Apple Releases watchOS 5.3 With Walkie-Talkie Bug Fix, ECG Support for Canada and Singapore

Apple today released watchOS 5.3, the seventh update to the watchOS 5 operating system that runs on modern Apple Watch models. watchOS 5.3 comes more than a month after the launch of watchOS 5.2.1, a minor update that expanded ECG availability.

watchOS 5.3 can be downloaded for free through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General -> Software Update. To install the new software, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery, it needs to be placed on a charger, and it needs to be in range of the ‌iPhone‌.

iphone apple watch ecg
No new features were discovered in watchOS 5.3 during the beta testing process, but according to Apple's iOS 12.4 release notes, the new update, along with iOS 12.4, fixes a major bug in the Walkie-Talkie app that could allow it to be used to spy on people and it once again makes the Walkie-Talkie app accessible.

The watchOS 5.3 update also brings ECG support and irregular heart rhythm notifications to Apple Watch Series 4 owners in both Canada and Singapore. The ECG feature's launch in Canada comes a few months after Apple confirmed that it was working to bring ECG functionality to the Apple Watch in Canada "as quickly as possible."

Health Canada initially approved the ECG app and irregular heart rhythm notifications on Apple Watch Series 4 in May. ECG capabilities are now available in more than 25 countries, following the feature's rollout to many European countries earlier this year. A list of countries where ECG functionality is available can be found on Apple's Apple Watch feature availability website.

Apple's full watchOS 5.3 release notes:

This update includes new features, improvements and bug fixes and is recommended for all users:
- Provides important security updates including a fix for the Walkie-Talkie app
- ECG app on Apple Watch Series 4 now available in Canada and Singapore
- Irregular heart rhythm notifications now available in Canada and Singapore

watchOS 5.3 may be one of the final updates to the watchOS 5 operating system as Apple shifts its focus to watchOS 6, which is currently being beta tested ahead of a planned fall release.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 11
Tag: ECG
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)

Popular Stories

iOS 26 Feature

iOS 26.1 to iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Wednesday October 1, 2025 1:26 pm PDT by
iOS 26 was released last month, but the software train never stops, and iOS 26.1 beta testing is already underway. So far, iOS 26.1 makes both Apple Intelligence and Live Translation on compatible AirPods available in additional languages, and it includes some other minor changes across Apple Music, Calendar, Photos, and Safari. More features and changes will follow in future versions,...
iPhone 17 vs Air and Pros Feature

New iPhones See 'Stronger Than Expected' Demand With One Exception

Thursday October 2, 2025 7:26 am PDT by
Nearly two weeks after the iPhone 17 series launched, analysts at investment banking firm Morgan Stanley said demand for the devices has been "modestly stronger than we originally expected," based on a combination of extended shipping estimates on Apple's online store and information it gathered from Apple's supply chain. There has been strong early demand for the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro,...
macbook air prime day 2025

M5 MacBook Air: Release Date, Features, and Performance Predictions

Friday October 3, 2025 3:39 am PDT by
The MacBook Air is Apple's most popular laptop – a thin, fanless machine that wields quiet power thanks to the efficiency of Apple silicon. While the M4 model isn't exactly old, attention is already turning to its successor. Apple doesn't telegraph new product launches ahead of time, but we can draw a surprisingly clear picture of what to expect by looking at Apple's silicon roadmap,...
Tim Cook Rainbow

Apple Event in October? Here's What to Expect

Monday September 29, 2025 9:31 am PDT by
Apple's annual iPhone event is in the rearview mirror, but rumors suggest the company plans to release a handful of additional products before the year ends. Will there be another Apple event this October? We discuss the possibility below. Apple in October Apple's most recent October events were in 2021 and 2023. In 2022 and 2024, Apple did not host an October event. Instead, it...
maxresdefault

The MacRumors Show: Leaks Reveal What Apple Products Are Coming Next

Friday October 3, 2025 8:05 am PDT by
On this episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss the latest leaks about the next-generation iPad Pro, MacBook Pro, Studio Display, and Vision Pro. Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos Earlier this week, an apparent unboxing video of an updated iPad Pro with the M5 chip was shared online. The same YouTube account leaked the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 chip...
space black mbp

Here's Every New Apple Product That Leaked Yesterday

Wednesday October 1, 2025 8:27 am PDT by
A handful of upcoming Apple products leaked yesterday, through a combination of YouTube videos out of Russia and U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) documents that were released, despite Apple's confidentiality requests. The leaked products include an iPad Pro with an M5 chip, as well as updated MacBook Pro and Apple Vision Pro models. All of these devices had already been rumored...
iOS 26 Feature

iOS 26 Adds These 200 New Features and Changes to Your iPhone

Saturday October 4, 2025 8:19 am PDT by
Apple's website offers a list of nearly 200 new features and changes (PDF file) included in the software update, released last month. Apple also shared equivalent lists for iPadOS 26 and macOS Tahoe. iOS 26 is compatible with the iPhone 11 and newer. To install the update, open the Settings app on your iPhone, tap on General, and tap on Software Update. Below, we have highlighted eight ...
Apple 2025 Thumb 1

Apple's 2025 Product Roadmap: What's Still Coming

Wednesday October 1, 2025 3:56 pm PDT by
Apple's two big yearly events, WWDC and the iPhone launch, are done and over with, but there are still some new products that we're expecting to see before the end of the year. Apple TV The Apple TV hasn't been updated since 2022, so it's due for a refresh. It doesn't look like Apple is going to change the design of its set-top box, but we can expect a faster chip Apple code suggests...

Top Rated Comments

realtuner Avatar
81 months ago
Finally ECG in Canada. :)
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
GtrDude Avatar
81 months ago
Would like to see them work on the communications between the phone and watch instead of only adding new features.
"Mirror Phone" is anything but...
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
deathnite Avatar
81 months ago
ECG app is now at version 1.18.

watchOS 5.1.2 ('https://www.macrumors.com/2018/12/06/watchos-5-1-2-released-with-ecg-app/'): ECG app v1.1 ('https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-releases-watchos-5-1-2-with-ecg-new-infograph-complications-and-walkie-talkie-control-center-toggle.2159056/page-9#post-27230555') (initial US release)
watchOS 5.1.3 ('https://www.macrumors.com/2019/01/22/apple-releases-watchos-5-1-3/'): ECG app v1.2 ('https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-releases-watchos-5-1-3-with-bug-fixes-and-performance-improvements.2166340/page-2#post-27023412')
watchOS 5.2.0 ('https://www.macrumors.com/2019/03/27/apple-releases-watchos-5-2/'): ECG app v1.10 ('https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-releases-watchos-5-2-with-ecg-functionality-in-europe-and-hong-kong-airpods-2-support.2175299/page-4#post-27229174') (available in Europe and Hong Kong)
watchOS 5.2.1 ('https://www.macrumors.com/2019/05/13/apple-releases-watchos-5-2-1/'): ECG app v1.13 ('https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-releases-watchos-5-2-1-with-ecg-functionality-for-additional-european-countries.2181139/#post-27359803') (additional ('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WatchOS#watchOS_5.x') European countries)
watchOS 5.3.0 ('https://www.macrumors.com/2019/07/22/apple-watchos-5-3-ecg-canada/'): ECG app v1.18 (available in Canada and Singapore)
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
GregJohn Avatar
81 months ago
Now just have to wait for them to add ecg in Watch OS 6 beta :P
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Eventer_ Avatar
81 months ago
Not showing up on iPhone running iOS 13 beta. Not sure if the beta is the reason, or it's just not showing up yet.
Same here

/edit

now found it
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Fynd Avatar
81 months ago
Same here
Likewise until I just spam refreshed it like the maniac I am and it showed up, so keep trying.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)