How to Audit and Control Apps Accessing Your Health Data on iPhone
AI-generated, human-reviewed.
On this episode of Hands-On Apple, Mikah Sargent highlighted the importance of periodically auditing which apps have access to your Apple Health data. With more apps like ChatGPT integrating with Health, it's easier than ever for personal information to be shared without you realizing it. This guide shows how to check, change, and remove health data permissions for any iOS app, helping you improve your privacy and stay informed about your shared health metrics.
Why You Should Review Apple Health Data Permissions
iOS Health tracks an enormous amount of sensitive data, from activity and heart rate to sleep, food intake, and more. Apps frequently request access to this data, but not all need it to function. As apps update, add features (such as ChatGPT reading health info), or get deleted, old data can remain shared or stored, sometimes for years. Regular reviews keep your information safe and ensure apps only access what's necessary.
Mikah Sargent shared these steps:
- Open the Health app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap your profile photo in the upper corner.
- Scroll to the Privacy section and tap Apps.
You’ll now see a comprehensive list of every app that has ever requested permission to read or write your health data, even if you’ve deleted the app!
Managing and Customizing App Permissions
Tapping any app name reveals exactly what data types it reads and writes. Some notable examples from the show:
- Apple’s Fitness app: Typically writes just activity-related data, such as your “Workout Effort Score.”
- 3rd-party trackers (e.g., Eight Sleep, Carb Manager): May request access to a variety of metrics (heart rate, respiratory rate, sleep, diet, etc.).
For each app, you can:
- Allow or disallow specific types of data sharing (e.g., only let an app read blood oxygen levels, but not your blood type).
- Turn off all permissions, or enable only what you think is useful.
- Review the actual data logged by that app—see timestamps and types of info (like a sleep app entering your nightly heart rate).
- Delete data shared by any app, either selectively or by category.
Most third-party apps can function with limited access! Don’t feel pressured to turn on “Select All.”
Should You Remove Old or Unused Apps’ Access?
Many users forget that deleted apps may still leave behind shared data. In the Privacy > Apps section, you’ll notice old apps that have contributed data in the past. Even if the apps are gone, you can:
- Review existing data entries,
- Remove their access, and/or
- Delete their data from Health.
This is essential for full privacy control.
Quick Summary
- Open the Health app for all audit actions.
- Regularly check the apps list under Profile > Privacy > Apps.
- Scroll through each app and assess permissions.
- Decide what to share, and remove any data or access you don’t want.
Being selective about which apps see your health records reduces your exposure if a third-party app is hacked or misused. It’s also easier to spot inappropriate requests or to reclaim privacy when you change your habits. The new integration wave (like ChatGPT health features) makes these audits more urgent, so don’t let apps collect unnecessary details that could impact your privacy or security.
Regular privacy audits of your Apple Health app are an important step for anyone using iOS health features. Take just a few minutes to review which apps have access, only enable what’s truly necessary, and delete any leftover data you don’t need. This proactive approach helps you stay safer as health data integrations grow.
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