The final asterisk note concludes with the four words “…or with Family setup.” This requires explanation, because it is baffling whether it applies only to the Watch SE or to “Family setup.” in general. Mine is a Series 4 Watch, BTW.

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The final asterisk note concludes with the four words “…or with Family setup.” This requires explanation, because it is baffling whether it applies only to the Watch SE or to “Family setup.” in general. Mine is a Series 4 Watch, BTW.

Family setup

The above asterisked comment’s last two words appear in an article about the ECG app and Afib.

While I understand that the Watch SE lacks the sensor capability to conduct the ECG evaluation, it is unclear what, if any, limitations to the ECG app Family setup on other watch series, or models, imposes.

Please clarity. Thanks.

Apple Watch Series 4

Posted on Aug 13, 2023 11:04 AM

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Answer 1

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turingtest2

Level 10

275,254 points

Aug 13, 2023 3:41 PM in response to RR Hale

I have an Apple Watch, set up with my iPhone. I don't have personal experience with setting up Apple Watch for family members, but can I read between the lines.

Reading Set up Apple Watch for a family member - Apple Support there is a section headed Availability of features and apps which goes thus:

Health and fitness features:

High and low heart rate notifications are available for users aged 13 and older.
Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is available for users aged 18 and older.
Fall Detection is available for users aged 18 and older.
Users under the age of 13 can use move minutes rather than active calories for their Move goal in the Activity app.

Apple Pay features:

Apple Cash Family is available to users under the age of 18, allowing them to make purchases and send and receive money in Messages with Apple Pay (United States only).
Apple Pay using a credit or debit card in the Wallet app is not available with Family Setup.

The following features and apps are not available: medications, respiratory rate, irregular heart rhythm notifications, ECG, AF History, Cycle Tracking, Sleep, Wrist Temperature, Blood Oxygen, Walking Steadiness, Audiobooks, Remote, News and Shortcuts.

Which confirms that the ECG feature is not available when the Apple Watch has been prepared with Family Setup. As far as I am aware pairing with an iPhone where both watch and iPhone will use the same Apple ID is the only other way of setting up an Apple Watch. Hence my use of presumably. Examining the limitations in more detail I can see that these are features that often require interaction on the phone, which you wouldn't have with a watch prepared via Family Setup.

As noted previously this is a user to user support forum. While there are some community specialists who will sometimes respond to threads, in the main they are not going to try to reinterpret the meaning of Apple's support documents. You can contact Official Apple Support if you'd like to try to get a more definitive answer, but I think it is pretty clear; the ECG and other listed apps/features don't work on a Family Setup watch.

tt2

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Answer 2

turingtest2

Level 10

275,254 points

Aug 13, 2023 11:21 AM in response to RR Hale

The whole note should provide the necessary context:

* The ECG app is not supported on Apple Watch SE or with Family Setup.

So the ECG app is not supported on Apple Watch SE, or with any watch that is setup using Family Setup, rather than (presumably) paired with the user's own iPhone. See Set up Apple Watch for a family member - Apple Support for more on that. The implication is that if you set up a watch for a child, or perhaps a parent in a care home, they won't be able to use the ECG function, even if the hardware should support it.

Note this is a user to user support forum. I don't know why that second limitation exists.

tt2

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Answer 3

turingtest2

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275,254 points

Aug 14, 2023 4:52 AM in response to RR Hale

Family Setup of an Apple Watch is distinct from Family Sharing for Apple IDs, but does depend on it. I presumed from your original question that you either had performed a Family Setup of an Apple Watch for a family member, or were considering doing so, and were worried about whether or not that person would have access to the ECG app. (They won't.)

I suggest you start a new thread describing your email issue, or reach out to Official Apple Support directly, or ask your wife to check with her mail provider to see if they can work out what it is going wrong. It is unlikely that the issue is related to Family Sharing.

You can use Feedback - Apple.com Website - Apple to share your thoughts with Apple about the quality and detail of their support articles.

tt2

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Answer 4

RR Hale Author

Level 1

14 points

Aug 13, 2023 3:01 PM in response to turingtest2

Thanks for your reply.

I am requesting definitive information, which I realize that most casual Apple users may not be aware of.

IMHO, and for the purposes of my post, a useful answer would necessarily preclude the use of “presumably” language, or of other speculative discussion. I fully realize that this is a complicated matter, which is precisely the point.

The asterisked note is language which is in Apple’s official technical support documentation. It is obscure, unclear, unhelpful, and ambiguous. That is what I am requesting clarification about. As I also mentioned, it is simply baffling to me because of its convoluted, incomplete, and irrational brevity.

(I did not write the code, or it’s “exception explanation asterisk note”, either, of course.)

Thanks again.

Best, Bob.

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Answer 5

RR Hale Author

Level 1

14 points

Aug 13, 2023 9:20 PM in response to turingtest2

Thanks.

It’s complicated.

I do actually do have (some) experience setting up Family Sharing, and I have in fact had some problems which appear to possibly be related to that app. (In particular, my wife no longer receives emails from me, which had previously worked flawlessly on our Apple devices for many years.)

That is the very reason why I requested clarification about the language issue related to Family Sharing, although (as you may know) there are major limitations to the selectable problem category choices for inquiry on this forum.

While I appreciate that you have spent a considerable amount of time pursuing this, I truly regret that it is not at all helpful to me.

My question still concerns deficient and ambiguous Apple technical language describing functional performance of a feature, or app (Family Sharing), and not speculation about potential interpretations of what Apple might have actually meant about various series of Watches. I have had no problems with the ECG app on my Apple Watch, and I apologize if you received the mistaken impression that I had.

Incidentally, HIPPA legislation in the United States regarding medical information privacy protection might be a reason for certain Family Sharing app limitations, but of course such control requirements are known to vary internationally.

Thanks again.

Best, Bob.

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The final asterisk note concludes with the four words “…or with Family setup.” This requires explanation, because it is baffling whether it applies only to the Watch SE or to “Family setup.” in general. Mine is a Series 4 Watch, BTW.

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