Short answer
Samsung Health Monitor is a separate app from Samsung Health that runs the Galaxy Watch's regulated heart features. As of November 2026, in the U.S. it covers an on-demand ECG, irregular heart rhythm notifications for possible atrial fibrillation (AFib), blood pressure estimates after cuff calibration, and a sleep apnea feature (1). It works only with Samsung Galaxy phones running Android 12 or later, and you must be at least 22 years old (2).
The ECG and rhythm alerts have published validation; the blood pressure feature is for wellness only. In Samsung's U.S. study of 544 adults, the ECG app classified atrial fibrillation with 98.1% sensitivity and sinus rhythm with 100% specificity compared with a 12-lead ECG read by a cardiologist (3). Blood pressure monitoring, Samsung says, "is for wellness only" and is not intended to diagnose high blood pressure (1, 4).
If you've been hunting for the app and can't find it, it's not your fault — it lives in a different store, is tied to your phone brand and region, and is set up from the watch.
Note: this article is for general education and is not medical advice. A watch ECG cannot detect a heart attack. Chest pain or pressure, shortness of breath, fainting or signs of a heart attack are emergencies: call 911 or your local emergency number. Don't change medicines or doses based on a watch reading without your doctor. This guide is published by Welltory, which makes one of the apps mentioned. Samsung, Galaxy and Samsung Health are trademarks of Samsung Electronics; Welltory is not affiliated with Samsung. Welltory is a general wellness product: it helps you track and understand your data and does not diagnose or treat any condition.
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What is the Samsung Health Monitor app?
Samsung Health is the everyday app: steps, sleep, heart rate, stress, workouts. Samsung Health Monitor is a separate app for features that come with their own instructions for use, age limits and regional availability.
As listed on Samsung's U.S. page in November 2026, it includes (1):
| Feature | What it does | How Samsung frames it |
|---|---|---|
| ECG | Records a 30-second single-channel ECG when you touch the watch button | Over-the-counter software medical app; "should not be used for any diagnostic purposes" on its own |
| Irregular Heart Rhythm Notification (IHRN) | Periodically checks your pulse in the background and alerts you to rhythms that may suggest AFib | Prompts you to record an ECG |
| Blood pressure | Estimates systolic, diastolic and pulse after calibration with a cuff | "For wellness only"; not for diagnosis |
| Sleep apnea | Looks for signs of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea using blood oxygen changes over two nights | Authorized by the FDA; not a replacement for clinical diagnosis |
Samsung's 2026 newsroom post cites FDA clearances for the ECG and IHRN features (4), and IHRN was announced for the U.S. after FDA clearance in 2023 (5). The newsroom post does not mention FDA clearance for blood pressure.
Who can use it: requirements as of November 2026
Before you spend an evening searching the Play Store, check these five things (1, 2, 4):
A Samsung Galaxy phone with Android 12 or later. Samsung states the app isn't available on other Android phones or on iPhone (2).
A compatible Galaxy Watch. ECG needs a Galaxy Watch Active2 or newer; sleep apnea needs a Galaxy Watch4 or newer; blood pressure needs a Galaxy Watch4 or newer with Wear OS 4.0 or later. Samsung's fitness bands aren't supported (2, 4).
Devices bought in a supported country. The features work only on watches and phones purchased where the service is offered (4, 5).
Age 22 or older (2).
No implanted electronic device such as a pacemaker or implanted defibrillator, and no known arrhythmia other than AFib (2, 3).
What about the Samsung Health Monitor APK?
You'll see "Samsung Health Monitor APK" pages offering modified versions for non-Samsung phones or unsupported regions. Those aren't distributed by Samsung, and Samsung's validation and instructions apply to the official app on supported devices. If a heart feature matters to you, the official app on a supported phone and watch is the version those instructions and that validation describe.
How to set up Samsung Health Monitor
Menus change with updates, so follow the in-app prompts. The general path is (1, 2):
Pair your Galaxy Watch with your Galaxy phone through the Galaxy Wearable app.
Install Samsung Health Monitor from the Galaxy Store on the phone; the watch app installs alongside it.
Open the app on the phone, confirm your age and read the instructions for each feature.
Choose your wrist for the ECG — the wrist you'll wear the watch on.
Turn on irregular heart rhythm notifications if you want background checks.
Calibrate blood pressure if you plan to use it (see below).
How to take an ECG on a Samsung watch
Samsung's support page describes the steps (2):
Open Samsung Health Monitor on the watch and make sure the watch is snug on the wrist you chose during setup.
Read the information and tap OK.
Rest your forearms on a table.
Lightly rest one fingertip of the other hand on the watch's top button for 30 seconds. Keep still and don't talk. Pressing the button stops the recording.
View the result, add any symptoms you feel, and save. The report appears in the app on your phone.
The ECG is a single-channel recording similar to Lead I on a clinical ECG (3). Don't record during exercise, during medical procedures or near strong electromagnetic fields such as MRI equipment (3).
What your ECG result means
Samsung's support page lists these results (2):
| Result | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Sinus Rhythm | A regular rhythm with a heart rate of 50–100 bpm | Doesn't rule out other heart conditions; talk to a doctor if you have symptoms |
| High heart rate | A regular rhythm at 100–150 bpm | Rest and repeat; see a doctor if it keeps happening at rest |
| Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) | An irregular rhythm consistent with AFib | Contact your doctor |
| AFib with high heart rate | An irregular rhythm at 100–150 bpm | Contact your doctor |
| Inconclusive | The rhythm couldn't be classified, for example a rate under 50 bpm, AFib above 120 bpm, or another rhythm | Wait 5–10 minutes and record again; contact your doctor if it repeats |
| Poor recording | Movement or poor skin contact | Clean and moisturize the skin, warm cold hands, wear the watch snugly slightly away from the wrist bone |
Result labels depend on the app version: Samsung's 2023 U.S. instructions classified a regular rhythm above 100 bpm as inconclusive, while the current support page shows a separate high heart rate result (2, 3). Go by what your app shows.
What the ECG can't do. Samsung's instructions state that the app cannot detect signs of a heart attack and doesn't check for other arrhythmias, heart failure, high cholesterol, blood clots or stroke (3). A "Sinus Rhythm" result on a day you have chest pain is not reassurance — call for help.
If you also use an Apple Watch, our guide to an inconclusive Apple Watch ECG explains the common causes, and what is an EKG (ECG)? covers what a clinical ECG adds.
How accurate is the Samsung watch ECG?
The numbers below come from Samsung's U.S. instructions for use (3):
ECG app (544 adults): sensitivity for AFib 98.1% (207 of 211); specificity for sinus rhythm 100% (223 of 223), compared with a 12-lead ECG read by a board-certified cardiologist. These figures apply to recordings the app could classify; inconclusive and poor recordings are a separate group.
Irregular heart rhythm notification (810 adults, up to 10 days of wear with a reference patch): sensitivity 68.0% for AFib episodes lasting an hour or longer; specificity 98.8%.
Notification followed by an ECG: overall sensitivity 66.7%, specificity 100%.
In plain terms: when the ECG gave a clear AFib or sinus rhythm result in that study's controlled recordings, it agreed with the cardiologist very closely. The background notification missed about a third of people with longer AFib episodes, and it doesn't check continuously. Samsung states that the absence of a notification does not rule out disease (3).
How the irregular rhythm notification works
The notification uses the watch's optical heart rate sensor — the light on the back — which reads your pulse, not the heart's electrical signal. It periodically measures your heart rate when you're still and looks for an irregular pattern (1). If it finds a pattern that may suggest AFib, it notifies you and prompts you to record an ECG (3).
That two-step design matters. The optical sensor can catch a possible problem in the background; the ECG gives a recording your doctor can look at. Our explainer on atrial fibrillation covers symptoms and what happens after a diagnosis.
Blood pressure on Galaxy Watch: what the feature is and isn't
Blood pressure became available to select U.S. Galaxy Watch users in a phased rollout starting March 31, 2026 (4). It works differently from a cuff:
Calibration first. You need a third-party upper-arm cuff (sold separately) and take three measurements within 30 minutes (1).
Recalibration every 28 days, or sooner if you like (1).
Limited ranges. Measurements cover systolic 70–180 and diastolic 40–120 mmHg; calibration needs values within systolic 80–170 and diastolic 50–110 mmHg (1).
Wellness only. Samsung states the feature "is not intended to prevent or diagnose high blood pressure" (4).
So the watch estimates how your pressure moves relative to the cuff readings you gave it. If you have high blood pressure, or your doctor asked you to monitor it, a validated upper-arm cuff is still the device to use for decisions. We cover this in detail in Galaxy Watch blood pressure and can a smartwatch measure blood pressure?, and help you choose a cuff in our guide to home blood pressure monitors.
Sleep apnea feature
The sleep apnea feature looks for signs of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea using changes in blood oxygen during sleep. You wear the watch for two nights within 10 days, with about four hours of sleep each night (1). It's not for people under 22 or people already diagnosed with sleep apnea (1). Samsung's page lists watch support differently in two places, so check compatibility in the app for your model.
Who is the app a good fit for?
Probably useful if you:
Already own a Galaxy Watch and a Galaxy phone and want an ECG on hand when you feel palpitations.
Have risk factors your doctor mentioned and want background checks for possible AFib.
Like to see how your blood pressure moves between cuff readings, and are happy to recalibrate every four weeks.
Want a PDF ECG report to share with your doctor.
Probably not the right tool if you:
Use a non-Samsung Android phone or an iPhone.
Are under 22.
Have a pacemaker or implanted defibrillator.
Have a known arrhythmia other than AFib — the app isn't designed for it.
Need blood pressure numbers to adjust treatment. Use a validated cuff and your doctor's plan.
Common mistakes with Samsung Health Monitor
Treating "Sinus Rhythm" as a clean bill of health. It only means a regular rhythm in those 30 seconds.
Recording while moving or talking. That's a top cause of poor recordings (2).
A loose watch or cold, dry skin. A snug fit and warm, moisturized skin help (2).
Skipping recalibration. Blood pressure estimates need a fresh cuff calibration every 28 days (1).
Calibrating with a wrist cuff or a rushed reading. Samsung asks for an upper-arm cuff; sit quietly first.
Waiting for a notification instead of acting on symptoms. No alert doesn't mean no problem.
Living with Samsung Health Monitor: the questions people ask next
Why can't I find Samsung Health Monitor in the Play Store?
Samsung's setup steps point to the Galaxy Store, and the app works only on Samsung Galaxy phones bought in supported regions (1, 4). Check that your phone runs Android 12 or later and that your watch is supported.
Does Samsung Health Monitor work with a Google Pixel or other Android phone?
No. Samsung states that the app works only with some Samsung phones and watches and isn't available on other Android models or on iOS (2).
Can I share my ECG with my doctor?
Yes. On your phone, open the app, tap the ECG tab, tap View history, choose a report and tap Share this report. It becomes a PDF you can send by email or a cloud drive; text messages don't support PDFs (2).
Which Samsung watches have ECG?
Galaxy Watch Active2 and newer support the ECG in Samsung Health Monitor, and Samsung's U.S. page lists the current Galaxy Watch8, Watch8 Classic, Watch7 and Watch Ultra in November 2026 (1, 2).
Should I avoid caffeine before a reading?
Samsung advises avoiding alcohol, caffeine, smoking and sleep-inducing medications before measurements or sleep tracking (1). For comparable readings, measure at a similar time and in a similar state each day.
Before you blame yourself
Getting "Poor recording" three times in a row, or a blood pressure number that doesn't match how you feel, can make you think you're doing it wrong or that something is seriously off. Before you blame yourself, look at the conditions of the reading.
The feeling: "I can't even get the watch to work," or "my pressure is all over the place."
The cause you can see: cold, dry fingers; a loose strap; talking during the 30 seconds; a calibration more than four weeks old; a reading straight after coffee or climbing stairs.
One lever for one to two weeks: pick a fixed routine — same time, seated, forearms on a table, watch snug, five quiet minutes first. Note what you did beforehand. Then look at the results as a set, not one by one.
If results still look odd after that, it's useful information to bring to a doctor — not a sign you failed at using a gadget.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if:
You get an AFib result or an irregular rhythm notification, even once.
You get Inconclusive results repeatedly (2).
You have palpitations, dizziness, unusual tiredness or shortness of breath on exertion, whatever the watch says.
Your blood pressure estimates are often high and you haven't confirmed them with a cuff.
Call 911 or your local emergency number if you have chest pain or pressure, shortness of breath, fainting, or think you're having a heart attack. Samsung's instructions say to seek emergency care in these situations (3).
How to bring this up with your doctor
What to ask for, by name. "Can we confirm this with a 12-lead ECG?" If episodes come and go: "Would a wearable heart monitor for a week or two help?" For blood pressure: "Should I keep a home log with an upper-arm cuff?"
What to bring. ECG reports as PDFs, with the symptoms you tagged; dates and times of any notifications; a few weeks of cuff readings if you have them; a list of medicines, caffeine and alcohol. Our guide to a blood pressure log for your doctor shows a simple format.
What to say, out loud. "My watch's ECG showed [result] on [date], when I felt [symptom]. I know it's a single-lead watch reading — can we check it with a proper test?"
If you're told watches aren't reliable. Ask: "I understand it's not diagnostic. Is there a test you'd recommend to rule a rhythm problem in or out?"
How Welltory helps — and what it cannot do
The limits first. Welltory is a general wellness product, not a medical device. It does not record ECGs, detect atrial fibrillation or measure blood pressure, and it doesn't replace Samsung Health Monitor or your doctor. The Help Center notes that measurements may be less accurate for people under 18 and during pregnancy (7).
What it can add if you wear a Galaxy Watch is a daily read on how your body is coping, alongside the regulated checks:
HRV measured through your watch. Welltory runs on Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 and newer with Wear OS. You install it from Menu → Settings → Primary device → Install Welltory on my watch, then measure while you sit still. With Health Monitoring, the watch can also take readings automatically when you're calm. The free version allows one manual and one automatic watch measurement a day; Premium, a paid subscription that renews automatically until you cancel, removes the limit (7).
Samsung Health data in the same place. You can connect Samsung Health in Welltory and grant permissions so steps and other available data appear in your charts (6).
No watch on hand? You can take a spot reading with the phone camera and flash on many phones — a deliberate check, not 24/7 monitoring (8).
A record for your doctor. From the Welltory web app you can export your data as CSV: Dashboard → choose a chart → pick the time range → Export (9). Bring it next to your Samsung ECG PDFs.
How we made it
We based this article on Samsung's U.S. page for the Samsung Health Monitor app, Samsung's U.S. support guide to using it, Samsung's U.S. instructions for use for the ECG app with irregular heart rhythm notification, and Samsung newsroom announcements from 2023 and 2026. App features, requirements and result labels are as of November 2026 and may change with updates. Search questions came from what people in the United States most often ask about the Samsung Health Monitor app. For the product section, we checked every function against the Welltory Help Center on November 6, 2026.
Made with AI tools, then edited and fact-checked by the Welltory team. See our Editorial & AI policy.
Jane Smorodnikova, co-founder of Welltory, built the methodology behind how we read physiological data.
Written by Tatsiana Yashyna.
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This article is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. A watch ECG cannot detect a heart attack. Chest pain or pressure, shortness of breath or fainting are emergencies: call 911 or your local emergency number. This guide is published by Welltory, which makes one of the apps mentioned. Welltory is a general wellness product: it helps you track and understand your data and does not diagnose or treat any condition. Sources were retrieved on November 6, 2026.
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Written by Jane Smorodnikova
The founder and CEO of Welltory. A recognized tech leader with two Master's degrees and experience at MIT, she has scaled Welltory to over 17 million users.
Written by Tatsiana Yashyna
Deputy COO at Welltory. With a background in medicine and years of working with health data, she translates research and real physiological signals — sleep, stress, heart rate, and hormones — into clear, evidence-based explanations that help people understand what their bodies are telling them.
References
- Samsung US — Samsung Health Monitor. https://www.samsung.com/us/apps/samsung-health-monitor/
- Samsung US Support — Use the Samsung Health Monitor app on your Galaxy watch. https://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS10003433/
- Samsung Electronics — Samsung ECG Monitor App with Irregular Heart Rhythm Notification: Instructions for use (US, June 2023). https://image-us.samsung.com/SamsungUS/home/apps/samsung-health-monitor/IFU_IHRN_US_202306.pdf
- Samsung US Newsroom — Samsung's blood pressure monitoring feature now available to U.S. users in Samsung Health (March 31, 2026). https://news.samsung.com/us/samsung-blood-pressure-monitoring-feature-available/
- Samsung Global Newsroom — Samsung brings Irregular Heart Rhythm Notification to Galaxy Watch in 13 markets (June 14, 2023). https://news.samsung.com/global/samsung-brings-irregular-heart-rhythm-notification-to-galaxy-watch-in-13-markets
- Welltory Help Center — How to connect Samsung Health. https://help.welltory.com/en/articles/3380435-how-to-connect-samsung-health
- Welltory Help Center — Taking measurements with your Samsung watch. https://help.welltory.com/en/articles/5723878-taking-measurements-with-your-samsung-watch
- Welltory Help Center — Taking measurements with your smartphone camera. https://help.welltory.com/en/articles/4412277-taking-measurements-with-your-smartphone-camera
- Welltory Help Center — How to export data from Welltory. https://help.welltory.com/en/articles/3368391-how-to-export-data-from-welltory