watchOS 26 adds high blood pressure alerts to Apple Watch. Here’s how to use it:

watchOS 26 introduces a new hypertension detection feature for Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Series 11, as well as some older Apple Watch models. We will introduce the setting method and compatible models.

Apple Watch High Blood Pressure Alert Compatibility Requirements

Hypertension notifications are available with watchOS 26 on the following Apple Watch models:

• apple watch series 11
• apple watch series 10
• apple watch series 9
• apple watch ultra 3
• apple watch ultra 2

You also need an iPhone 11 or later running iOS 26 to enable this feature.

Apple lists additional requirements for using this feature.

1. Wrist detection must be enabled on your Apple Watch
2. Must be 22 years or older, not pregnant, and not diagnosed with high blood pressure

The process of activating Hypertension Notifications involves confirming most of these details when prompted.

How to use the high blood pressure feature in watchOS 26

Once you’ve met all of the above requirements, here’s what Apple says you need to do to enable high blood pressure notifications.

Just follow these simple steps:

1. Open the Health app on your iPhone
2. Tap the profile icon in the top corner
3. Under “Features” tap “Health Checklist”
4. Tap “High blood pressure notification”
5. Verify your age and if you’ve been diagnosed with high blood pressure, tap Continue
6. Tap Next and follow the onscreen instructions to see how notifications work
7. Tap “Done”

Completing the setup process does not mean you will immediately start receiving hypertension notifications.

That’s because Apple takes 30 days to collect initial data before it can accurately predict whether you’re exhibiting a pattern of high blood pressure.

Apple explains:

Apple Watch analyzes data collected by an optical heart sensor and notifies you if it detects a pattern of high blood pressure. This occurs over a 30-day evaluation period starting from the date you set the hypertension notification.

For more information, see the complete support documentation on Apple’s website.

Are you using the new hypertension detection feature in watchOS 26? Let us know in the comments.

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