Apple Cycle Tracking is a logging and prediction tool, not a contraceptive or diagnostic system. Set it up in the Health app on your iPhone, then use Cycle Tracking on Apple Watch for quick wrist-based entries. Compatible watches can also use overnight wrist-temperature trends to produce a retrospective estimate of when ovulation may have occurred.
This guide covers setup, period and symptom logging, notifications, temperature tracking, privacy, exporting and deletion—and the limits you should understand before relying on any prediction.
What Apple Cycle Tracking does
Cycle Tracking is built into the Health app on iPhone and the Cycle Tracking app on Apple Watch. You can manually record menstruation, flow, spotting, symptoms, cervical mucus, basal body temperature, ovulation-test results, sexual activity and cycle factors such as pregnancy, lactation or contraceptive use. The exact categories can vary by software version, device and region.
Using your logged history, Apple can display an estimated next period, an estimated six-day fertile window, cycle history and cycle-deviation information. Heart-rate data may help personalize predictions. On supported Apple Watch models, overnight wrist-temperature data may improve predictions and support a retrospective estimate of likely ovulation.
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These are estimates based on available data and assumptions about cycle timing. Apple says Cycle Tracking should not be used as birth control or to diagnose a health condition.
Read Apple’s Cycle Tracking Instructions for Use.
What you need
- An iPhone with the Health app.
- An Apple Watch paired with the iPhone if you want wrist-based logging, notifications or watch sensor data.
- Current iOS and watchOS versions are recommended.
- For wrist-temperature tracking and retrospective ovulation estimates: Apple Watch Series 8 or later, or any Apple Watch Ultra.
Temperature-based estimates also require Sleep tracking, Sleep Focus, consistent overnight wear and enough data—generally around two menstrual cycles. Sleep Focus normally needs to be enabled for the overnight temperature feature to work as intended. Availability can vary by country or region.
Set up Cycle Tracking on iPhone
- Open Health.
- Tap Search.
- Tap Cycle Tracking.
- Tap Get Started.
- Enter the requested cycle information, including the date your last period started and your typical period and cycle lengths.
- Choose the notifications and tracking options you want.
Apple’s labels and navigation can change after software updates. If you do not see exactly these labels, search within Health for “Cycle Tracking.”
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Log or correct a period on iPhone
- Go to Health > Search > Cycle Tracking.
- Swipe the timeline to the date you want to record.
- Tap the period or menstruation category.
- Select the applicable flow level.
- Tap Done.
To edit an entry, return to the relevant date, open its category, change the information and tap Done. To remove a period day, select its marked day in the timeline and unmark it.
Logging every period day—not just the first day—gives Apple more complete history for its calculations. You can also add spotting, symptoms, cervical mucus, temperature readings and ovulation-test results where those options are available.
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- 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.
Log cycle information on Apple Watch
- Open Cycle Tracking on Apple Watch.
- Display the date you want to record.
- Tap Log.
- Tap Period, then select a flow level.
- Tap Done.
For symptoms or spotting, open Cycle Tracking, select the date, tap Log, choose the category and select the applicable observation. Entries made on the watch appear in the Cycle Tracking history on iPhone.
Turn on period, fertility and deviation notifications
- Open Health on iPhone.
- Tap Search > Cycle Tracking.
- Scroll down and tap Options.
- Turn on the options you want, such as Period Predictions, Period Notifications, Fertile Window Estimates and Fertility Notifications.
- Review Cycle Deviation Detection and choose the alerts you want.
Predictions begin after you enter period information. Notifications may appear on the iPhone, Apple Watch or both, depending on your device and notification settings.
For greater privacy, turn off period or fertility notifications, hide period and fertility predictions, and review notification previews under the iPhone’s notification settings. You can also hide or delete the Cycle Tracking app from Apple Watch. Hiding the app does not delete Health data.
How Apple calculates its predictions
Period predictions use previous logged periods and typical cycle length. Apple describes its fertile-window estimate as a traditional calendar method. The estimated window covers six days; it is not a guarantee of the days on which pregnancy can or cannot occur.
A positive ovulation-test result can adjust the fertile-window estimate. Apple Watch heart-rate data may help personalize predictions, while compatible watches can use wrist-temperature trends to improve predictions and estimate likely ovulation after the fact.
Do not confuse an estimated fertile window with fertility detection. Apple’s calendar estimate is especially difficult to interpret when cycle timing changes significantly.
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Use Apple Watch wrist-temperature tracking
Apple Watch wrist temperature is not the same measurement as a conventional basal body temperature taken with a thermometer. Apple records sleeping wrist temperature as a relative change from your personal baseline.
To collect it:
- Set up Cycle Tracking.
- Set up sleep tracking.
- Enable Sleep Focus.
- Wear a compatible Apple Watch while sleeping.
- Keep it snug enough that the back remains in contact with your wrist.
- Wear it consistently overnight.
Apple says temperature data may become available after roughly five nights. A retrospective ovulation estimate generally requires approximately two cycles of overnight data—not a guaranteed fixed number of days.
To view the temperature trend, open Health > Search > Body Measurements > Wrist Temperature. The data is shown relative to your baseline rather than as an ordinary thermometer reading.
Why an ovulation estimate may be missing
- Your watch is not a Series 8-or-newer model or an Apple Watch Ultra.
- Sleep Focus or sleep tracking was not enabled.
- You did not wear the watch consistently or there were too few nights of data.
- You have not accumulated enough data across cycles.
- An active cycle factor disables the estimate.
- The temperature shift was too small or could not be detected.
- Ovulation may not have occurred in that cycle.
- Illness, travel, environment, sleep disruption or other physiological factors affected the readings.
- You repaired, replaced or newly paired the watch. A replacement may need roughly two cycles of new data.
- The feature is unavailable in your region.
If the estimate disappears, first check the watch model, software, Sleep Focus, overnight fit and active cycle factors. Then allow time for new data rather than treating the absence of an estimate as proof of anything about your cycle.
Understand the timeline colors and symbols
| Indicator | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Light red circle | Predicted period day |
| Light blue oval | Predicted fertile-window day |
| Light purple oval | Estimated day of likely ovulation, where supported and available |
| Solid red marking | Logged period day |
| Purple dot | Additional information was logged for that day |
Colors and availability can vary with software updates and region. A prediction marker is not the same as a confirmed biological event.
Add pregnancy, lactation or contraceptive factors
- Open Health > Search > Cycle Tracking.
- Scroll to Factors.
- Tap Add Factor or the plus button.
- Choose a factor, such as pregnancy, lactation or contraceptive use.
- Set a start date if needed, then tap Add or Done.
To end or remove a factor, select it and choose Ended or Delete Factor, depending on the interface. Some factors can disable period predictions, fertile-window predictions, retrospective ovulation estimates or cycle-deviation detection. Recording a factor does not medically interpret its effect on your cycle.
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- 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.*
Review and export your history
- Open Health > Search > Cycle Tracking.
- Scroll to Your Cycles.
- Tap Cycle History.
- Select an individual cycle or the full history.
- Tap Export PDF.
Apple’s documentation says you can export the last 12 months of cycle history or an individual cycle. It may help during a medical appointment, but ask the clinician whether the PDF is suitable for their records.
Delete Cycle Tracking data
Disabling notifications, hiding the app or stopping predictions does not delete your entries. To remove them:
- Open Health > Search > Cycle Tracking.
- Tap View Cycle Tracking Items.
- Select an item.
- Tap Show All Data.
- Tap Edit.
- Delete individual entries or choose Delete All.
Privacy: who can see your cycle data?
Protect the iPhone with a passcode, Face ID or Touch ID. Apple says Health data is encrypted when the iPhone is locked, and that iCloud-synced Health data can receive end-to-end encryption when current software, two-factor authentication and a passcode are enabled. In that configuration, Apple says it cannot read the data.
Review Health > Sharing to see whether you share data with people or apps. Third-party cycle apps have their own privacy policies and may not provide Apple’s same protections. Check their requested Health permissions before connecting them.
Also review lock-screen notification previews. A private Health database can still reveal sensitive information through an on-screen period or fertility notification.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is Apple Cycle Tracking accurate enough for birth control?
No. Apple says Cycle Tracking is not a contraceptive method. Its fertile-window estimate is based largely on logged history and calendar assumptions, while wrist-temperature data provides a retrospective estimate rather than a guaranteed advance prediction.
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- 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.
ACOG explains that fertility-awareness methods require careful interpretation of fertility signs and that basal body temperature generally rises slightly after ovulation. BBT alone does not reliably predict ovulation in advance, and illness or routine changes can make signs harder to interpret. If avoiding pregnancy matters, use a contraceptive method recommended by a qualified healthcare professional rather than relying on Apple’s calendar or temperature estimates.
Irregular cycles, contraception, postpartum changes and perimenopause
Predictions may be less useful when cycles are irregular or when pregnancy, lactation, hormonal contraception, illness or other factors change the usual pattern. This includes people managing possible PCOS, endometriosis, infertility or perimenopause. Apple lets you record relevant factors, but the app does not diagnose or medically explain them.
If your cycle changes persistently or the information is important for treatment or conception, take your records to a healthcare professional. A dedicated fertility app may offer more detailed coaching, cervical-mucus workflows, hormone-test integration or pregnancy tools, but no third-party app should automatically be assumed to be medically reliable. Clue and Flo are examples of dedicated apps with additional features; connecting either requires reviewing its account, subscription and privacy terms.
Pregnancy tracking
Cycle Tracking can be used to log a pregnancy and display pregnancy-related information. Keep pregnancy tracking separate from ordinary period predictions, and contact a clinician for pregnancy concerns, bleeding, pain or other symptoms. See Apple’s pregnancy-tracking guidance.
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Seek medical advice for very heavy bleeding, severe or worsening pain, repeated unexplained missed periods, bleeding between periods or after sex, possible pregnancy complications, or a major and persistent change in cycle pattern. Also discuss concerns about PCOS, endometriosis, infertility or perimenopause with a clinician.
A cycle-deviation alert is not a diagnosis. Likewise, the absence of an Apple ovulation estimate is not a diagnosis of anovulation or infertility.
Apple Watch versus a dedicated cycle app
| Choose Apple’s built-in tools when… | Consider a dedicated app when… |
|---|---|
| You want simple period and symptom logging. | You want detailed fertility coaching or education. |
| You already use iPhone and Apple Watch. | You need broader pregnancy or partner-sharing features. |
| You want data stored in Apple Health. | You want a cross-platform workflow or additional integrations. |
| You prefer no extra account or app. | You accept another app’s permissions, account and privacy policy. |
For basic tracking, Apple’s built-in workflow may be enough and does not require buying an Apple Watch. If you specifically want overnight wrist-temperature trends, confirm that the watch model supports them and that you are comfortable wearing and charging it overnight. Do not buy a watch or subscribe to an app as a substitute for contraception or medical care.
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