Yes—the Galaxy Watch6 and Watch6 Classic can record a 30-second, single-lead-style ECG through Samsung Health Monitor. You need a compatible Samsung Galaxy phone, Bluetooth pairing through Galaxy Wearable, current software, and access to Samsung Health Monitor ECG in your country. The result can classify a rhythm as sinus rhythm, possible AFib, inconclusive, or a poor recording—but it is not a diagnosis or a replacement for medical care.
Samsung’s current U.S. requirements specify a Samsung Galaxy phone running Android 12 or later. Samsung also says the feature is unavailable on iPhone and other Android phone models. Requirements and menu names can vary by country and software version, so international users should check local availability.
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What the Galaxy Watch6 ECG feature does
ECG and EKG mean the same thing: electrocardiogram. On the Galaxy Watch6, electrical sensors on the back of the watch and the top/Home button capture a short reading when you touch the button with a finger from your opposite hand.
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This is an on-demand, single-lead-style smartwatch recording. It is mainly intended to identify rhythm patterns that may be consistent with atrial fibrillation (AFib) or a regular sinus rhythm. It is not the same as a clinical 12-lead ECG and does not continuously diagnose every arrhythmia, a heart attack, blood-pressure problems, heart failure, stroke, or other cardiovascular conditions.
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In the United States, Samsung ECG App v1.3 received FDA 510(k) clearance on August 2, 2024. That clearance applies to the software; it does not make an individual Watch6 reading a definitive medical diagnosis. View the FDA record.
Important medical warning
Do not use a normal or sinus-rhythm result to dismiss chest pain, fainting, severe shortness of breath, sudden weakness, or another possible emergency. Contact emergency services for urgent symptoms. The watch ECG cannot replace a clinician, a diagnostic 12-lead ECG, or treatment.
Check compatibility before setting it up
- Watch: Galaxy Watch6 or Watch6 Classic. Samsung supports the Galaxy Watch Active2 and newer in its current U.S. guidance.
- Phone: A compatible Samsung Galaxy phone running Android 12 or later under Samsung’s current U.S. requirements. Samsung says Samsung Health Monitor is not available on iPhone or other Android phone models.
- Pairing: The watch must be paired to the phone over Bluetooth through the Galaxy Wearable app.
- Software: Update the phone, Galaxy Wearable, Samsung Health Monitor, and watch software.
- Region: Samsung Health Monitor ECG must be released and available in your country or region. A compatible watch can still lack ECG access where the service is not available.
- Storage: Keep at least 10 MB free on the watch. Samsung’s ECG instructions also specify at least 100 MB free on the phone.
- User restrictions: Samsung’s instructions specify that users should be 22 or older and exclude people with implanted electronic devices such as pacemakers or defibrillators.
An older Samsung instruction document may list Android 9 or later for some ECG app versions. Use Samsung’s current support page—Android 12 or later for a Samsung phone in the U.S.—as the practical requirement. Check Samsung’s current compatibility guidance.
How to set up ECG on the Galaxy Watch6
- Pair the Watch6 with your Samsung Galaxy phone in Galaxy Wearable.
- Install all available phone, watch, Galaxy Wearable, and Samsung Health Monitor updates.
- On the connected phone, open the Samsung Health Monitor listing from the Galaxy Store and tap Install.
- Open Samsung Health Monitor, read the information, and tap Accept.
- Grant the requested permissions. Samsung’s current instructions provide an All permissions option.
- Create or complete your user profile, then tap Continue.
- When the Watch6 appears, tap Get started.
- Follow the health warnings and setup screens. Tap OK on the watch when prompted.
- Complete the first ECG immediately, or choose the option to do it later.
Samsung Health Monitor is not intended to be downloaded and used as an independent watch app before the compatible phone and watch are paired. Pair first, then complete setup in the phone app.
If the phone cannot find the watch
Open Samsung Health Monitor directly on the Watch6. Allow its requested permissions and tap Open phone app if that option appears. Return to the phone and let it search again. If that fails, confirm that the watch is paired in Galaxy Wearable rather than only connected through the phone’s Bluetooth settings.
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How to take an ECG reading
The recording takes about 30 seconds. For the cleanest signal, take it while seated and relaxed rather than immediately after exercise.
- Put the watch on the wrist selected during setup.
- Wear it snugly, usually slightly above the wrist bone toward the elbow. It should maintain contact without being uncomfortable.
- Clean and dry the watch’s back sensor, your wrist, and the fingertip you will use.
- Open Samsung Health Monitor on the watch and select ECG.
- Read the instructions and tap OK.
- Sit down and rest both forearms on a flat, stable surface.
- With your opposite hand, lightly place one fingertip on the Watch6’s top/Home button.
- Cover the button with the fingertip, but do not press it.
- Remain still and silent until the 30-second recording finishes.
- Review the result. Add symptoms such as rapid heartbeat or fatigue if prompted.
- Tap Save, then Done.
Your fingertip should fully cover the button while resting lightly. Pressing the Home button stops the recording.
Conditions that can affect the signal
- Movement, talking, exercise, or an unstable arm position.
- A loose watch, dirty sensor, or insufficient skin contact.
- Cold, dry, hairy, scarred, tattooed, or heavily pigmented skin.
- Poor circulation in the wrist or fingertip.
- Strong electromagnetic fields, including MRI or X-ray equipment and metal detectors.
Samsung’s U.S. instructions specify ECG operation at approximately 54–104°F (12–40°C) and 30–90% relative humidity.
What the ECG results mean
The categories below describe Samsung’s app classification. They are not diagnoses or universal medical thresholds.
| Result | Meaning | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Sinus rhythm | The recording showed a regular rhythm within Samsung’s classification range, listed in its U.S. instructions as 50–100 BPM. | This is not a guarantee that your heart is healthy or that every arrhythmia is absent. Consider symptoms and medical history separately. |
| Atrial fibrillation / AFib | The recording showed an irregular rhythm in the app’s AFib classification range, listed as 50–120 BPM in Samsung’s U.S. instructions. | Contact a healthcare professional for guidance. Do not treat the watch result as a final diagnosis. |
| Inconclusive | The app recorded a signal but could not classify it. The rate may have been outside the classification range, or the rhythm may have been neither sinus rhythm nor AFib. | Rest and repeat the reading. Discuss repeated inconclusive results with a clinician, particularly if symptoms are present. |
| Poor recording | The signal could not be adequately analyzed, commonly because of movement or weak skin contact. | Clean and dry the sensor and fingertip, improve the fit, rest your arms, and repeat the measurement. |
Samsung says the ECG app is not intended to diagnose heart attacks or arrhythmias other than atrial fibrillation. A sinus-rhythm result cannot rule out every heart problem.
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View, save, and share your ECG report
- Open Samsung Health Monitor on the phone.
- Tap the latest ECG thumbnail to open the newest report.
- Tap View history to see earlier readings.
- Use the report’s sharing or PDF option when available if you need to provide it to a qualified healthcare professional.
Samsung says ECG reports are stored locally in Samsung Health Monitor and remain in history until you delete the data or reset the device. If a new report does not appear, confirm the watch and phone are paired through Galaxy Wearable, open Samsung Health Monitor, tap Sync in the upper-right corner, and check available storage on both devices.
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ECG versus Irregular Heart Rhythm Notification
ECG is a manual 30-second recording. Irregular Heart Rhythm Notification (IHRN) is a separate feature that uses the watch’s optical sensor to periodically check for a rhythm that may indicate AFib while you are still.
IHRN is not continuous monitoring of every heartbeat. Samsung says it may notify you after detecting a possible AFib episode lasting about an hour, then prompt you to take an on-demand ECG. Bedtime, Do Not Disturb, or Theater mode may delay notifications. No notification does not prove that AFib is absent.
Samsung’s Watch6 guidance identifies IHRN support on Galaxy Watch devices running Wear OS 4.0 or later, including the Watch6, but regional and software availability still apply. In Samsung’s U.S. instructions, ECG setup must be completed and a non-poor ECG recorded before IHRN setup can proceed. Open the ECG Monitor app launcher, tap Get started, and follow the prompts.
Galaxy Watch6 ECG troubleshooting
| Problem | Likely cause | Recovery |
|---|---|---|
| ECG is missing from the watch | Outdated software, an incompatible phone, incomplete setup, or regional restrictions. | Update the watch and phone, install Samsung Health Monitor through the Galaxy Store, confirm Galaxy Wearable pairing, and check regional availability. |
| The phone says there is no compatible watch | The watch was not paired correctly or the app was opened before pairing. | Pair through Galaxy Wearable, then open Samsung Health Monitor on both devices. |
| The watch is not discovered | The app handshake did not complete. | Open Samsung Health Monitor on the watch, grant permissions, tap Open phone app, and allow the phone to search again. |
| The ECG will not start | Insufficient contact, cold or dry skin, movement, tattoos, hair, or a loose fit. | Clean the sensor and fingertip, warm and dry the skin, tighten the band, move the watch slightly above the wrist bone, and rest your arms on a table. |
| The recording stops | The Home button was pressed or the user moved. | Repeat without pressing the button and remain still and silent for the full 30 seconds. |
| Repeated poor recordings | Persistently weak contact or signal quality. | Improve fit and contact, clean the sensor, and try again. Seek medical advice if symptoms continue regardless of the watch result. |
| Repeated inconclusive results | The rate may be outside the app range or the rhythm cannot be classified. | Rest and repeat. Discuss recurring results with a clinician. |
| The ECG report is missing on the phone | Bluetooth, synchronization, or storage problem. | Confirm Galaxy Wearable pairing, open Samsung Health Monitor, tap Sync, and free storage if necessary. |
| ECG disappeared after travel or a reset | Regional service availability or incomplete reactivation. | Update the apps, complete Samsung Health Monitor setup again, and check Samsung’s regional support. Do not rely on unofficial region-unlock methods. |
When to seek medical help
A watch result should never overrule serious symptoms. Contact emergency services for chest pain or pressure, fainting, severe shortness of breath, sudden weakness, confusion, or other symptoms that could indicate an emergency. For a non-emergency AFib result, recurring inconclusive readings, or symptoms that persist despite a sinus-rhythm result, contact a healthcare professional.
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Official references
- Samsung U.S. support: Samsung Health Monitor compatibility and ECG instructions
- Samsung Health Monitor ECG and IHRN Instructions for Use
- Samsung: how ECG and IHRN work on Galaxy Watch6
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