“Here is an in-depth guide on what is Green Light on an Apple watch and how to turn it off.”
If you are new to the Apple Watch, you may wonder what the green light on the Apple watch is and how to turn it off. As you know, Apple Watch has multiple sensors to track various data points such as your heart rate, oxygen level, activities, location, etc.
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What is Green Light in Apple Watch?
The green light comes from the optical heart rate sensor of the Apple watch, which is located on the back of the watch. The technology used on the Apple watch is called photoplethysmography, or PPG for short.
So, what exactly is PPG? Well, it’s a non-invasive method of detecting changes in blood volume in your body using light. In simpler terms, your Apple Watch has a sensor that emits green LED light onto your skin and then measures the light that reflects back. This process happens hundreds of times per second, allowing your watch to detect the tiny fluctuations in blood flow caused by your heartbeat.
By analyzing these fluctuations, your Apple Watch can accurately determine your heart rate and even detect irregular heart rhythms like atrial fibrillation(AFib). And the best part is, you don’t need to do anything special – wear your watch as usual, and it will take care of the rest.
But PPG technology isn’t just limited to heart rate monitoring. It can also be used to track other health metrics, such as blood oxygen levels and even sleep quality.
Accuracy of Apple Watch Heart Rate Monitor
When it comes to measuring your heart rate and other health metrics, accuracy is key. So, how accurate is the Apple Watch?
A study conducted by the JMIR Mhealth Uhealth found that the Apple Watch was a reliable tool for measuring heart rate during exercise in patients with cardiovascular disease. The mean absolute and absolute percentage errors were both low, indicating that the Apple Watch provided accurate heart rate measurements.
According to Apple, the accuracy of the ECG app in identifying heart rhythms was tested in a clinical trial involving approximately 600 individuals. The results showed that the app was highly accurate in identifying sinus rhythm, with a 99.6% accuracy rate. Additionally, the app demonstrated a 98.3% sensitivity rate in identifying atrial fibrillation (AFib) in the classifiable results.
This means that the Apple watch with ECG is highly accurate in identifying when a user’s heart is in normal sinus rhythm versus when it is experiencing AFib. These results demonstrate the potential for the Apple Watch to be a valuable tool for detecting and monitoring heart rhythm abnormalities. However, please note that the Apple Watch is not a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be used as a diagnostic tool without consulting a doctor.
What happens when you turn off the green light on your Apple Watch?
Now you know that the green light is coming from the heart rate sensor. So If you turn off the green light, your watch won’t be able to track your heart rate anymore. This means that you won’t see your heart rate on your watch until you turn the green light back on.
Many people turn off heart rate monitor to save battery life, but it’s not the best idea. The heart rate monitor is a valuable tool that helps you keep track of your health, and it provides important information about your health.
If you’re concerned about your Apple Watch’s battery life, there are plenty of tips to save the battery life of the Apple Watch. For example, you can adjust your watch’s display settings to reduce the amount of power it uses, or you can turn off certain features that you don’t use often.
If you still want to turn off the green light on your watch, check the step-by-step guide below.
How to turn off Green Light on Apple Watch?
1. Open Apple Health App on your Smartphone.
2. Now tap on “My Watch.”
3. Scroll down and locate “Privacy.”
4. Look for “Motion and Fitness” and tap on it.
5. In the new window, toggle the button to turn off “Heart rate.”
Alternatively, you can also turn off the green light on Apple Watch by turning off the heart rate in the Strava in the Apple Health App.
Why does the green light always on even when the watch is not on my wrist?
The green light under your Apple watch normally turns off as soon as you remove it from your wrist. However, the green light may sometimes stay on even after it is removed from your wrist.
I had also faced this issue multiple times when water or sweat stuck under the watch. Next time when you see the green light blinking, even after removing the watch from your wrist, just wipe off the water or sweat from the watch with a soft dry cloth.
If that doesn’t work, here is a simple guide that you can try to fix this issue.
Step 1: Please turn off your Apple Watch and turn it on again. If it does not work, then go to step no:2.
Step 2: Turn off the Heart rate at “Privacy” and turn it on after a couple of minutes.
Step 3: Unpair your Apple Watch from your smartphone and then pair it again. Still not fixed? Then try the next step.
Step 4: Reset your Apple Watch. But resetting the smartwatch will permanently delete all your data from the smartwatch.
If all these steps fail, you must contact Apple customer support for further assistance.
Are the green lights of the Apple watch harmful to you?
No. The green light on the Apple watch is not harmful to you. The Apple Watch emits non-ionizing radiation and does not cause any health hazards to humans. If we specifically talk about the green light health hazards of the Apple watch, it is just like a medical-grade Pulse Ox machine to measure the pulse rate and blood oxygen level(SpO2), and thus it does not cause any harm.
However, if you feel any irritation or color changes under the skin where the watch was in contact, immediately remove the watch and consult a doctor. It is very rare and has only been reported in a few cases.
However, many people have complained about redness and irritation under the skin after using the Apple watch. This is because of the Nickel in the stainless steel casing of the watch. If you are allergic to Nickel, then you must remove the watch as soon as possible and see your doctor for more assistance.
Final Words
Now you know that the Apple Watch uses green light to measure your heart rate, and it won’t be able to measure your heart rate if you turn off the green light. Additionally, the watch won’t be able alerts you about any abnormal changes(increased or decreased heart rate) when it is turned off. So now it is your choice to decide whether to keep the green light or heart rate monitor to turn on or turn it off.
I hope this article has answered your concern about “What is Green Light in Apple Watch?” and how to turn it off.
Saneesh VS is a tech and fitness enthusiast. He has been reviewing smartwatches and fitness trackers for the past few years and is passionate about it. He writes about the latest news in the industry, helpful tips, and buying guides. You can find him working out or spending time with his family when he’s not writing or reviewing gadgets.