Essentially, the green light on Apple Watch you see during a workout session or an activity that is in progress is completely normal. It does not signal anything worrying but many people wonder what relevance it has in the context of their activity. Let’s find out!
What does the green light on Apple Watch mean?
The shining green light on Apple Watch is a kind of heart rate monitor that measures your heart rate during workouts and Breathing sessions by detecting the amount of blood flow. As you may be aware, Apple Watch uses sensors to calculate calories burned, record an ECG and track your heart rate throughout the day. Similarly, it uses an optical heart sensor known as photoplethysmography.
It’s a type of technology that is based on very simple logic. The color of blood is red because it reflects red light and absorbs green light. So, Apple Watch uses green LED lights paired with light‑sensitive photodiodes to detect the amount of blood flowing through your wrist at any given moment.
When your heart pumps during the workout or activity, the blood flow in your wrist is more, and therefore, the absorption of green light too — is greater. Between beats, it’s less! So, by flashing its LED lights repeatedly, Apple Watch automatically calculates the heart rate (the number of times your heart beats in a minute).
How to turn off the green light on Apple Watch?
Normally, when you use the Workout app, Apple Watch measures your heart rate continuously during the workout and for 3 minutes after the workout ends to determine a workout recovery rate. However, at times, you may find your watch taking measurements, inadvertently. For instance, if you are not wearing the watch and still find green lights visible, then it could be a result of a workout still in progress. Stop the workout to turn off the Apple Watch green light. If this doesn’t work, consider disabling the heart rate sensor altogether.
Step 1: Press the Digital Crown on the side of your Apple Watch Dial to choose Settings.
Step 2: Scroll down to the Privacy section of the Settings.
Step 3: Under the Privacy screen, navigate to the Health heading.
Step 4: Tap the Heart Rate option.
Step 5: Disable the Hear Rate by sliding the toggle next to it to the Off position.
It is normal for the sensor to record the background measurements of your heart rate regularly throughout the day, but at times your Smartwatch may record heart rate measurements more frequently and so, you’ll find the green LED permanently lit and even more active.
Hope that makes sense!
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