• News
    • Tech News
    • AI
  • Gadgets
    • Apple
    • iPhone
  • Gaming
    • Playstation
    • Xbox
  • Science
    • News
    • Space
  • Streaming
    • Netflix
  • Vehicles
    • Car News
  • Social Media
    • WhatsApp
    • YouTube
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
TikTok
Snapchat
WhatsApp
Submit Your Content
Mind-blowing reason tattoos can interfere with your Apple Watch

Home> Gadgets

Published 16:44 15 Nov 2024 GMT

Mind-blowing reason tattoos can interfere with your Apple Watch

Something to consider before getting inked for life

Harry Boulton

Harry Boulton

If you're an avid Apple Watch user with tattoos then you might want to consider this revelation, as it could be interfering with how you use the health-centered features on the device.

Apple Watches - and smart watches in general - have become one of the most popular consumer gadgets, letting you tell the time, use your favorite apps, and track your health all in one small package.

Apple's device in particular has allowed its users to diagnose difficult sleep conditions, track down their airport luggage, and even save users lives from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Advert

The popular piece of wearable tech does have one major flaw though, and it potentially prevents a large number of users from taking full advantage of the gadget's capabilities.

As revealed in a post by @MrNixn on X (formerly Twitter), tattoos can often cause interference with your Apple Watch, leading to inaccurate or unavailable health tracking.


The post details that the sensors on the back of the watch use 'photoplethysmography' technology, which utilizes light to "measure blood flow and track your heart rate."

Advert

If you have any tattoos underneath the sensor however, it can cause issues:

"Darker tattoos or those with certain colors, especially red, can absorb or scatter the light, preventing the sensors from getting a clear reading."

This then leads to inaccurate tracking as the sensors aren't able to gather information from the skin, and it can even become unresponsive if there is enough disturbance.

You might want to think twice about your next tattoo session (Don Arnold/WireImage via Getty Images)
You might want to think twice about your next tattoo session (Don Arnold/WireImage via Getty Images)

Advert

It's not a cut and dry issue where having any tattoo prevents your Apple Watch from working, but it's definitely something to consider if you've got any ideas planned for the future.

The post also recommends a number of actions you can take to hopefully circumvent this issue, including:

  • Loosening the watch band
  • Switching to your other wrist
  • Wearing the watch on a less tattooed area

Users on social media have had a somewhat mixed experience with this phenomenon, with comments on a post on the r/AppleWatch subreddit leaning towards this being blown out of proportion.

Advert

"My wrists are tattooed and I have never had a problem with any of my watches," says one user, whereas another claims that "I have full sleeves and my watch has no issues," continuing on to state that it even works with a tattoo comprised of a "black line with deep red ink."

It very much seems like a case of your mileage may vary then, and you shouldn't worry too much if you've already got ink on your wrist.

Apple have confirmed the potential issue facing tattooed Apple Watch users on their website stating: "Permanent or temporary changes to your skin, such as some tattoos, can also impact heart rate sensor performance. The ink, pattern, and saturation of some tattoos can block light from the sensor, making it difficult to get reliable readings."

You might want to think twice about any future ink if your wrists are currently clear though, as there's a chance you might end up out of luck and waiting for a fix on Apple's side of things.

Featured Image Credit: @‌PicturesFoIder/X / Annice Lyn/Stringer / Getty Images
Apple
Apple Watch
Gadgets
Health
Wearable tech

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

6 days ago
10 days ago
a month ago
2 months ago
  • 6 days ago

    Trump family to take on iPhone as they launch mobile phone with unbelievable price point

    Many have been left shocked at the price

    Gadgets
  • 10 days ago

    Every phone that qualifies for free upgrade as Android drops 'biggest update in years'

    The operating system has been in beta testing for months

    Gadgets
  • a month ago

    Major Bluetooth upgrade set to improve battery life across iPhones and Androids

    This is good news for all smartphone owners

    Gadgets
  • 2 months ago

    Urgent recall issued for 420,000 phone chargers over fears they'll burst into flames

    Customers are being offered a free replacement

    Gadgets
  • Apple set to finally release new hardware users have been waiting two years for
  • Underrated Apple Watch feature allows users to 'go back in time'
  • New Tesla app for Apple Watch is blowing people's minds as fans say it's well overdue
  • Apple Watch will soon be able to detect serious sleep condition that goes undiagnosed in 80% of cases