How to set up and use Apple Watch’s hypertension alerts in watchOS 26

Apple Watch users can now enable hypertension notifications on compatible models with watchOS 26.

One of the key new features of Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Series 11 is the ability to receive hypertension notifications. With watchOS 26, Apple has also made this feature available to several older models, expanding access to users who want to monitor their blood pressure trends.

Hypertension notifications in watchOS 26 are compatible with Apple Watch Series 11, Series 10, Series 9, Ultra 3, and Ultra 2. To use the feature, you will need an iPhone 11 or later running iOS 26. Additional requirements include enabling Wrist Detection on your watch, being at least 22 years old, not pregnant, and not having a prior diagnosis of hypertension. During setup, most of these details will be confirmed.

To enable hypertension notifications, follow these steps:

-Open the Health app on your iPhone
-Tap your profile icon in the upper-right corner
-Under Features, select ‘Health Checklist’
-Tap ‘Hypertension Notifications’
-Confirm your age and whether you have been diagnosed with hypertension, then tap Continue
-Follow the onscreen prompts to learn how the notifications work
-Tap Next and complete any additional instructions
-Tap Done to finish the setup

After completing setup, notifications will not start immediately. Apple requires 30 days to collect baseline data before the watch can accurately identify potential hypertension patterns. During this evaluation period, the Apple Watch analyses data collected by the optical heart sensor to detect trends that could indicate elevated blood pressure.

Once the 30-day monitoring period is complete, your watch will notify you if a consistent pattern of hypertension is detected. This feature allows users to receive early alerts and take appropriate steps, providing a proactive approach to blood pressure monitoring.