Apple Watch Vitals app predicts colds, flu, COVID days before they hit, users claim

An Apple Watch a day keeps the doctor away.

Some users are astounded by their device’s ability to flag early signs of sickness before an ailment like COVID or a cold arises after the iOS 11 software update rolled out last month.

The startlingly accurate health assessment from the Apple Watch’s Vitals app — available on the Series 8 model and above — harnesses critical metrics taken over a week while a user is asleep, according to Mac Rumors.

“If multiple metrics are outside your typical range, you receive a notification along with context for factors that may be involved — like medications, elevation changes or illness, for example,” Apple notes.

Many shared their own experiences online regarding the clairvoyant technology, including one Reddit user who wrote, “The Vitals app knew I was sick 3 days before I did” with a screenshot of its detections.

In their case, the app caught three “outliers” within the person’s wrist temperature, which can be additionally viewed on iPhones and iPads.

“I started using Vitals when it first came out on the beta and since then I’ve gotten sick about twice,” another user commented, before adding that “both times it knew a couple days in advance and I hadn’t felt anything wrong.”

In the same post, someone shared a screengrab that showed their Apple Watch “knew I wasn’t 100% after my COVID and Flu jabs” and had spotted irregularities in not just wrist temperature, but also heart and respiratory rates.

On X, user Rory Evans posted that his Series 9 Watch “detected a few things with my vitals days before I tested positive for COVID” as well.

“So clever and very useful tech to have — especially in such a fast-paced world.”

However, Apple warns that readings can be impacted depending on how you keep your it fastened.

“Wearing your Apple Watch with the right fit — not too tight, not too loose, and with room for your skin to breathe — keeps you comfortable and lets the sensors do their job.”