There’s an important new health feature you need to set up on your iPhone – Here’s how

October 25, 2021

By Kim Komando

Smartwatches and mobile phones are packed with health features that can keep track of your vital signs. Just having your phone in your pocket, the device can track how much you walked in a day or the number of stairs you climbed. Tap or click here to enable and use the health features on your Apple Watch.

If you place it next to you at night, it can track how many hours of sleep you got in. It’s also helpful if you snore or roll around a lot. Apple has one of the most robust Health apps and affords iOS users many features and trackers.

The release of Apple’s iOS 15 naturally added more functionality to Apple’s Health app. Here is the latest one and why you should activate it.

Apple’s new Health feature

The release of any new operating system brings new features, but some get more attention than others. Things like the ability to change visuals, camera upgrades, or added security measures are usually at the forefront.

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But health features seem to fall by the wayside, and it’s a pity as they can save the life of a loved one when set up correctly. The latest iOS 15 feature is an excellent example of that, as it can help people determine if they are at risk of falling.

The new feature found in the Health app is called Walking Steadiness and is available for iOS 15 users who have an iPhone 8 or newer. The function uses “custom algorithms to assess your balance, stability, and coordination through the built-in motion sensors on your iPhone,” Apple explained.

Essentially, when it is set up, it will try to determine if you walk correctly. It takes note of your walking speed, step length, double support time, and walking asymmetry. It uses this data to determine your walking steadiness and classification.

The latter is split into three categories: OK, Low, or Very Low. For the last two, you can set it up so that you get a notification about steadiness. There is also a setting that automatically shares your walking steadiness data and notifications with friends or family.

How to set up Walking Steadiness

The process to set it up for yourself or on a loved one’s iOS device is relatively simple. It only takes a few minutes to do, and it can be instrumental if you aren’t steady on your feet.

• On your iPhone, open the Health app, then tap Summary.
• Scroll to Walking Steadiness Notifications, then tap Set Up.
• Follow the onscreen prompts to confirm your Health Details, learn about Walking Steadiness Levels, and turn on notifications.
• Tap Done.

Place your iPhone in your front pocket or one near your waist while walking for the best results. You’ll receive a notification if your steadiness level is low enough to put you at risk for a fall within the next year.

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