How to use the AirPods Pro 3’s heart rate tracking feature

Your AirPods may soon become your most important pieces of fitness gear. One of the AirPods Pro 3’s new features is heart rate tracking for both workouts and periodic pulse checks. Apple’s latest earbuds are equipped with photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors that shine infrared light hundreds of times per second to measure how light is absorbed in blood flow. What’s more, the AirPods Pro 3 work in tandem with the iPhone’s accelerometers, gyroscope, GPS and on-device AI for more comprehensive cardio insights and to estimate calories burned during exercise. Here’s how to use heart-rate monitoring with the AirPods Pro 3, along with some maintenance tips to keep the tech in prime working condition. 

How the AirPods Pro 3 measure your heart rate

An important aspect of getting accurate data from your AirPods is understanding how the earbuds track your heart rate. If you’re using Apple’s Fitness app, the AirPods Pro 3 will continuously monitor your pulse during a workout. In addition to the heart rate sensor and accelerometer in the earbuds, details like location, barometric pressure and health information are also pulled from your iPhone, and they’re all used to estimate the calories you burn each session. Lastly, if you’re wearing both an Apple Watch and the AirPods Pro 3 during a workout, the device with the most accurate data over the last five minutes will be used to track your heart rate. 

If you prefer to keep one ear completely unobstructed for whatever reason, you might be happy to know you only need to wear one of your AirPods Pro 3 during a workout to track your heart rate. Both earbuds are equipped with heart rate sensors; you can wear either one so you won’t have to forego your favorite ear. 

Required devices for heart rate tracking on the AirPods Pro 3

It probably goes without saying, but you need a set of the AirPods Pro 3 to use the heart rate feature. None of the older AirPods models have onboard heart rate sensors. The only other option in Apple’s stable that does is the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2. 

You’ll also need an iPhone that’s capable of running iOS 26. This is every model from the iPhone 11 and newer, including the second-generation iPhone SE.

How to turn the AirPods Pro 3 heart rate sensing on/off

Turning heart rate sensing on and off on the AirPods Pro 3 is simple. The feature is enabled by default, but you can turn it off in the AirPods settings menu on your iPhone. 

Put your AirPods Pro 3 in your ears and make sure they’re connected to your iPhone. 

Go to the Settings app on your phone.

On the main menu, tap the name of your AirPods, which will appear near the top of the screen. 

Scroll down to Heart Rate and turn it off.

Repeat the same steps to turn Heart Rate back on.

How to view your heart rate

Heart rate stats are available as Live Activities on the Lock Screen.

Billy Steele for Engadget

In addition to workout apps, you can also view your heart rate in the Health app on your iPhone or iPad. Here, you’ll be able to see live data from the AirPods Pro 3’s heart rate sensors. 

In the Health app

Put your AirPods Pro 3 in your ears and make sure they’re connected to your iPhone or iPad. 

Open the Health app on an iPhone or iPad.

Tap the magnifying glass icon at the bottom right, then tap Heart, then tap Heart Rate. 

Your live heart rate from AirPods Pro 3 will be displayed in a graph.

During a workout

As I mentioned before, your heart rate will appear in the Fitness app during workouts. The AirPods Pro 3 can also send that data to compatible third-party apps. For those, you’ll need to give the app permission to access your heart rate data, as well as the ability to read and record workouts. You’ll only have to do this once: when you use a third-party workout app with Apple Health for the first time.

Put your AirPods Pro 3 in your ears and make sure they’re connected to your iPhone.

Go to the Fitness app or a third-party workout app on your iPhone. (Apple hasn’t published a list of supported apps, but iOS fitness apps that offer heart-rate tracking should work with the AirPods Pro 3 if the developer decides to do so. Examples of those include Nike Run Club, Peloton, Runna and Ladder.)

Start a workout in the app you choose. 

Your heart rate will appear in the app during your workout. If you see dashes or the number is dimmed, that means the AirPods Pro 3 aren’t getting a good reading. This is similar to what happens if your Apple Watch is not maintaining contact with your wrist and is typically a result of a loose wristband. Check the fit of your earbuds and make sure they’re connected to your iPhone.

To stop heart rate tracking in any of the apps, end your workout.

You will then get a summary of the heart rate stats for your workout in a third-party app or Apple’s Fitness or Health apps. 

Just ask Siri any time

In addition to looking at heart rate data in the Health app or other workout apps, you can just ask Siri to tell you a current reading without ever touching your phone.

Put your AirPods Pro 3 in your ears and make sure they’re connected to your iPhone.

Ask Siri “What’s my heart rate?” or something similar. 

Remember: You don’t need to touch the buttons on the AirPods Pro 3 in order to activate Siri. If Talk to Siri is set to “Siri or Hey Siri” or “Hey Siri” under Apple Intelligence & Siri in the Settings app on your iPhone, you only need to use the wake word and then ask your question. If not, you can activate Siri with a press and hold the Force Touch button on either side until you hear a chime. 

Best practices to keep heart rate measurements accurate

The AirPods Pro 3 are an even more powerful workout companion.

Apple

Like any activity-monitoring device, there are some habits that will help ensure the data that you’re getting from the AirPods Pro 3 is as accurate as possible. Not only do the AirPods Pro 3 track heart rate, but the motion sensor data it sends to your iPhone is essential to calculate things like calories burned, steps and distance for your daily activity. For this reason, it’s crucial that your earbuds and iPhone or iPad are working together properly. 

Make sure your AirPods Pro 3 fit well. If there isn’t good contact between the heart rate sensors on the AirPods Pro 3 and the skin inside your ear, you could get poor heart rate readings. Apple warns users that the best ear tip size for acoustic seal and the best one for heart rate tracking may be different. 

Maintain up-to-date information in the Health app. The details that you enter into the Health app — such as height, weight, gender and age — are used with heart rate and motion sensor data to calculate metrics like calories burned. 

Keep warm: cold ears may impact the performance of the AirPods Pro 3. If you’re exercising in cold locations, you may have trouble getting accurate readings from the AirPods Pro 3. Low temperatures can reduce the blood flow to your ears, which makes it more difficult for the earbuds to track your heart rate accurately. 

Check your ears regularly. Earwax buildup, moisture or skin conditions can affect contact between the AirPods Pro 3 and your skin. 

Check your jewelry or piercings. Apple says metal jewelry from piercings can also interfere with heart rate readings. If you encounter any performance issues during workouts, the company recommends removing any piercings near the location where the AirPods Pro 3 sit in your ears. 

Know that everyone’s ears are different. The amount of blood flow detectable through the skin varies from person to person. Like I said earlier, this can also be affected by the environment (cold weather, for example) or activity levels. If blood flow in your ears changes based on either of these factors, it can impact the performance of heart-rate tracking on the AirPods Pro 3.

Clean your AirPods Pro 3. To keep the AirPods Pro 3 in peak working condition, clean them regularly. Tips for the best ways to do that are available in our AirPods cleaning guide.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/how-to-use-the-airpods-pro-3s-heart-rate-tracking-feature-141510469.html?src=rss 

Dolly Parton’s Health: Why She’s Undergoing ‘Procedures’ Amid Vegas Postponement

The ‘Jolene’ hitmaker is pausing her upcoming Las Vegas shows due to ‘health challenges.’ Here’s what we know so far about the country music icon’s well being.

The ‘Jolene’ hitmaker is pausing her upcoming Las Vegas shows due to ‘health challenges.’ Here’s what we know so far about the country music icon’s well being. 

EA confirms it will go private in $55 billion acquisition

Beleaguered video game giant Electronic Arts has agreed to a $55 billion acquisition that will take the company private. Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF), Silver Lake and Affinity Partners have reached a deal to buy EA, the company said in a statement. 

Some details about the proposed arrangement surfaced over the weekend. The deal, the largest-ever leveraged buyout, according to Bloomberg, marks the end of EA’s 35-year run as a publicly traded company. “Our creative and passionate teams at EA have delivered extraordinary experiences for hundreds of millions of fans, built some of the world’s most iconic IP, and created significant value for our business,” EA CEO Andrew Wilson said in a statement. “This moment is a powerful recognition of their remarkable work.”

EA hasn’t been immune from the forces that have upended the games industry. Last year, the company laid off more than 650 employees, which it labeled an attempt at “streamlining” its business. This year, the company has canceled an upcoming Black Panther game and closed the studio behind it, and has reportedly “shelved” its Need For Speed Franchise.

The company said it expects the deal to close sometime in the first quarter of 2027, noting that it will need regulatory approvals. EA said that Wilson will continue as CEO and that its Redwood City, California headquarters will not change. In a statement Silver Lake Co-CEO Egon Durban said that the group plans to “invest heavily” in the video game company and help it “expand its reach worldwide.” Silver Lake is also part of the forthcoming deal to spin off the US version of TikTok into a new, American-owned company. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ea-confirms-it-will-go-private-in-55-billion-acquisition-133841614.html?src=rss 

X will appeal Indian court ruling allowing ‘arbitrary takedown orders’

X is challenging an Indian court order it says would require it to comply with millions of takedown requests without due process. In a statement, the company said it was “deeply concerned” about the ruling, which allows police officers “to issue arbitrary takedown orders through a secretive online portal” called the Sahyog.

X’s challenge comes after the Karnataka High Court dismissed X’s initial challenge of the Sahyog portal last week. As the BBC notes, the Sahyog “describes itself as a tool to automate the process of sending government notices to content intermediaries such as X and Facebook.” But X has labeled it a “censorship portal,” saying that it allows “millions” of officials, including local police officers, to order content to be removed.

X is deeply concerned by the recent order from the Karnataka court in India, which will allow millions of police officers to issue arbitrary takedown orders through a secretive online portal called the Sahyog. This new regime has no basis in the law, circumvents Section 69A of…

— Global Government Affairs (@GlobalAffairs) September 29, 2025

“The Sahyog enables officers to order content removal based solely on allegations of ‘illegality,’ without judicial review or due process for the speakers, and threatens platforms with criminal liability for non-compliance,” X wrote in a statement. “We will appeal this order to defend free expression.”

X has a history of challenging the Indian government on content moderation issues. The company previously challenged orders requiring it to block specific posts and accounts in 2024 and 2022. The platform also clashed with the Indian government under Jack Dorsey’s leadership. Officials threatened to jail Twitter employees in 2021 after the company reversed a decision to block accounts amid widespread protests. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/x-will-appeal-indian-court-ruling-allowing-arbitrary-takedown-orders-120000846.html?src=rss 

Keanu Reeves’ Girlfriend: Everything to Know About Alexandra Grant & His Past Romances

Keanu Reeves may bring the action in films like ‘John Wick,’ but he’s also romanced beauties like Sandra Bullock in his previous films. Take a look at who Keanu has loved offscreen, here!

Keanu Reeves may bring the action in films like ‘John Wick,’ but he’s also romanced beauties like Sandra Bullock in his previous films. Take a look at who Keanu has loved offscreen, here! 

Snapchat introduces a paid storage option for all the Memories hoarders out there

Snap is imposing a new storage limit on Snapchat‘s Memories feature, which has racked up impressive numbers since its introduction in 2016. According to Snap, users have saved more than one trillion Memories across its platform, and it’s now introducing “Memories Storage Plans” for users who exceed 5GB of Memories.

In a press release, Snap detailed that the introductory storage plan allows up to 100GB of storage for Memories for $1.99 a month. Snapchat+ subscribers, who pay $3.99 a month, will get up to 250GB of storage, while Snapchat’s highest-tier Platinum subscribers will get 5TB included with their $15.99 monthly cost.

Snap said that a “vast majority” of its Snapchat users won’t notice any changes since they’re far from hitting the 5GB limit. For users who hold onto thousands of Snaps, the company is now rolling out these storage plans. To ease the transition from unlimited storage to paid options, Snap will give anyone exceeding 5GB of Memories a year of temporary storage. These new storage subscriptions follow Snap’s latest paid option for its Lens+ subscription, which costs $9 a month.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/snapchat-introduces-a-paid-storage-option-for-all-the-memories-hoarders-out-there-203013294.html?src=rss 

Meta has introduced revised guardrails for its AI chatbots to prevent inappropriate conversations with children

Business Insider has obtained the guidelines that Meta contractors are reportedly now using to train its AI chatbots, showing how it’s attempting to more effectively address potential child sexual exploitation and prevent kids from engaging in age-inappropriate conversations. The company said in August that it was updating the guardrails for its AIs after Reuters reported that its policies allowed the chatbots to “engage a child in conversations that are romantic or sensual,” which Meta said at the time was “erroneous and inconsistent” with its policies and removed that language. 

The document, which Business Insider has shared an excerpt from, outlines what kinds of content are “acceptable” and “unacceptable” for its AI chatbots. It explicitly bars content that “enables, encourages, or endorses” child sexual abuse, romantic roleplay if the user is a minor or if the AI is asked to roleplay as a minor, advice about potentially romantic or intimate physical contact if the user is a minor, and more. The chatbots can discuss topics such as abuse, but cannot engage in conversations that could enable or encourage it. 

The company’s AI chatbots have been the subject of numerous reports in recent months that have raised concerns about their potential harms to children. The FTC in August launched a formal inquiry into companion AI chatbots not just from Meta, but other companies as well, including Alphabet, Snap, OpenAI and X.AI.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/meta-has-introduced-revised-guardrails-for-its-ai-chatbots-to-prevent-inappropriate-conversations-with-children-200444230.html?src=rss 

Who Is the Michigan LDS Church Shooter? Updates on the Situation

A gunman set fire to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan, before shooting. The incident came one day after the oldest president of the church, Russel M. Nelson, died at 101 years old.

A gunman set fire to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan, before shooting. The incident came one day after the oldest president of the church, Russel M. Nelson, died at 101 years old. 

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