If Your Apple Watch Emits A Green Light, It's For A Good Reason

• 
• Entertainment
• Television
• Trending
• Influencers
• Human Interest
• Exclusives
  • Distracted With
  • All Exclusives
• Link to Facebook
• Link to Instagram
• Link to X
• Link to Email Subscribe

toggle

• 
• Entertainment
• Television
• Trending
• Influencers
• Human Interest
• Exclusives
  • Distracted With
  • All Exclusives
• Link to Facebook
• Link to Instagram
• Link to X
• Link to Email Subscribe

Those of us who sleep with our Apple Watches are sometimes jolted out of our beauty sleep by a glowing green light on the verge of blinding us. You could honestly just be lounging on the couch watching TV, and a neon glow will suddenly radiate from the back of your device.

Article continues below advertisement

So, what does the green light even do on an Apple Watch? Here's everything we know, including how to turn it off.

Article continues below advertisement

What does the green light do on an Apple Watch?

According to Apple, the green LED lights are used by the optical heart sensor known as photoplethysmography (we're not even attempting to pronounce that word). The company states that this technology is based on the simple fact that "blood is red because it reflects red light and absorbs green light."

As a result, the Apple Watch employs green LED lights alongside light‑sensitive photodiodes to detect one's blood flow through the wrist at any given time. The technology giant notes that "when your heart beats, the blood flow in your wrist —and the green light absorption — is greater." But "between beats, it’s less."

Article continues below advertisement

The apple watch shines a green light on your wrist to detect your heart rate and sometimes when it's on a flat surface the light turns on. It absolutely KILLS me when I look over and my watch is trying to find a pulse on my notebook

— Tyler (@tytanic12) May 1, 2018

Additionally, Apple Explained shared a two-minute clip on YouTube detailing the green LED lights. The account revealed that although we assume the lights are glowing, they are actually flashing "hundreds of times per second." Ultimately, those flashes serve as snapshots of our blood flow — how cool is that?!

Here's how to turn off the green LED lights on your Apple Watch.

Unfortunately, the only way to completely turn off the green LED lights on your Apple Watch is by disabling the heart rate monitor in the watch's settings.

To do this, head to the Watch app on your iPhone and select "Privacy." From there, switch off the "Heart Rate" setting. Now, if you're not willing to turn off the "Heart Rate" setting, then we highly suggest you just wait it out; the green LED lights will disappear within minutes.

AdvertisementMore from Distractify

Is the Apple Watch Battery Not Cutting It for You? Here Are Some Juice-Extending Tips

This Guy's Apple Watch Literally Saved His Life

Latest FYI News and Updates

AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement

About Distractify

About UsPrivacy PolicyTerms of UseDMCASitemap

Connect with Distractify

Link to FacebookLink to XLink to InstagramContact us by Email

Privacy & Legal

Opt-out of personalized adsManage Privacy OptionsManage Privacy Options

© Copyright 2026 Engrost, Inc. Distractify is a registered trademark. All Rights Reserved. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.