Apple Watch Ultra 4 records HRV in Health but Vitals and Readiness show no data (watchOS 27.0.1)

I think I found a pattern to the overnight HRV bug. I exported my Apple Health data and counted the Recovery HRV (RMSSD) readings the watch logged during each night’s sleep. Every night that moved my “Sleep Sessions Needed” counter had at least 45 readings (45, 78, 74 and 45). Every night that didn’t count had 34 or fewer. It’s just an observation, but it has held up 4 for 4 so far, and the length and quality of the sleep didn’t seem to matter. I’m down to one more night needed, so I’ll update after tonight. If you can export your Health data, check your own counts and let me know if it matches.

Hi,

Since your HRV samples are already appearing in the Health app, it sounds like the watch is collecting the data, but something may be preventing Vitals and Readiness from processing or displaying it correctly.

A few things I would check before trying another unpairing or resetting the devices:

1. Check Sleep settings: Make sure Sleep Tracking is enabled for your Apple Watch and that Sleep Focus is active throughout your scheduled sleep period.
2. Review Vitals data: Check whether other overnight metrics, such as respiratory rate, wrist temperature, and heart rate, are appearing consistently. This may help narrow down whether the issue affects HRV alone or the entire Vitals feature.
3. Check Health data sources: In Health, open Heart Rate Variability, select Data Sources & Access, and review which device is recording the samples. Confirm that the expected Apple Watch is listed.
4. Allow time for processing: Vitals uses overnight measurements and compares them with your personal baseline. Having HRV samples in Health does not necessarily guarantee that Vitals will display a corresponding measurement.
5. Check for a software issue: Since toggling continuous heart rate restored Vitals for only one night, I would not assume this is a configuration problem. It could indicate a software-related issue, although that behavior alone does not confirm a bug in watchOS 27.0.1.

One useful test would be to check whether HRV is missing from Vitals on the watch itself before opening the iPhone Health app. Also, note whether the other Vitals metrics continue to appear on the same mornings.

Given that you have already restarted both devices and unpaired and re-paired the watch, I would avoid repeating those steps without a specific reason. If the issue persists, report it to Apple with the dates affected and screenshots showing the HRV samples in Health alongside the missing Vitals data.

Has anyone else experienced the same issue on watchOS 27.0.1, particularly with HRV missing while the other overnight Vitals metrics continue to work? That comparison would help establish whether this is an isolated issue or a wider software problem.

Hope this helps narrow it down.

I noticed tonight that in the health app on my phone, in Browse> Sleep> Data Sources and Access, my watch was not the top source. The health app was. I then confirmed it is the top source for all other vitals, etc., and it was. Hopefully, that may be the solution.

I noticed tonight that in the health app on my phone, in Browse> Sleep> Data Sources and Access, my watch was not the top source. The health app was. I then confirmed it is the top source for all other vitals, etc., and it was. Hopefully, that may be the solution.

I think I found a pattern to the overnight HRV bug. I exported my Apple Health data and counted the Recovery HRV (RMSSD) readings the watch logged during each night’s sleep. Every night that moved my “Sleep Sessions Needed” counter had at least 45 readings (45, 78, 74 and 45). Every night that didn’t count had 34 or fewer. It’s just an observation, but it has held up 4 for 4 so far, and the length and quality of the sleep didn’t seem to matter. I’m down to one more night needed, so I’ll update after tonight. If you can export your Health data, check your own counts and let me know if it matches.

I was surfing again and found this info about looking at the readiness on my watch complications so I did and I found it needed still 2 more nights of wrist temperature before they will be recorded in vitals and I assume used by readiness? It said for my Recovery HRV I needed 5 more sleep sessions what ever that means/needs??.

I had some Reddit replies from people that have the same issue with new watches and iPhones 18 Pros. To me, that suggests software instead of hardware.

Apple is now aware https://www.reddit.com/r/AppleWatch/s/OYD0rx3EI7

From my results, you need at least 41 readings overnight. If you’re able to export your data and count, we may see the pattern. I am convinced now that it is not a bug, but that is the design.

I've noticed that the HRV reading is super inconsistent as well. The nights where required nights remaining counted down i can see it recorded the HRV almost every 5 minutes with some blips of maybe half an hour where it didn't record it. The nights where it didn't count down i can see as low as only 3 readings for the entire day! The fit of my watch is consistent and not too loose or too tight so this must just be a bug... Attached some screenshots below (october 3rd is the only one out of these that registered a nightly HRV and made the nights remaining go down)

This is interesting I was posting this stuff on my MR forums (where I found others with issue) this person responded they setup as new and wrist temperature started right away but the syncing of the Recovery HRV did not got to vitals for some time. I did not setup watch as new so that meant it used the back up of the old AWU3 with its stopped wrist temperature. But when I repaired the AWU4 to get the wrist temperature started recording after that (read it somewhere I needed to try that)

Symp EL wrote:

well, they are going to have to fix this soon as it is their main feature of the new watches.

Looking at this long Reddit thread it talks about having AFib on vs off and something about sleep focus on vs off messing with how it uses or does not use the new sensors. You probably have seen it but I share it maybe something will trigger I have my AFib on (rarely happens). And I use sleep focus with schedule

Kind of what we expected. Some one on MR said that watchOS 27.0.1 is not very polished and has bugs so that could be the issue perhaps. I am looking forward to 27.2 iOS and WatchOS near later part of month with the new health app maybe these issues will improve.

Well now I have enough wrist temperatures and they also show in health but like the HRV not in vitals. Something either wrong with the vitals part of Health in 27.0.1 or AWU4 likely the first one we shall see I guess with 27.2

I have not been in communication with anyone on 27.2 betas myself who had the issue (or not). Funny thing is I have 3 friends on a Mac group as I mentioend who have all 4 vitals. Including Recoery HRV showing in vitals. They are all users of new 18 Pro Max’s and have 27.0.1 iOS not sure why theirs work because as I have found issue is present for some across 15 to 18 pro line so not phone specific. If you look at my health app the Reovery HRV is being input to the health app but as with you absolutely no sign of it in the vitals/and readiness feature and vitals there

[Edited by Moderator]

I also found this summer 2026 post on HRV in vitals or not even though it discussed various sources other than just the watch found it interesting not sure if it applies to our issues but I wonder. I also found discussions earlier that apple had been experimenting with HRV for some time so wonder if 27.0.1 still has not perfected HRV data to vitals??

https://trainconstant.com/blog/apple-health-not-showing-hrv

Well as I suspected looking at the readiness on the watch my wrist temperature thing keeps updating one night left it needs 7 as we discussed. But my Recovery HRV is stuck on 5 nights like yours and like I suspected it might be reading elsewhere with others having same issue.

Well now my wrist temperature is in vitals but still stuck at 5 nights sleep for the Recovery HRV (that is being recorded in health) to show in vitals something is busted hopefully in software. Will wait to see if anything happens after next iOS update later this month (27.2) but not feeling that will work.

I am a restless sleeper most nights, but when looking for a pattern, I decided that had to be a factor, so I determined myself not to move around so much if I woke up during the night. I basically lie still now, and every night I have done that, the counter has ticked down. Maybe its not an actual bug.

lisamartin123 wrote:

Hi,

Since your HRV samples are already appearing in the Health app, it sounds like the watch is collecting the data, but something may be preventing Vitals and Readiness from processing or displaying it correctly.

A few things I would check before trying another unpairing or resetting the devices:

Check Sleep settings: Make sure Sleep Tracking is enabled for your Apple Watch and that Sleep Focus is active throughout your scheduled sleep period1. .

Review Vitals data:1. Check whether other overnight metrics, such as respiratory rate, wrist temperature, and heart rate, are appearing consistently. This may help narrow down whether the issue affects HRV alone or the entire Vitals feature.

Check Health data sources:1. In Health, open Heart Rate Variability, select Data Sources & Access, and review which device is recording the samples. Confirm that the expected Apple Watch is listed.

Allow time for processing:1. Vitals uses overnight measurements and compares them with your personal baseline. Having HRV samples in Health does not necessarily guarantee that Vitals will display a corresponding measurement.

Check for a software issue:1. Since toggling continuous heart rate restored Vitals for only one night, I would not assume this is a configuration problem. It could indicate a software-related issue, although that behavior alone does not confirm a bug in watchOS 27.0.1.

One useful test would be to check whether HRV is missing from Vitals on the watch itself before opening the iPhone Health app. Also, note whether the other Vitals metrics continue to appear on the same mornings.

Given that you have already restarted both devices and unpaired and re-paired the watch, I would avoid repeating those steps without a specific reason. If the issue persists, report it to Apple with the dates affected and screenshots showing the HRV samples in Health alongside the missing Vitals data.

Has anyone else experienced the same issue on watchOS 27.0.1, particularly with HRV missing while the other overnight Vitals metrics continue to work? That comparison would help establish whether this is an isolated issue or a wider software problem.

Hope this helps narrow it down.

I am on 27.2 iOS now (and Watch OS). Items 1-5 you list are all checked out and ok. The Recovery HRV is recording fine on the watch and is being entered on the Health app. All other vitals you mention are recording fine in vitals. But the Recovery HRV is not recording in vitals on either watch or the Health app on iPhone inspite of the data recording fine to the Health app. It is stuck at needing 5 more nights (watch and iPhone). I purchased and set up the AWU4 on September 24 and it. Has been running now since then and after couple weeks stuck on needing 5 nights. It was on 27.0.1 from first day I purchased and the day 27.2 came out I installed (26th of October)

My recovery HRV is stuck on 5 nights as well. Most posts I see about this is the same thing. All other vitals recorded for me.

Same issue on my new AWU4. I get consistent Recovery HRV in the health app but noting shows. I had to also reboot my AWU4 and unpair it and repair it to also get the wrist temperature working it was not working after I set up the AWU4. Now it works and my vitals says 3-4 more days for the wrist data to appear in vitals but no Recovery HRV data making it in to vitals.

another question what iPhone are you using. I am using a 17 Pro Max 2 TB. My friends in a Mac group who have had no trouble with either wrist temperature or Recovery HRV in their vitals from day one are all using 18 Pro or Pro Max’s. Not sure the newer 18 Pro line would make a difference but I can find no other obvious difference. But if you are using a 18 Pro then that disproves this crazy idea LOL

Yeah my sample set in group I am in is 3 people who have the AWU4 or 12 with these health features. they also have 18 Pro or Pro Max’s as I mentioned. But they get all the data in their vitals especially the Recovry HRV that shows in our health recovery HRV screen but not in vitals. Will be interested to see what you learn.

Same issue on 18 pro. It worked for two nights after updating to 27.0.1 and turning continuous measurements off and on again but now stuck on 5 nights remaining. Called apple support and after sending me multiple apple support articles that as mentioned i had already read, they hung up on me…

They have gotten too big for support it seems the little guy no longer counts sad to say. And for most of us apple lovers these are expensive investments. Hope they get their act together on this and other problems

Apple support is loosing it, and the problems with memory chips and the Qualcomm modems in 18 Pro Max’s with AT&T (and T mobile) frying the chips making a replacement necessary is a major issue both AT&T and Apple are trying to downplay. They are dragging their feet on replacing folks phones (maybe supply is tight ). So our issues with the AWU4 and recording Recovery HRV in our vitals and thus making readiness work are low on their priority. I am glad personally (I use AT&T) I stuck with my 2TB 17 Pro Max. I found nothing of interest in spending another 2 grand on a 18 Pro. I also just upgraded to a new M4 open box 16 inch MacBook Pro so my tech budget on my state employee pension was busted LOL. I am afraid we will not get much support on this but as I was telling Symp EL hopefully 27.2 will fix this if anyone is paying attention ??

Mine only shows the Apple Watch Ultra 4 as my health source nothing from the app watch usually is my main source for almost most data, and for some health data my 17 Pro Max, but watch always is top on list.

I don’t know that I’ve ever looked at the priority settings to be honest, but I found my way there when trying to search for an answer for this bug. If Apple could only acknowledge the bug I wouldn’t be wasting my time.

Apple seems to have so many bugs in the OS 27 line including watchOS, and then there is a bunch of new stuff coming and finally the elephant in the room is how many AT&T 18 Pro Max’s got toasted by the issue with the American models that Qualcomm modems they used in them. I am In a Mac group and there were several effected normally these new model issues do not affect many but they did in this group so makes it seem like there is a big issue that apple (and AT&T) do not understand or want to acknowledge right now. I have been on AT&T since it being the first American carrier so so the issue concerns me when I finally decide to upgrade my 17PM in a year or two So I bet their people are overwhelmed by all this. I am still hoping that 27.2 —as 27.1 is clearly for only. Duo’s from all I have read— will fix our problems. I am almost ready to get my wrist temperature (which I had to restart since it had stopped in January on my AWU3) one more night and it will be in vitals and maybe with those 3 items I will get the readiness LOL

What makes me concerned is people on the 27.2 can’t answer if the issue is fixed.

side note: I botched CVS health integration, what do you get from it? I was curious to do so, but I don’t want anything sharing the CVS that they don’t already know.

Nothing specific outside of the iPhone 18 Pro Max issue on AT&T, but the lack of a fix for this being mentioned on any forum with someone using 27.2 makes me a bit nervous. This feature is their flagship health feature for the new watches, and I think they would have already addressed it, like the reboots, if they could fix it with software.

Yeah that is a reasonable idea who knows it seems to have vanished even though numbers have the issue. I did find this interesting item and I have not been able to get back to regularly daily exercises since getting the watch maybe nothing??? But my normal daily activites (involving walking mostly) are way down. I was on long trip in field as geologist before I got back and got the watch so my AWU3 recorded this but since my return on the 24th I have not gotten back to it yet . Probalby just a wild idea but the fact that it includes activites makes me wonder what that does in creating a readiness score. Does not solve the missing data in vitals however

Yeah that sounds like mine also. Did you setup as new or copy your old watch backup? Curious if that could be a common issue ? Probably not just grasping at straws so I expect I will be stuck at 5 nights more of sleep needed from things I read elsewhere with same problem sigh

Symp EL wrote:

well, they are going to have to fix this soon as it is their main feature of the new watches.

True, although it is strange it records just not into vitals. That seems a bug to me hopefully not a hardware issue. I am not all that interested in the Readiness score it is kind of a joke compared to other health devices my friends have (like Oura ring for example) but it would be nice to see it posted in Vitals so they can rate it but at least we are getting data just not registering in vitals. Maybe after the craziness of fall devices like the Duo and home devices is over they will deal with it. It is funny however on my discord Mac group I am only one with problem compared to 4 others with new watches (and 18 PM). There is not much being said on forums I frequent either so I wonder how wide spread it is. There is a ton on Reddit but I take that site a bit with a salt mine (as opposed to a grain of salt )LOL

Trilobiteruss wrote:

Symp EL wrote:

well, they are going to have to fix this soon as it is their main feature of the new watches.

Looking at this long Reddit thread it talks about having AFib on vs off and something about sleep focus on vs off messing with how it uses or does not use the new sensors. You probably have seen it but I share it maybe something will trigger I have my AFib on (rarely happens). And I use sleep focus with schedule

do have a link for the thread?

Symp EL wrote:

Mine has always been enabled going on 3 years and everything records correctly so I am not sure.

Yeah more I read I think this stuff on Reddit is bogus, most people have it on including those for whom it all works fine. Thanks for the info

MY HRV updated last night, and I now only need 4 nights. I made no changes on my end and used it the same. There was another bug, a stuck custom workout in the fitness app, that cleared itself as well.

MY HRV updated last night, and I now only need 4 nights. I made no changes on my end and used it the same. There was another bug, a stuck custom workout in the fitness app, that cleared itself as well.

Symp EL wrote:

MY HRV updated last night, and I now only need 4 nights. I made no changes on my end and used it the same. There was another bug, a stuck custom workout in the fitness app, that cleared itself as well.

Mine still is stuck at the 5 nights no change. I did not get/start my AWU4 until September 25th however I assume you had yours earlier? Maybe in another week or so it will do the same.

Marijn17s wrote:

Since sunday night last week it has started counting down every day and i now have a readiness score. No idea why it suddenly started working, because i didn't change anything that day.

As I mentioned I did not get my AWU4 until September 25. I assume you and Symp EL got yours much earlier than I did hoping eventually to see the same. I have given up fixing in any other way for now good to hear you two are seeing progress finally

Symp EL wrote:

I think I found a pattern to the overnight HRV bug. I exported my Apple Health data and counted the Recovery HRV (RMSSD) readings the watch logged during each night’s sleep. Every night that moved my “Sleep Sessions Needed” counter had at least 45 readings (45, 78, 74 and 45). Every night that didn’t count had 34 or fewer. It’s just an observation, but it has held up 4 for 4 so far, and the length and quality of the sleep didn’t seem to matter. I’m down to one more night needed, so I’ll update after tonight. If you can export your Health data, check your own counts and let me know if it matches.

Well most/all of my nights are way fewer than 34 in fact i had much less not sure how to export the data and count it though just visually looking day by day most are far less than 20 per night often less than 10. I know for example that the HRV or Recovery HRV requires you to be still. I move a lot in my sleep so maybe hard to record for me? Interesting

Symp EL wrote:

I am a restless sleeper most nights, but when looking for a pattern, I decided that had to be a factor, so I determined myself not to move around so much if I woke up during the night. I basically lie still now, and every night I have done that, the counter has ticked down. Maybe its not an actual bug.

I am pretty restless and wake up every 2 hours to turn over and often bathroom visit (I am 76) wife says I figet a lot awake or asleep so yeah given Recovery HRV works when calm/still this may mean it will be hard to work for us there are always exceptions in how tech works or does not work for humans we may be that LOL

Symp EL wrote:

I am a restless sleeper most nights, but when looking for a pattern, I decided that had to be a factor, so I determined myself not to move around so much if I woke up during the night. I basically lie still now, and every night I have done that, the counter has ticked down. Maybe its not an actual bug.

I did find this particular google AI summary of interest to the question we are pondering today:

Symp EL wrote:

I think we don't know, but my data does show a pattern.

Very true but I was talking to a friend on another Mac group I am part of her and 3 others have no problems with their new AW 12’s and 4’s and getting enough data for the Readiness and vitals to work. But she is even more restless than me here is hers and mine she is extremely restless at night so it is somethng more but your discovery is interesting enough to ponder

Well I updated to 27.2 yesterday but no change sitll stuck at 5 days left. Not sure the issue but it was not something with 27.0.1 or betas but it is issue with how the data is being recorded to perhaps still buggy or revised vitals categories some have commented on I really do not know but at this point see no pattern oh well. Have you updated? See any difference?

Symp EL wrote:

From my results, you need at least 41 readings overnight. If you’re able to export your data and count, we may see the pattern. I am convinced now that it is not a bug, but that is the design.

I am not sure how to export health data from the app never did that I can read the data on the app but I looked back on the health display of my Recovery HRV data and for the majority of nights I am well under your number of 41, many nights around 10-20 a few even less and then a few well over 41. Is there a process to export the data I am missing in health app since I never did it.

Symp EL wrote:

From my results, you need at least 41 readings overnight. If you’re able to export your data and count, we may see the pattern. I am convinced now that it is not a bug, but that is the design.

Ok googled it and am exporting my health data now step one. Will look at the data later and see what I can find.

Symp EL wrote:

From my results, you need at least 41 readings overnight. If you’re able to export your data and count, we may see the pattern. I am convinced now that it is not a bug, but that is the design.

Well I exported the data nothing in there on specific readings however clinical immunization data, my exercise routes, and two export files that I have not an idea what to do with not standard text that I can see they are xml files but not sure what to open them with on either iPhone or iPad that I copied them to???

I believe the issue has since been "resolved" and is not really a big deal, but simply how it works. It is the number of readings overnight that produces the response. See my other posts in this thread.

16 Pro, there are tons os posts on Reddit with many different models.

Unfortunately, if no HRV is making it to vitals, it won’t work either. I've been down that road.

I am curious are any with new 18 Pro models having same issue?? Something is wonky with vitals and iOS 27 I am thinking but cannot prove what

I do not know, but I will go post asking, because that could prove useful.

It's reddit so there is a 50/50 chance they answer or just troll my post.

That could be true LOL

I am also posting this question in my usual haunts like MacRumors Forums I don’t post in Reddit myself if i find anything useful will let you know

Thank you.

Ok one response on Mac Rumors with a 17 PM all data is showing so appears the phone theory so far was wild one LOL

I didn’t get any useful responses on Reddit, just trolling and personal insults.

I literally do not understand Apple support; when they get confronted with an issue that they cannot solve, they basically ghost you.

Apple says they only record the heart beat if they are reasonably sure it is accurate. From what I’ve seen on other forums this is normal.

It turns out that wasn’t the issue anyway.

I always found in past a pain to deal with the “priority” of devices in the data sources. I remember I used to deal with priority all the time now i do not even look at it LOL

I also found this in google AI this am. Note two areas I outlined especially the later one not sure if this important or not.

I feel like this points to it being software-related, but I am starting to fear there may be a hardware issue.

So what hardware issues have you heard about ? On iPhones? On the new AWU4 and 12 watches?

There is a modem issue on the 18 pro max specific to AT&T.

My activity is high everyday for tracked workouts, so I would think this isn’t it.

I agree I found this not an issue in fact my readiness should be higher not absent

I am getting every other data point in vitals except for HRV. It is stuck on 5 more nights needed. The data is in the health app though.

I restored from backup when setting up on launch day.

I means you need 5 more sleep tracked via the sleep schedule and sleep focus to get that. My problem is mine is stuck.

Well as you note others report this 5 nights stuck, we shall see after tonight if my number goes down for Recovery HRV LOL

Godspeed lol

Thanks I will let you know tomorrow

well, they are going to have to fix this soon as it is their main feature of the new watches.

Not sure I posted it but disappeared sorry

https://www.reddit.com/r/AppleWatch/comments/1wktcpq/aw_s12_not_measuring_hrv_every_5_minutes_as/

Looking at what sleep focus does I wonder if the stuff on Reddit was valid

Mine has always been enabled going on 3 years and everything records correctly so I am not sure.

Since sunday night last week it has started counting down every day and i now have a readiness score. No idea why it suddenly started working, because i didn't change anything that day.

Well Apple is now aware. https://www.reddit.com/r/AppleWatch/s/OYD0rx3EI7

I think we don't know, but my data does show a pattern.

Symp EL wrote:

Apple is now aware https://www.reddit.com/r/AppleWatch/s/OYD0rx3EI7

Interesting thanks for the update keep us posted if you hear anything else