Changing Your Apple Watch or iPhone's Region Won't Enable ECG App Outside of United States

[Ennox]

Hey,

I just spoke to Apple consultant and I've recieved info that ECG will work on every apple watch connected to US AppleID. It doesn't matter where you bought your watch or what region is set. Apple ID account must be in US. I cannot chack that cause I forgot my charger and can't update software

My apple ID for itunes is a US account, the icloud is connected to a German account. No ECG.

 

[cgaw23]

So basically this feature won’t be available to other countries until Apple smart watch series 5.

 

[Carlos51]

Hi,
Please check post #175.
Carlos

 

[MrSpock75]

I did exactly that. I bought my series 4 in the USA and now I just need to find a way to somehow use ECG here in Germany. My settings are anyhow all set to USA, even I am living in Germany.

I tried to use my "USA VPN Wireless" which I do use to stream "HULU" on my AppleTV, but looks like that is still not enough. I guess I have to temporarily switch to my "US AppleID" on the iPhone and re-pair my watch with the US AppleID. I guess that is the only way.

I do really wonder if even a US citizen can only use ECG when actually being in USA territory?
So can you as US citizen perform an ECG during your vacations in Europe or anywhere outside of US ????

To anyone with the same setup. After removing the Beta profile on my iPhone and updating to the regular iOS 12.1.1 it is now working with ECG.

 

[rmoliv]

Hi guys,
I want to happily report that the EKG feature works in Argentina. I am attaching my EKG as evidence.
I live in Argentina and my Apple ID account is also from Argentina so no tricks applied to make the EKG app work. No jailbreaking either.

CarlosView attachment 809094

Apparently Apple Watch or Apple ID must be from US. So one out of those two must apply to you.

 

[Carlos51]

Hi,
My Apple ID is from Argentina. Apple Watch is model # A1978 (MU6D2LL/A). I bought it in Punta Arenas, Chile.
AFAIK there is no such thing as USA made Apple Watch, they are all manufactured in China.
Using the serial # I could determine it was manufactured in Week 40 (October 2018) in a factory whose code is "FH".
My iPhone X (MQAM2LL/A) was also bought in Chile.
That's all I can say.
Carlos

 

[mrex]

Same $*** with Apple TV. Siri works if you only use Apple ID from US. Unlike medical argument, there's no reason for Siri for Apple TV to not working outside the US, but NOOOO

Apple is all about US of A, despite people abroad paying hefty premium for their products. How is Apple Pay again? It's been 4 years since the initial launch, and can you count how many countries in the world that can enjoy the feature, despite the iPhone is NFC capable, but unable to do anything because the infrastructure isn't there?

Yeah, no Siri either for Apple TV.

No, "scribble" function on my watch if I don't change the language to be English. What the ****!? A = A in English, Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian...

Have you checked apple.com and apple.com/yourcountry?

In apple.com there are trade offers (like now) often, but never on my country - neither able to buy "refurbished" devices either. Always the whole price and sure, you can always recycle your device and give it back to apple for free At least that works here! There are also lots of difference between the stores - not all items (for example not all watch bands are available here - and what an earth is a reason for it?) Nowadays it feels like rest of the world pays max but gets min.

 

[sully54]

Only apple could cause so much uproar over a health related feature that a majority of people didn’t even know about just a few months ago.

People need to calm down

 

[lartola]

Oh well we knew that it wasn’t going to work outside the US. They made that clear even at the keynote.

It was an article on this site or maybe 9 to 5 Mac that got peoples hopes up about being able to get it to work by changing your region settings. Apple themselves however have been very transparent about where it will work.

I had no imminent plans to go to the US so no option of getting an Apple Watch in the US. It’s a shame that the irregular heartbeat feature also doesn’t work outside the US.

We knew it would be region dependent, but nobody knew Apple would go to these great lengths such as tracing serial numbers to restrict the usage of ECG outside the US. They never did anything like that before. Google has always done that, but Apple never did before.

On another note, it was an article on 9to5 about a month ago -which by the way they edited yesterday as soon as the ECG app came out- that told users they might enable the ECG app by changing the region. They’d better shut up next time, because I’m sure they are partly to blame for Apple now tracking serial numbers to restrict the feature.
[doublepost=1544191194][/doublepost]

Yeah, no Siri either for Apple TV.

No, "scribble" function on my watch if I don't change the language to be English. What the ****!? A = A in English, Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian...

Have you checked apple.com and apple.com/yourcountry?

In apple.com there are trade offers (like now) often, but never on my country - neither able to buy "refurbished" devices either. Always the whole price and sure, you can always recycle your device and give it back to apple for free At least that works here! There are also lots of difference between the stores - not all items (for example not all watch bands are available here - and what an earth is a reason for it?) Nowadays it feels like rest of the world pays max but gets min.

Scribble does exist in several other languages. Maybe not yours, but it does. It is available in spanish, for example.
[doublepost=1544191576][/doublepost]

Hey,

I just spoke to Apple consultant and I've recieved info that ECG will work on every apple watch connected to US AppleID. It doesn't matter where you bought your watch or what region is set. Apple ID account must be in US. I cannot chack that cause I forgot my charger and can't update software

Definitely not. At least one person in this forum has reported not to have the ECG app on a non-US apple watch despite it being connected with a US apple id. And at least one other person in this forum has reported to indeed have the ECG app working on a US purchased apple watch regardless of device and apple id region settings.
[doublepost=1544192207][/doublepost]

Hi guys,
I want to happily report that the EKG feature works in Argentina. I am attaching my EKG as evidence.
I live in Argentina and my Apple ID account is also from Argentina so no tricks applied to make the EKG app work. No jailbreaking either.

CarlosView attachment 809094

Where did you buy the apple watch? In argentina? or did you get one from the US?
[doublepost=1544192450][/doublepost]

Hi,
My Apple ID is from Argentina. Apple Watch is model # A1978 (MU6D2LL/A). I bought it in Punta Arenas, Chile.
AFAIK there is no such thing as USA made Apple Watch, they are all manufactured in China.
Using the serial # I could determine it was manufactured in Week 40 (October 2018) in a factory whose code is "FH".
My iPhone X (MQAM2LL/A) was also bought in Chile.
That's all I can say.
Carlos

But Apple does seem to be restricting the ECG app based on purchase location (using the serial number, likely). So it looks like you may have gotten a unit that was imported to Chile from the US. This may be likely the case if you bought it from an authorized reseller and not an apple store.

 

[Tomzik87]

It was just what Apple consultant told me. I was arguing because at keynote and later Apple told us that ECG will work in US but no one told us that we have to buy watch in US. I'm traveling from europe to US quite often so I want this function to be working in US as I was told. I was assured that it's only connected to apple id and US account will work. If that's not the case I will call them again.

 

[mrex]

Scribble does exist in several other languages. Maybe not yours, but it does. It is available in spanish, for example.

And how does the Spanish, German, English, French A differ from Swedish/Finnish/Norwegian/whatever... A? There is no reason that scribble is restricted by region/language. They are just letters for gods sake! Im waiting them restricting to pay full price for their products in a checkout because of language restrictions... Will that happen - English 3259 is different than Swedish 3259?

 

[lartola]

Same $*** with Apple TV. Siri works if you only use Apple ID from US. Unlike medical argument, there's no reason for Siri for Apple TV to not working outside the US, but NOOOO

Apple is all about US of A, despite people abroad paying hefty premium for their products. How is Apple Pay again? It's been 4 years since the initial launch, and can you count how many countries in the world that can enjoy the feature, despite the iPhone is NFC capable, but unable to do anything because the infrastructure isn't there?

Exactly. So much about the the US that Tim Cook blatantly ignored all other markets when justifying the prices of the new iphones by saying that people don’t feel the increase because they buy in monthly installments; something they can only do in the US because only there the wireless carriers offer monthly installment payment plans. So much about the US that they debuted apple pay there first at a time when only 3% of the merchants in the country had nfc readers in their stores, as opposed to the already widespread use of nfc in most of Europe.

 

[emulajavi]

It seems that it’s S/N-based instead of region-based

 

[tromboneaholic]

And how does the Spanish, German, English, French A differ from Swedish/Finnish/Norwegian/whatever... A? There is no reason that scribble is restricted by region/language.

spell check.

 

[lartola]

It seems that it’s S/N-based instead of region-based

Yeah. Google has always done that, but not Apple until now.

 

[AppleHaterLover]

Hi,
My Apple ID is from Argentina. Apple Watch is model # A1978 (MU6D2LL/A). I bought it in Punta Arenas, Chile.
AFAIK there is no such thing as USA made Apple Watch, they are all manufactured in China.
Using the serial # I could determine it was manufactured in Week 40 (October 2018) in a factory whose code is "FH".
My iPhone X (MQAM2LL/A) was also bought in Chile.
That's all I can say.
Carlos

Trust me, there is . All of them are made in China, but models sold in each region has a specific location designation in the model number (in the NXXXX/MXXXX format). Argentina, Chila and Paraguay have a specific designation (LZ), and "LL" models are usually those sold in the US - so what happened is that you bought an American-market watch.

MU6D2LL is an American Watch, "LL" meaning USA. "LZ" is the designation for Argentina, Chile and Paraguay (and quick googling shows me that there is indeed a MU6D2LZ/A model being sold in these countries). The LZ model will not have ECG. It's simple as that.

 

[iBug2]

You don't need to set your region to US if you bought your watch from US. I have a US bought watch but I'm using it with another region. ECG is working.

 

[AppleHaterLover]

You don't need to set your region to US if you bought your watch from US. I have a US bought watch but I'm using it with another region. ECG is working.

Yes.

 

[rmoliv]

Same $*** with Apple TV. Siri works if you only use Apple ID from US. Unlike medical argument, there's no reason for Siri for Apple TV to not working outside the US, but NOOOO

Apple is all about US of A, despite people abroad paying hefty premium for their products. How is Apple Pay again? It's been 4 years since the initial launch, and can you count how many countries in the world that can enjoy the feature, despite the iPhone is NFC capable, but unable to do anything because the infrastructure isn't there?

I’ve got a list of demands:
Siri on Apple TV
News app
ECG app
TV app
Cellular Apple Watch
Apple Pay
HomePod (I got mine from the UK)
Traffic info in Maps
iPhone Upgrade Program

 

[jcaraquem]

They would need approval from local regulators.
[doublepost=1544128320][/doublepost]
Likely not. People abroad who bought their phones and watches here have been posting that the feature works for them.

It works. Actually I'm in Venezuela and it's available

 

[kikocool]

Apple today released watchOS 5.1.2, which enables the ECG app on Apple Watch Series 4 models. However, as Apple made clear, the ECG app is currently only available in the United States and its territories of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, preventing it from being used internationally at this time.

Many software features on Apple devices are initially limited to the United States, but international users have often been able to simply change their iPhone or Apple Watch region to the United States to gain access.

That's not the case with the the ECG app on the Apple Watch Series 4, though, as it only functions on models purchased in the United States. Those who live in and bought an Apple Watch in Canada, the UK, or elsewhere abroad can't use the region-switching trick to enable the ECG app -- it doesn't work.

Note that the ECG app requires an Apple Watch Series 4 with watchOS 5.1.2, paired with an iPhone 5s or newer with iOS 12.1.1.

Both the ECG app and irregular heart rhythm notifications are regulated features on the Apple Watch. Both features have been granted De Novo classification by the FDA for users 22 years and older in the United States. Apple says people already diagnosed with atrial fibrillation should not use the app.

It's unclear when the ECG app will expand to additional countries, but Apple Watch Series 4 models sold internationally do have the necessary electrical heart sensor. Apple is likely in the process of gaining clearance for the ECG app in other countries, but it has yet to comment on wider availability.

Article Link: Changing Your Apple Watch or iPhone's Region Won't Enable ECG App Outside of United States

Apple today released watchOS 5.1.2, which enables the ECG app on Apple Watch Series 4 models. However, as Apple made clear, the ECG app is currently only available in the United States and its territories of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, preventing it from being used internationally at this time.

Many software features on Apple devices are initially limited to the United States, but international users have often been able to simply change their iPhone or Apple Watch region to the United States to gain access.

That's not the case with the the ECG app on the Apple Watch Series 4, though, as it only functions on models purchased in the United States. Those who live in and bought an Apple Watch in Canada, the UK, or elsewhere abroad can't use the region-switching trick to enable the ECG app -- it doesn't work.

Note that the ECG app requires an Apple Watch Series 4 with watchOS 5.1.2, paired with an iPhone 5s or newer with iOS 12.1.1.

Both the ECG app and irregular heart rhythm notifications are regulated features on the Apple Watch. Both features have been granted De Novo classification by the FDA for users 22 years and older in the United States. Apple says people already diagnosed with atrial fibrillation should not use the app.

It's unclear when the ECG app will expand to additional countries, but Apple Watch Series 4 models sold internationally do have the necessary electrical heart sensor. Apple is likely in the process of gaining clearance for the ECG app in other countries, but it has yet to comment on wider availability.

Article Link: Changing Your Apple Watch or iPhone's Region Won't Enable ECG App Outside of United States

I am lucky that i bought my watch in the US last month. I live in Europe and the ECG app works fine

 

[lartola]

So basically this feature won’t be available to other countries until Apple smart watch series 5.

No it’s software based and Apple will be able to enable it on series 4 devices in other countries at a later time. It’s just that it’s based on some device identifier such as serial or model number instead of region settings. Nonetheless, I wouldn’t expect ECG to be rolled out to any other country in less than a year. If it didn’t happen with apple pay or News, it won’t happen either with a feature that’s health related and needs government approval. Likely ECG will start rolling out after the apple watch series 5 is also already out and two generations of apple watch will be sporting the feature.

 

[Carlos51]

Thanks everyone for the analysis. Now I know why the ECG app in my Apple Watch works in Argentina, even in the southernmost province of Tierra del Fuego (close to the Antarctic).

 

[KPOM]

Exactly. So much about the the US that Tim Cook blatantly ignored all other markets when justifying the prices of the new iphones by saying that people don’t feel the increase because they buy in monthly installments; something they can only do in the US because only there the wireless carriers offer monthly installment payment plans. So much about the US that they debuted apple pay there first at a time when only 3% of the merchants in the country had nfc readers in their stores, as opposed to the already widespread use of nfc in most of Europe.

An American company focused on the US? Who’d have thought?

Anyway, Apple said that they introduced dual-SIM after realizing how important it was in China. Most Americans had never heard of dual-SIM.

 

[Tavicu]

So are they selling different hardware in the US and elsewhere? because if ECG only works on the US apple watches, it means there is a hardware restriction and then apple won't be able to activate the feature in other countries later. I guess ECG won't be available for Apple Watch series 4 users outside the US and they will have to wait for the series 5 or later depending on when apple gets approval in each country.

Same hardware and restricted by serial number. They know where a batch with a range of SN will be sold!