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To stop Apple Watch from recording heart-rate data, turn off the dedicated Heart Rate control in Privacy settings. You can do this on the watch itself or from its paired iPhone. This is different from disabling heart-rate alerts, and it is narrower than turning off Wrist Detection.

Turn off heart-rate tracking on Apple Watch

  1. On your Apple Watch, open Settings.
  2. Tap Privacy & Security > Health > Heart Rate.
  3. Turn off Heart Rate.

Apple says the watch monitors your heart rate by default for the Heart Rate app, workouts, and Breathe and Reflect sessions. Its user guide notes that “Your Apple Watch continues measuring your heart rate as long as you’re wearing it.” The Heart Rate privacy switch is the direct control for stopping that data collection. See Apple’s instructions for checking your heart rate on Apple Watch.

Use the paired iPhone instead

  1. Open the Watch app on the iPhone paired with your Apple Watch.
  2. Tap My Watch > Privacy.
  3. Turn off Heart Rate.

This is the iPhone route to the same heart-rate data control. Apple also explains how to manage Health data on iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch.

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Choose the setting that matches what you want to stop

Setting What it controls Where to find it
Heart Rate privacy switch Heart-rate data used by the Heart Rate app, workouts, and Breathe and Reflect sessions. Watch: Settings > Privacy & Security > Health > Heart Rate. Paired iPhone: Watch app > My Watch > Privacy.
High- and low-heart-rate alerts Notifications for high or low readings; these are separate from the general heart-rate data control. Heart settings on Apple Watch. See Apple’s heart-health monitoring guide.
Irregular-rhythm notifications Notifications about possible irregular rhythms; availability varies by region and requires its own setup. Set up separately in the heart-health features described by Apple.
Wrist Detection A broader set of watch functions. Turning it off also disables heart-rate tracking and notifications, along with automatic locking, Sleep tracking, and other functions. Wrist Detection settings. See Apple’s information about unexpected locking.

If you only want to stop heart-rate data collection, use the Heart Rate privacy switch rather than disabling Wrist Detection. If your goal is only to stop a particular alert, adjust that alert instead; turning off notifications does not amount to switching off heart-rate data.

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Continuous Measurements is a separate, model-specific control

Apple documents a Continuous Measurements control for Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4, at Settings > Heart > Continuous Measurements. This option is specific to those models in Apple’s guidance. It is not a replacement for the general Heart Rate privacy switch, which is the control for heart-rate data privacy. See Apple’s guidance on monitoring heart rate with Apple Watch.

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Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 42mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - S/M. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant
  • A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
  • KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
  • GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
  • SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
  • A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.
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  • GET SMARTER HEALTH INSIGHTS—Apple Watch SE 3 is an advanced health tracker that helps you better understand your body. The smartwatch sends alerts for an irregular heart rhythm, or an unusually high or low heart rate.* You can view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app,* track your sleep score, and get sleep apnea notifications.*
  • A GREAT FITNESS TRACKER—SE 3 can track your workouts in a healthy number of ways—from running and strength training to simply achieving your 10K steps a day. With real-time metrics and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone,* you’ll hit your goals like never before.
  • KEEP HELP CLOSE AT HAND—SE 3 is a smartwatch that can detect a hard fall or severe car crash and automatically help connect you to emergency services and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
  • WOMEN’S HEALTH INSIGHTS—SE 3 has advanced sensors that track your wrist temperature while you sleep. With this smartwatch, you can log your periods and symptoms, get period predictions, and get notified of cycle deviations.*
  • GREAT BATTERY LIFE AND FASTER CHARGING—Enjoy a smartwatch with all-day, 18-hour battery life* from sunup to sundown. Then charge up to twice as fast as SE 2* and get up to 8 hours of battery in just 15 minutes.*
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Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 42mm] Smartwatch with Rose Gold Aluminum Case with Light Blush Sport Band - S/M. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant
  • A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
  • KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
  • GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
  • SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
  • A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.

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