You can see a green light under an Apple Watch while wearing it. Sometimes this light can stay on even when you are not wearing it. It can be confusing and even worrying if you are a first-time Apple Watch user.
The blinking green light is just the watch’s heart rate sensor that monitors your heart rate. A fitness-related session could still be running if the green light is permanently on. Let’s dive into details about why there is a green light under your watch and how you can turn it off.
What is Green Light Under My Apple Watch?
An Apple Watch uses an optical technique called Photoplethysmography to measure your heart rate. The watch has green LED lights that can measure how much blood is flowing through your wrist and thus determine your heart rate.
When the green light falls onto your blood cells, it gets absorbed. Higher absorption means more blood is flowing through the body and, thereby, a higher heart rate. This method can calculate your heart rate at any given time. However, there are ways to turn off this light if it’s constantly lit and bothering you.
Can You Turn Off the Green Light on Apple Watch?
While turning off the green light could mean you no longer have access to the heart rate sensor feature, you can still manually do so. You can temporarily or permanently disable this light. The easiest way to do it is by turning off the Heart Rate option from your Apple Watch’s settings. But there are other temporary ways to stop the green light. These methods have been discussed in detail below.
Turn Off the Heart Rate Monitor
The primary function of the green light is to monitor your heart rate. So, if you turn off the Heart Rate option, the light will permanently stop blinking. This also means that your Apple Watch will no longer be able to monitor your heart rate.
You can do this directly from your Apple Watch or your iPhone. Follow these steps:
On Apple Watch
- Go to Settings.
- Click on Privacy.
- Click on Health.
- Click on Heart Rate.
- Click on the toggle for Heart Rate to turn it off.
On iPhone
- In the iPhone that’s paired with your Apple Watch, go to the Watch app.
- Click on My Watch.
- Click on Privacy.
- Turn the toggle off next to Heart Rate.
End Your Workout
Sometimes your Apple Watch might be reading a workout session. This can make the green light go off timely. You can end the session to stop the green light. You can do that by following these steps:
- Swipe right on your Apple Watch screen while it is on.
- Click on End, which has an X icon.
- The watch will stop your workout session and turn off the green light.
Note: This method only stops the green light temporarily. When you work out again, the green light will also start working again.
Should the Green Light Always Light Up?
The green light on your Apple Watch should not be permanently lit. Otherwise, this could indicate a problem with your watch. It could also be due to a fitness-related app running in the background. Additionally, if this light stays on permanently, it could drain your battery. So, you should close the app from your app tray to stop the light. You could also restart your watch to fix the issue.
What Can You Do if the Green Light is Not on?
If the green light on your Apple Watch is not on, it could be a hardware failure. To check for and fix a hardware error, you need to take it to an Apple store. However, it could also mean that your heart-rate monitor is turned off. You can follow these steps to turn it on to try and fix it.
- Go to Settings on your Apple Watch.
- Click on Privacy > Health.
- Go to Heart Rate.
- Turn on Heart Rate.
What Other Lights Appear on Apple Watch?
There are mainly two lights on your Apple watch; a green light and a red light. The red light is available on the Apple Watch Series 6, Series 7, and later models.
The red light calculates your blood’s oxygen levels. The light dictates that the lighter color of your blood means more oxygen and the darker means less oxygen. Similar to the green light, it is safe and harmless.
