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Elevated Resting Heart Rate on Apple Watch after watchOS 11.2 update

Hi, Since Dec 2024 or last OS version update have others noticed a spike in their Resting Heart to the point where it seems inaccurate. The day begins with a normal low value, but then arbitrary jumps up 10-12 beats within an hour or through the day. I've been tracking this data point for 7 years and it's a good reference point of physical activity, fitness and general wellness. My values have always been in the low 50s, but for the past month it's way above 60s. No change in lifestyle, activity, sleep or health. So seems to be a software issue or some setting like Sleep or other vitals tracking issue? Anybody else facing the same, any solutions? Thanks.


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Apple Watch Series 9, watchOS 11

Posted on Jan 8, 2025 4:17 PM

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8 replies

Jan 14, 2025 7:04 PM in response to LD150

Yes, the pattern is the same; usually drops during summers and then is higher in the winters. Weekly/ Monthly averages are between 52-56. See a months snapshot for comparison. The first is a regular month some variances. The second is post the update, see how it arbitrarily jumps over the 60s. Has to be some change in the way its measure.


Jan 14, 2025 6:54 PM in response to LD150

Hi LD, thanks for the response. Ok, so that is an interesting point and different use case thereby related data point. As I do wear it overnight and it records sleep and I usually have a RHR when I wake up in the morning (which has usually been a good indicator of previous days/nights activities). Then through the day it may or may not change but by a few beats. E.g. 50 would be 54 by EOD / but now it's spiking from like 48/52 to 60+. Now, here is where I see an issue, if the pulse reading never went below 60 then fine, that's an accurate RHR. But the pulse range through the day seems to be the same i.e. in the 50s when I'm resting (not just during sleep). But regardless the RHR calculated is still higher.

Jan 14, 2025 7:11 PM in response to cl6222

Thanks for responding cl! I was wondering the same, I've been checking the community since December and found no similar posts or questions, that made me wonder is it only the case with me/my device. Then I finally decided to post one myself! I agree, it is annoying when a data point suddenly begins showing as an aberration, you no longer have confidence in it or even other related metrics. E.g. if this isn't accurate, are the heart zones on runs and associated data reliable.

Btw for all who follow this discussion, I understand and endorse that one shouldn't read a lot into these. I am just a long term and curious user trying to understand what's changed with the device/software that's been fairly consistent for several years.

Jan 21, 2025 11:28 AM in response to Nitin0210

My experience since the update to Watch OS 11.2 has been terrible. Prior to this update my resting heart rate varied between 59 and 63 each day (for the past six years with every Apple Watch from 5 to 10). Also, I always obtained resting heart rate calculation upon waking up in the morning when wearing the watch to sleep overnight.


After the update to Watch OS 11.2 my resting heart rate is now about 75-85 each day. Furthermore, I get absolutely NO resting heart rate calculation when I wake up in the morning after sleeping with the watch overnight. Only about three to four hours after I wake up and have been wearing the watch do I obtain some random resting heart rate and, like I said, it is usually between 75 and 85 (sometimes it is even higher than that).


This entire experience is super frustrating. I am almost at the point of switching to a Garmin or Fitbit from my Apple Watch because Apple’s algorithms seem completely out of whack.

Elevated Resting Heart Rate on Apple Watch after watchOS 11.2 update

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