Heart rate not regularly measured

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Level 1

5 points

Heart rate not regularly measured

Hi, when I first got my apple watch, it would regularly take my hear rate every 5 minutes of so. however, on the fifth day of owning it, the watch stopped taking my heart rate regularly. I've tried updating the software, rebooting my watch, unpairing the watch, and even factory resetting the watch and rebooting my phone, but have not been able to get a regular reading.

Right now, the watch will take a reading when I manually open the app, and it seems like it's reading accurately. However, it will not take readings automatically, and will leave gaps ranging between days and weeks. I have heart rate and fitness tracking turned on in the watch privacy menu and on my phone, but no luck. I'm at a loss for what's going on, and haven't been able to find any support so far.

Apple Watch Series 3, iOS 11.2, watch 4.2, GPS only model

Posted on Dec 7, 2017 8:05 AM

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Answer 1

Jonathan UK

Level 10

164,015 points

Dec 7, 2017 8:20 AM in response to CalebWilliam

Hi

The following article explains when Apple Watch should measure your heart rate, including during general daly wear when you are still and when you are walking:

Your heart rate. What it means, and where on Apple Watch you’ll find it. - Apple Support

If your Apple Watch is not measuring your heart rate as expected, then - in addition to the steps that you have already tried - the following steps may help:

Check that Wrist Detection is turned on and that, if passcode is enabled, you are unlocking your Apple Watch after placing it on your wrist:

On your iPhone, in the Watch app, go to: My Watch (tab) > Passcode > turn Wrist Detection on.
Note that Wrist Detection can be affected by temporary or permanent skin changes, such as by some wrist tattoos.
- Get the most accurate measurements using your Apple Watch - Apple Support

Check that you are wearing your Apple Watch sufficiently snugly on the top of your wrist (it may otherwise believe that it has been removed):

Wearing your Apple Watch - Apple Support

If you have previously used any third-party fitness tracking, sleep tracking or heart rate monitoring apps, check whether there is an active or paused session within any of them.

If there is, then end that session from within that app on your Apple Watch.
If in doubt, it may help to remove any such third-party apps from your Apple Watch, at least temporarily.

Close certain apps and restart both your iPhone and your Apple Watch again:

Close the Watch app, Activity app and Health app (if open) on your iPhone:
Double-click the Home button, then swipe up on each app preview to close the apps.
Turn both devices off together, then restart your iPhone first:
Restart your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support
How to restart your Apple Watch - Apple Support

Unpair and re-pair your Apple Watch again:

The Watch app on your iPhone takes a backup of your watch automatically when unpairing via the app.
Initially choose to Restore from Backup during set up (most data and settings will be restored, with some exceptions, such as Apple Pay cards, passcode).
If the issue persists, consider instead unpairing and setting it up as a new watch.
Unpair your Apple Watch and iPhone - Apple Support
Set up your Apple Watch - Apple Support

If the issue persists, then I suggest that you contact Apple Support (remote diagnostics and/or mail-in service may be available, if required), make a Genius Bar reservation or visit an Apple Authorised Service Provider for assistance:

US: Apple Watch Service Answer Center - Apple Support
Elsewhere: Apple - Support

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