Why does my phone's light turn on while I use Instant Heart Rate? Permanently deleted user September 25, 2019 19:45 Follow To accurately measure your heart rate, Instant Heart Rate uses the light on your phone to detect the changes in color of your fingertips. The app analyzes this information and gives a measurement of your heart rate. Related articles What should I do to get an accurate reading? How accurate is Instant Heart Rate? Why do advertisements keep appearing? How do I edit my birth date? The light gets too hot and burns my finger.