Knockemouttimmy

Q: New Apple Watch OS and Tattoos

Will it finally work with tattoos? They're missing out on a huge market of people with sleeves who can't wear the watch.

I'm pretty flustered that I can't wear one.

Posted on Sep 9, 2015 2:00 PM

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Q: New Apple Watch OS and Tattoos

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  • Helpful answers

  • by ChrisJ4203,

    ChrisJ4203 ChrisJ4203 Sep 9, 2015 2:02 PM in response to Knockemouttimmy
    Level 9 (59,931 points)
    iPhone
    Sep 9, 2015 2:02 PM in response to Knockemouttimmy

    I did not see or hear any mention of any differences in the ability to work with a tattoo. You can go to the Apple website and see what additional information that may have posted now about Watch OS2, but there was no mention in the keynote.

  • by Jonathan UK,

    Jonathan UK Jonathan UK Sep 9, 2015 2:56 PM in response to Knockemouttimmy
    Level 8 (39,751 points)
    Apple Watch
    Sep 9, 2015 2:56 PM in response to Knockemouttimmy

    Some tattoos may block light from the heart rate sensor due to their ink, pattern and saturation.

     

    Apple recommends that, if you are unable to achieve consistent heart rate readings for this reason, you instead connect your watch wirelessly to an external monitor (eg a Bluetooth chest strap heart rate monitor).

  • by DELTABRAVO5,

    DELTABRAVO5 DELTABRAVO5 Sep 18, 2015 7:45 AM in response to Jonathan UK
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 18, 2015 7:45 AM in response to Jonathan UK

    The problem goes beyond the HR features unfortunately. Since passbook, Apple Pay, and all of the NFC features of the watch require the passcode lock feature to be on, and that feature relies on the same wrist detection technology as the HR monitor, people with tattooed wrists can't use the NFC features either.

     

    I found it disappointing to not be able to use Apple Pay at first, but in all honesty it's just as easy to pull the phone out of my pocket and use it. Otherwise the watch works great... you just have to understand that you may not be able to use the HR monitor or any NFC devices if you have ink where the watch sits.

  • by Ian Parkinson,

    Ian Parkinson Ian Parkinson Sep 19, 2015 4:08 AM in response to Knockemouttimmy
    Level 6 (10,520 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 19, 2015 4:08 AM in response to Knockemouttimmy

    I have a sleeve tattoo and I have had no issues at all with my Apple Watch.IMG_0242.jpgIMG_0192.jpg

  • by DELTABRAVO5,

    DELTABRAVO5 DELTABRAVO5 Sep 19, 2015 5:41 AM in response to Ian Parkinson
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 19, 2015 5:41 AM in response to Ian Parkinson

    I do as well, and unfortunately had issues right out of the box. With the passcode lock turned on, the watch locked almost immediately after unlocking and I had to enter a pass code virtually every time I used it.

     

    IMG_4657.JPG IMG_4658.JPG

  • by KeithA,

    KeithA KeithA Oct 1, 2015 1:35 PM in response to DELTABRAVO5
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 1, 2015 1:35 PM in response to DELTABRAVO5

    I had the same exact issue as DELTABRAVO5. I reluctantly decided to return the watch. I too was hoping that there was a software fix but I'm assuming that to fix the problem they will need to rethink the hardware.

  • by cmilly,

    cmilly cmilly Oct 13, 2016 3:04 PM in response to Knockemouttimmy
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Oct 13, 2016 3:04 PM in response to Knockemouttimmy

    Same issue with the passcode. My tattoos cover my wrist, directly below the watch face. It will not unlock if I turn my wrist to wake the watch.