Updated: The health feature is now available in more countries
Garmin was relatively late to the party when it first received approval for its ECG app in 2023, but the feature has expanded considerably since then.
Initially, only the Garmin Venu 2 Plus supported it. However, the major health feature is now available on many top Garmin watches.
Following significant updates in January and April 2025, the previously limited availability in certain regions has also been rectified. In addition to the US, the Garmin ECG feature is now available in the UK, EU, and Australia.
This explainer outlines where users can access the ECG feature and identifies which watches are equipped with the necessary hardware. We’ve also answered whether the health spot-check will roll out to more watches and regions throughout 2025. Let’s jump in.
Garmin ECG: Compatible watches
The list of Garmin watches compatible with the ECG app is relatively limited. Given that the feature rolled out via an update to some of the models below, the software version is also a factor.
Read our guide on updating your Garmin if this is a prerequisite for accessing the ECG app.
- Garmin Fenix 8 (all versions) – software version 11.28 or newer
- Garmin Enduro 3 – software version 11.28 or newer
- Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2 (all versions) – software version 14.68 or newer
- Garmin Fenix 7 Pro (all versions) – software version 14.68 or newer
- Forerunner 970 – software version 5.02 or newer
- Garmin Quatix 7 Pro – software version 14.68 or newer
- Garmin Tactix 7 (AMOLED Edition) – software version 14.68 or newer
- Garmin D2 Mach 1 Pro – software version 14.68 or newer
- Garmin Venu 2 Plus – software version 11.21 or newer
- Garmin Venu 3/3S – software version 7.07 or newer
Will ECG be rolled out to more Garmin watches in an upcoming update?
If you’re hoping your existing Garmin watch will receive support for the feature in the future, we’re here to disappoint you.
As confirmed to DC Rainmaker in January 2023, only certain watches have the necessary hardware to perform ECGs.
The tell-tale sign is the small ring around the edge of the optical HR sensor on the rear, where the watch’s bezel meets the user’s fingers, and the connecting wire is also visible.
New releases of Garmin’s more premium sports watches (and smartwatches) will likely feature support as standard, but it’s not something that the company can necessarily reverse engineer.
Where is Garmin’s ECG app available?
Garmin’s ECG feature is now available in many countries, including most major European Union nations, the UK, and the United States. We’ve listed the entire group below, but there are also a couple of notable exceptions: Canada and New Zealand.
- Australia
- EU countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Hong Kong
- Indonesia
- Malaysia
- Philippines
- Singapore
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- American Samoa
- Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
- Guam
- Puerto Rico
- US Virgin Islands
- Vietnam
Top tip: A quirk of Garmin ECG compatibility is that it will be enabled on a watch if you visit one of the countries listed above and set it up. It won’t be removed if you return to a non-supported country.
Will the Garmin ECG app roll out to more countries?
At the time of release, Garmin stated the following regarding the extended rollout of the app: “Garmin intends to continue expanding its portfolio of products supporting the ECG App and launch it in new regions, subject to necessary regulatory approval.”
Since then, we’ve had a breakthrough for the feature in the EU, UK, and Australia.
Following this development, it’s likely that the required regulatory approval and rollout to Canada, as well as other countries in the EU and ROW, will occur in 2025. However, Garmin tends to do these things at its own pace. So, watch this space.
How the Garmin ECG app works
The ECG app functions similarly to other watches.
You’ll need to set it up in Garmin Connect first, though—as shown above. This will serve as the hub for historical data and the location to export individual readings as PDFs (for example, to a doctor).
The app will appear on the regular list alongside exercise modes on the watch. From there, users can receive a reading by placing their index finger and thumb on the metal edge of the case for 30 seconds.
Currently, Garmin’s ECG functionality is limited to on-the-spot readings, which help distinguish between normal sinus rhythms and signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib).
