If You Can’t Set up the New ECG App on Apple Watch, Here’s Why
While that’s not the only reason I bought an Apple Watch Series 4 earlier this year, the electrocardiogram feature that Apple showcased at its big September event was by far one of the most unique features of a smartwatch. I doubt there is anything wrong with my ticker, and Apple’s implementation is still not as good as the EKG you would get in the hospital – of course – but it’s nice to see the electrical activity of your heart on your wrist.
Yesterday, with the release of watchOS 5.1.2, the long-awaited ECG feature is finally ready for general use. All you need to do is connect your Apple Watch to the charging cable, open the Watch app on your iOS device, tap General, tap Software Update, and let the copy run. After installing the update, you will see a new ECG reading icon on the grid screen of your smartwatch. Tap it and you will be prompted to set up a new ECG function.
And this is where things get a little confusing.
Although I’ve only been running watchOS 5.1.2 for an hour, at best I’ve been running iOS 12.1.1 – also required for the ECG app – for a while now through the Apple Public Beta program. The “official” version of iOS 12.1.1 was also released this week, and I say it the same way I say it because you won’t be able to set up the new ECG feature on your Apple Watch if you’re signed in to the beta version of iOS. …
When you click on the ECG app icon on your Apple Watch, you are prompted to “open the Health app on your iPhone” to start the process, as shown below:
I’m not sure why this happened to me, but Apple’s wording didn’t really appeal to me because nothing happened when I opened the Health app on my iPhone – the app icon in the corner that gives you access to all Health data tracked by your smartwatch, smartphone and various apps. I had to open the Clock app and then tap on Heart to start setting up this feature. (When I tested this on another iPhone / Apple Watch combination that never had a public beta, the Health app allowed me to customize the ECG function. I shrug.)
To set up the ECG app, I started with a screen that looks like this:
If you’re signed in to the iOS public beta – even if you’re running iOS 12.1.1, which appears as build “16C5050a” on my iPhone’s About screen, not “16C50” – you won’t see these options at all. You will need to opt out of beta testing, download and install the iOS 12.1.1 publicly available multi-gigabyte update, and navigate to the Heart section of the iPhone Watch app.
Once you upgrade to iOS 12.1.1, setting up the ECG function becomes simple and verbose. Tap on the “Customize Health EKG App” feature and get ready to view several screens, each of which is intended to inform you that the ECG function, while interesting, is not intended to replace real medical advice and / or care. …
To complete the setup process, the ECG app will ask you for a first reading. Make sure your Apple Watch is “snug” on your wrist, grasp the digital crown with your finger, and prepare to spend 30 seconds watching your heart do its thing. When you’re done, don’t forget to return to the Heart section of the Watch app and set up irregular rhythm notifications. Chances are, you’ll never get a warning from your watch that some strange reading to your heart means you’re dying, but it’s better to play it safe than sorry, right?
As before, you’ll have to go through a series of prompts warning you that the Apple Watch isn’t constantly tracking every heart condition that might affect you. Also, you should not wait for the Apple Watch to notify you that something is strange, if you feel unwell – if you yourself feel irregular heartbeat, dizziness, etc., If in doubt, consult a personal medical report immediately. doctor.