you are in the Messages app, not Mail or another messaging service.
- Check that the conversation is an iMessage conversation and that the app drawer is expanded by swiping up.
- Look for Digital Touch, not the heart Tapback reaction.
- Go to Settings → Apps → Messages and make sure iMessage is enabled.
- Confirm Messages is signed in to the intended Apple Account.
- Restart the iPhone and install any available iOS update.
If the feature still does not appear, the conversation, account, device, or software may not support it in its current state.
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.*
If the heartbeat will not send from Apple Watch
- If a red exclamation point appears, tap it and retry.
- Open Control Center on the watch and check its connection status.
- Turn off Airplane Mode if it is enabled.
- Test a regular iMessage from the iPhone to determine whether the problem is messaging rather than Digital Touch.
- Verify iMessage and Apple Account settings on the iPhone.
- Restart both the iPhone and Apple Watch.
- Install available iOS and watchOS updates.
Apple’s messaging troubleshooting guidance covers these checks and connection requirements (Apple Support).
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.If the watch does not detect the gesture
Place two fingers firmly but gently on the display and keep them still. Wait for the haptic sensation and animation instead of tapping repeatedly. A clean, dry screen and fingers can help. Try sending a regular tap or sketch; if those also fail, the issue may be with the Digital Touch canvas or display rather than heartbeat detection.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Apple describes the behavior as feeling and seeing a heartbeat animation. It does not promise that every Digital Touch heartbeat is a clinical pulse measurement, so do not use the effect to assess anyone’s health.
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.
Do you need to buy an Apple Watch?
No. If you already have a compatible iPhone and an iMessage conversation, Digital Touch costs nothing extra and an Apple Watch is optional. Buy a watch only if you also want its broader features, such as notifications, activity tracking, or messaging away from the iPhone. A cellular model additionally requires compatible carrier service and a plan.
Buying an iPhone or Apple Watch solely to send heartbeat animations is not a sensible reason to spend hundreds of dollars. The feature is a small part of the Messages experience.
The Bottom Line
Use Messages → Digital Touch and hold two fingers on the canvas to send the heartbeat effect. Apple Watch provides a dedicated watch workflow, but an iPhone can send it without a watch. In either case, the recipient gets an animation—not your actual heart-rate data or an ECG.
Recommended Free Tools
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
