How to Check Your Heart Rate With Your Pixel Phone

You can now use your Pixel phone to check your heart rate and breathing rate without using third-party apps or fitness devices.

Until now, if Android users wanted to check their heart rate or breathing without smartwatches or fitness devices, they had to go to the Google Play store and download some apps. While some of these apps are free to use, it’s hard to judge their accuracy, which is obviously extremely important when you’re testing your cardiovascular health. A wellness app cannot help you stay healthy if it is incorrect. At least the new Pixel features seem very solid; According to Google tests , the accuracy of the heart rate monitor is 2% .

New heart rate and respiration monitors are being rolled out today for “supported” Pixel devices, but they are also planned for non-Pixel Android devices in the future. Google’s announcement does not list specific devices, but it will likely include all phones in the Pixel 3, 3a, 4, 4a, and 5 lines.

New vital signs tests appear in the Google Fit app. Both features use your device’s cameras to check your vital signs. Your rear camera will measure your finger’s color change to calculate your heart rate, while your front camera uses facial recognition to count how many breaths you take. You can also save your results after each test if you want to track your vital signs over time.

Check your pulse

1. Open Google Fit.
2. Select Check Heart Rate.
3. Click Next to proceed to the onscreen instructions.
4. Allow the Mobile Vitals app to take photos and videos.
5. When prompted, press your finger against the rear camera.
6. Wait while the app takes measurements. You will see the progress bar fill on the screen.
7. When the test is complete, you will see your heart rate. Click “Save” to save the results to Google Fit, or “X” to close.

Check your breathing rate

1. Select Check Respiration Rate in the Google Fit app.
2. Follow the instructions on the screen to set up your camera correctly. You will need to prop your phone to keep it completely still during the test.
3. Allow app permission to record video when prompted
4. Use the guides to make sure your face and chest are in line of sight, then keep still.
5. The app will measure your breathing while the progress bar fills.
6. You will see your results at the end of the test. Click “Save” to save the results to Google Fit, or “X” to close.

Note that these monitors are for periodic testing – you will still need a smartwatch or fitness bracelet if you want constant readings.

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