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    The iPhone Health App: What It Collects and How to Share Data With Your Doctor

    Your iPhone Health app stores a surprising amount of health data. Learn how to read your trends and share a report with your doctor.

    4 min read 5 stepsApril 20, 2026Verified April 2026
    1

    Open the Health app and explore the Summary screen

    ~16s
    Tap the red heart Health app icon on your iPhone. The Summary screen shows your most recent health highlights — steps today, heart rate, sleep, and any other data sources connected. Tap on any item to see more detail and a historical chart.
    2

    Set up your Medical ID

    ~20s
    Tap your profile photo or initials in the top right corner, then tap Medical ID. Tap Edit and fill in your blood type, allergies, medical conditions, current medications, and emergency contacts. Tap Done when finished. To test it: lock your phone, press the side button, swipe for Emergency, and tap Medical ID — your information appears without needing to unlock.
    3

    Browse all available health data

    ~25s
    Tap Browse at the bottom of the screen. You will see categories: Activity, Body Measurements, Heart, Hearing, Mental Wellbeing, Mobility, Reproductive Health, Respiratory, Sleep, Vitals, and more. Tap any category to see the data collected in that area. Tap a specific metric (like Heart Rate) for a detailed view with daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly charts.

    Quick Tip

    The Highlights section at the top of Summary shows metrics that changed recently or appear worth your attention. Check it weekly.

    4

    Connect your doctor's health records system

    ~19s
    Tap your profile icon, then tap Health Records. Tap Add Account and search for your doctor's office, hospital, or clinic by name. If they are supported, you will be walked through a sign-in process using your patient portal credentials. Once connected, your lab results, immunizations, and visit records will appear in the Health app automatically.
    5

    Share a health summary PDF with your doctor

    ~36s
    Tap your profile icon, then tap Health Checklist or look for Share with Your Doctor (this feature varies slightly by iOS version). You can also export data by going to Browse > choosing a metric > tapping the Share icon in the top right to export a chart or data. For a full export, go to your profile > Export All Health Data to generate a complete file.

    Quick Tip

    Before your next doctor appointment, take a screenshot of your most relevant metric charts (heart rate, steps, sleep, blood pressure if connected) and send them to the office via the patient portal or bring your phone to show them in person.

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    The iPhone Health app — the red icon with a white heart — is a central hub for all health-related data on your iPhone. Even if you have never opened it, it has likely been collecting some information automatically since you started carrying your phone.

    At a minimum, your iPhone records steps, walking distance, flights of stairs climbed, and walking steadiness (a metric related to fall risk). If you have an Apple Watch, the Health app also stores heart rate, blood oxygen readings, sleep data, and ECG (electrocardiogram) recordings. If you manually enter information — like weight, blood pressure readings, or medications — it stores that too.

    One of the most useful but lesser-known features is Health app sharing with a doctor. Apple Health can generate a PDF health summary showing your trends and metrics over any time period. This is a tangible document you can bring to a medical appointment. Increasingly, major hospital systems — including those using Epic electronic health records — can connect directly to your Apple Health so your doctor can see your data in their system.

    The Health app also stores medical records. If your doctor's office or hospital uses a system compatible with Apple Health, you can connect it in the app and see your lab results, immunizations, medications, and visit summaries directly on your iPhone.

    Your health data is encrypted and stored on your device, not shared with Apple. It is only shared with apps or medical systems you explicitly authorize.

    Quick Tip: Set up Medical ID in the Health app — it can be accessed from your iPhone's lock screen in an emergency and shows your blood type, allergies, emergency contacts, and medical conditions to first responders even when your phone is locked.

    Important disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only. The iPhone Health app stores data for personal wellness tracking. It does not provide medical diagnoses. Always consult your doctor about your health data and what it means for your care.

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    Official Resources

    Medicare.govMedlinePlus — Health InfoAARP Health & Technology

    Sources used to create and verify this guide. View all sources →

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    The iPhone Health App: What It Collects and How to Share Data With Your Doctor — Step-by-Step Guide | TekSure