Apple Watch Series 4's ECG Feature Will Work Internationally When Set to U.S. Region

Apple revealed the Apple Watch Series 4 during an event in September, highlighting a new electrocardiogram (ECG) app that will be coming to users in the United States through a watchOS software update later in the year. Regulatory clearance is required for the ECG feature, and because of this it will be limited to the U.S. at launch, although the company is working on approval for other countries.

In a new post by 9to5Mac today, code found within iOS related to the ECG feature suggests that the ECG limitation is based on software, not hardware. This means that gaining access to the ECG app in a non-U.S. territory will be as simple as changing the region of the Apple Watch Series 4 and connected iPhone to the United States.

applewatchseries4ecgfeature
iPhone region can be changed by going to the Settings app > General > Language and Region, and then selecting the Region of your choice. Those who switch regions should note that the time, date, currency formats, and more will be affected by the change.

The ECG app on Apple Watch Series 4 works by placing a finger on the Digital Crown while wearing the watch. The electrodes in the Apple Watch detect the electrical impulses from your heartbeat and route the data to the S4, where it is converted into a signal for Apple's algorithms. This results in a heart rhythm classification that can vary between a normal rhythm to an atrial fibrillation. All of your ECG results are stored in the Health app in PDF format and can be easily shared with your doctor.

While the FDA has granted de novo clearance for the ECG feature, that's not the same as FDA approval and the agency does not recommend that the ECG feature be used by those under 22 or those who have already been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. The FDA warns that Apple's ECG app is not designed to replace traditional methods of diagnosis or treatment and is intended for informational use only. The Series 4 is the first ECG product being offered over the counter directly to consumers.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 10
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)

Popular Stories

M4 iMac With Magic Accessories

Apple Announces iMac With M4 Chip, Upgraded Camera, Nano-Texture Display Option, and More

Monday October 28, 2024 8:01 am PDT by
Apple today announced that it has updated the 24-inch iMac with the M4 chip, which debuted in the iPad Pro earlier this year. This upgrade comes around one year after the previous iMac with the M3 chip was released. Subscribe to MacRumors on YouTube for more videos! As expected, the M4 chip in the iMac is available with up to a 10-core CPU and up to a 10-core GPU. Apple says the iMac with the ...
m3 mbp space black

What to Expect From Apple's 'Exciting Week of Announcements'

Thursday October 24, 2024 10:36 am PDT by
Apple's marketing chief Greg Joswiak today teased that the company has an "exciting week of announcements" planned next week. Joswiak said to "Mac" your calendars, and the post includes an animated icon for the Finder app on the Mac, so it is clear that at least some of next week's announcements will be related to the Mac. Subscribe to MacRumors on YouTube for more videos! Below, we have...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

Apple Says iPhone Driver's Licenses Coming to These U.S. States Next

Wednesday October 23, 2024 1:41 pm PDT by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Below, we outline which U.S. states offer the feature, and additional states that have committed to rolling it out in the feature in...
maxresdefault

Apple Releases iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1 With Apple Intelligence

Monday October 28, 2024 8:07 am PDT by
Apple today released iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1, the first major updates to the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 updates that came out in September. iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1 come six weeks after the release of iOS 18 and iPadOS 18. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General >...
apple oct 2024 mac tease

Apple Teases M4 Mac Announcements Next Week

Thursday October 24, 2024 9:19 am PDT by
Apple's Greg Joswiak today made it clear that Apple plans to reveal new products next week, teasing refreshed Macs. In a social media post, Joswiak said to "Mac your calendars" because there's an exciting week of announcements that start on Monday morning. With Joswiak's announcement, it appears that there will not be a dedicated October event for Macs this year, with Apple instead...
M4 iMac With Magic Accessories

Apple Updates Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard, and Magic Trackpad With USB-C Ports

Monday October 28, 2024 8:02 am PDT by
Alongside the new iMac, Apple announced updated versions of the Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard, and Magic Trackpad. The accessories are now equipped with USB-C charging ports, whereas the previous models used Lightning. Apple includes the Magic Mouse and Magic Keyboard in the box with the iMac, and the Magic Trackpad is an optional upgrade. "Every iMac comes with a color-matched Magic Keyboard...
iPhone SE 4 Thumb 1

iPhone SE 4 Mass Production Timeframe Revealed as Launch Gets Closer

Wednesday October 23, 2024 9:38 am PDT by
Apple suppliers will begin mass production of the fourth-generation iPhone SE in December, supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said today in a blog post. The fourth-generation iPhone SE is expected to have a similar design as the base iPhone 14, with rumored features including a 6.1-inch OLED display, Face ID, a newer A-series chip, a USB-C port, a single 48-megapixel rear camera, 8GB of RAM...
apple oct 2024 mac tease

Apple Promises Two More Mac Announcements This Week Following New iMac Today

Monday October 28, 2024 11:18 am PDT by
Apple introduced a new iMac today with the M4 chip and more, but that's not all, as it still has two more Mac announcements planned this week. "This is a huge week for the Mac, and this morning, we begin a series of three exciting new product announcements that will take place over the coming days," said Apple's hardware engineering chief John Ternus, in a video announcing the new iMac....

Top Rated Comments

tehStickMan Avatar
78 months ago
Sweet can't wait for it to tell me my heart PSI while Siri shows me that I'm 12 feet away from my next left-turn.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kdagher Avatar
78 months ago
FaceTime application is also software based and not hardware, yet it doesn't work for phones bought in countries where FaceTime is banned (even if US store or Location was selected).

The FaceTime App searches for the Model number from the approved list in Apple Servers or within the iOS itself and if it is not there it will simply not install nor show up in the APP store.

Therefore, i assume it will be the same thing for the ECG App, unless Apple makes an exception..
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
srshaw Avatar
78 months ago
Who in their right mind would ever think it was hardware based? Clearly Apple have not made two different watches - one type for US consumers and another for the rest of the world. :rolleyes:
Actually that's what I thought they did given that the cellular bands are different across different regions. The model numbers are certainly different between us/uk.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Defender2010 Avatar
78 months ago
Who in their right mind would ever think it was hardware based? Clearly Apple have not made two different watches - one type for US consumers and another for the rest of the world. :rolleyes:
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
centauratlas Avatar
78 months ago
Should I be impressed with this? Either have it set to my country and have time/date/currency correct, or try to use the ECG (touted as one of the major features) and have basic functionality incorrect everywhere....
You should be talking to the control-freaks who are running your government then about why are not allowing you the freedom to use a device they way you want to. So, no, you shouldn't be impressed with it, as long as you are looking at the correct people to blame for the lack of functionality in your country.

It definitely sucks for people who buy the watch and then have their government block them from using all the features.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tromboneaholic Avatar
78 months ago
Has anyone actually tested switching region, doing an ECG and switching back to their original region? If that works, it would probably be a worthwhile update.
No one outside of Apple has been able to test it at all.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)