Guides

How to check your HRV on Apple Watch

Updated November 4, 2026 · Reviewed against the sources listed below

Step by step

1. Wear your Apple Watch, including to sleep if you can. Many readings are taken while you're still or asleep.
2. Open Health on your iPhone.
3. Tap the search field and type Heart Rate Variability.
4. Tap it. Switch between D, W, M and Y to see days, weeks, months or years.
5. Tap Show All Data at the bottom to see each individual reading with its time.

You can also open the Vitals app on Apple Watch to see overnight measurements against your typical range. Apple's guide lists which metrics your model shows there.

What the number means

HRV is the variation in time between heartbeats. Apple Health reports it as SDNN, the standard deviation of the gaps between normal beats, in milliseconds (ms).

• Higher HRV usually means your body is in a more relaxed, recovered state.
• Lower HRV usually goes with stress, poor sleep, illness, alcohol or hard training.

Is there a "good" HRV?

Not one number that fits everyone. HRV depends heavily on age, fitness and genetics, and it varies a lot between people. That's why a single reading compared with a chart says little. What's useful is your number compared with your own normal: if your HRV is well below your usual range for a few days, something is loading your system.

Readings also jump around within a day, so look at daily averages and trends rather than one reading.

Why your readings may be patchy

• The watch takes readings when you're still, so active days can have fewer.
• A loose band can stop readings. Wear the watch snug, above the wrist bone.
• Readings taken during workouts aren't comparable with resting ones.