How to Export Apple Health Data: CSV, Excel and XML

Choose between a full archive and a selected export

Apple Health’s built-in Export All Health Data exports health and fitness data in XML. Use it when you want an archive of your Health data. XML is structured data, but it is not a ready-made spreadsheet or a formatted PDF report. Apple documents this option in its Health data sharing guide.

Health Data Export takes a more focused route: select supported metrics and a date range, then generate CSV, Excel, PDF, JSON, or Markdown on your device. It does not replace a complete archive of every Health data type.

Already have export.xml from Apple Health?

Export All Health Data creates an export.zip file. Inside it, apple_health_export/export.xml stores each sample as an XML Record element with a type, unit, value, and start and end dates. Workouts are in the same file, and workout routes are separate GPX files. With a long history, export.xml can grow to hundreds of megabytes, which is too large and too nested to open as a simple table in a spreadsheet app.

Turning that archive into CSV takes a converter or a script that reads the Record elements and writes out the fields you need. If you only want a few metrics in a spreadsheet, exporting them directly as CSV or Excel, as in the steps below, is usually simpler. Keep the XML archive when you want a complete backup.

Choose a format for the destination

Destination	Format	Check after export
Numbers, Excel, or a spreadsheet	CSV or Excel (.xlsx)	Dates should import as dates; values should remain numeric.
A readable report to print or share	PDF	Check the range, metric labels, and units. PDF is a Pro feature.
A script or automation	JSON	Inspect the generated keys and units before writing an importer.
A notes app	Markdown	Check table rendering and whether the text includes anything you do not want to share.

Follow a small CSV export first

1. Open Health Data Export and select steps for a short date range you can verify in Apple Health.
2. Grant Health read access to the selected metric when requested. Grant only the categories you intend to export.
3. Choose raw records if you need individual observations, or daily aggregation if you want one daily summary. Daily aggregation is available with Pro.
4. Choose CSV, export, then use the share sheet to save to Files.
5. Open the file in Numbers or Excel. Check the first and last dates, the metric, the unit, and whether numeric columns import correctly.
6. Once the small export looks right, add other supported metrics or expand the range. Longer and custom ranges and advanced metrics require Pro.

What a CSV may look like

This is an illustration with invented values, not a download from the app or a promise of its column names. Always inspect the header in your actual exported file.

date,metric,value,unit
2026-09-01,steps,5200,count
2026-09-02,steps,6100,count

A raw export may contain multiple observations per day. Do not assume that summing every row reproduces the value displayed by Apple Health: check the metric, source, and aggregation method before comparing totals. For a trend overview, a daily export is easier to inspect than a large table of individual records.

If the file is empty or looks wrong

• No rows: Check that Apple Health has records for the same metric and dates, then review the app’s Health read permissions.
• Unexpected dates: Check the selected range and how your spreadsheet interprets dates and time zones.
• Everything is in one column: Import the file explicitly as comma-separated data instead of relying on automatic format detection.
• Unexpected units or totals: Keep units visible and distinguish raw observations from daily summaries. Do not compare different aggregation choices as if they were the same result.

Before sharing

Export only the metrics and dates the recipient needs. Review the actual file, choose the intended recipient in the share sheet, and keep a local copy if needed. File generation is local; sharing or uploading the exported file is a separate choice you make afterward.