Microlife blood pressure monitor symbols: what each one on the screen means
Microlife’s instruction manual for the BP B3 AFIB Advanced names every symbol and message below. Each one has Microlife’s own words in quotation marks, what Microlife says to do, and a link to our page on the same symbol across other makes.
Check your monitor’s manual — makers differ.
All 16 Microlife screen symbols at a glance
| On the screen | What Microlife’s manual says it means |
|---|---|
Pulse indicator (flashing heart) | The monitor is measuring |
Cuff fit check (and -A, suboptimal cuff fit) | Whether the cuff sits well on the arm |
PAD (pulse arrhythmia indicator) | The pulse was irregular during the measurement |
AFIB (atrial fibrillation indicator) | The monitor’s AFIBsens check found atrial fibrillation during this measurement |
Traffic light indicator (green, yellow or red triangle) | Which range the reading falls into, by Microlife’s table |
MAM symbol | MAM mode is on: the monitor takes 2 readings and shows the result |
M and A (memory and average) | You are looking at stored readings; A is the average of them all |
Battery symbol flashing, partly filled | The batteries are running low but it still measures |
Battery symbol flashing, empty | The batteries are flat and it will not measure |
Err 1 | Signal too weak |
Err 2 | Error signal: movement or muscle tension |
Err 3 | Abnormal cuff pressure |
Err 5 | Abnormal result |
Err 6 | Too many errors in MAM mode |
HI | Pulse or cuff pressure too high |
LO | Pulse too low |
Which models this covers
The manual read here is the English BP B3 AFIB Advanced booklet on microlife.com. Microlife models without AFIBsens have no AFIB symbol, and a few models add their own marks, so your model’s manual is the one to trust. Err 4 is not in this manual’s error table, so it is not listed.
Each symbol, in Microlife’s words
Pulse indicator (flashing heart) The monitor is measuring
“During the measurement, the pulse indicator flashes in the display.”
What Microlife says to do: “Relax, do not move and do not tense your arm muscles until the measurement result is displayed.”
This is the normal heart. PAD and AFIB are separate marks shown with the result.
Every make: Flashing heart during the measurement. Source: Microlife — Instruction manual, BP B3 AFIB Advanced (PDF) Checked 2026-10-13.
Cuff fit check (and -A, suboptimal cuff fit) Whether the cuff sits well on the arm
“The cuff fit check on the display indicates that the cuff is perfectly placed.”
“the cuff is fitted suboptimally, but it is still ok to measure.”
“Blood pressure readings with suboptimal cuff fit”
Microlife’s manual adds that readings taken with a suboptimal cuff fit are left out of the stored average.
Every make: Cuff fit check. Source: Microlife — Instruction manual, BP B3 AFIB Advanced (PDF) Checked 2026-10-13.
PAD (pulse arrhythmia indicator) The pulse was irregular during the measurement
“when pulse irregularities occurred during the measurement.”
“When Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is detected, the PAD is also indicated because AF is one type of pulse irregularities.”
What Microlife says to do: “If the symbol appears, it is recommended to select MAM mode and repeat measurement to double confirm the blood pressure reading”
PAD is the broader mark: it can appear on its own, or together with AFIB.
Every make: Irregular heartbeat symbol. Source: Microlife — Instruction manual, BP B3 AFIB Advanced (PDF) Checked 2026-10-13.
AFIB (atrial fibrillation indicator) The monitor’s AFIBsens check found atrial fibrillation during this measurement
“This symbol indicates that atrial fibrillation was detected during the measurement.”
“This device may not or wrongly detect atrial fibrillation in people with pacemakers or defibrillators.”
“In pregnancy the AFIB symbol can be ignored.”
What Microlife says to do: “If the AFIB symbol appears after having performed a full blood pressure measurement, the patient is advised to perform another measurement. If the AFIB symbol appears again, we recommend the patient to seek medical advice.”
Microlife writes that the atrial fibrillation diagnosis itself must be made by a cardiologist from an ECG. Only Microlife’s manual among those this site read shows an AFIB symbol, which is why it has no page of its own across makes.
Source: Microlife — Instruction manual, BP B3 AFIB Advanced (PDF) Checked 2026-10-13.
Traffic light indicator (green, yellow or red triangle) Which range the reading falls into, by Microlife’s table
“The triangle on the left-hand edge of the display points at the range within which the measured blood pressure value lies.”
“The value is either within the optimum (green), elevated (yellow) or high (red) range.”
“The higher value is the one that determines the evaluation.”
| Range | Systolic | Diastolic | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. blood pressure too high | ≥ 135 | ≥ 85 | Seek medical advice |
| 2. blood pressure elevated | 130 – 134 | 80 – 84 | Self-check |
| 3. blood pressure normal | < 130 | < 80 | Self-check |
Microlife’s red starts lower than Beurer’s: 135/85 is red here and green on the Beurer BM 54. The manual’s own example is 140/80 or 130/90, both “blood pressure too high”.
Every make: Blood pressure classification bar. Source: Microlife — Instruction manual, BP B3 AFIB Advanced (PDF) Checked 2026-10-13.
MAM symbol MAM mode is on: the monitor takes 2 readings and shows the result
“To select MAM mode, press the MAM button until the MAM-symbol appears on the display.”
“In MAM mode, 2 measurements are automatically taken in succession and the result is then automatically analysed and displayed.”
What Microlife says to do: “Do not remove the cuff between measurements.”
In MAM mode a 1 or 2 in the bottom right corner shows which measurement is running, with a 15-second break between them; the manual says a third is taken automatically if one is questionable.
Source: Microlife — Instruction manual, BP B3 AFIB Advanced (PDF) Checked 2026-10-13.
M and A (memory and average) You are looking at stored readings; A is the average of them all
“which stands for the average of all stored values.”
“Pressing the M-button again displays the previous value.”
The manual says the monitor stores the last 99 readings and asks that they be looked at by a doctor before the memory fills up, because the oldest are then lost.
Every make: Memory (M) and average readings. Source: Microlife — Instruction manual, BP B3 AFIB Advanced (PDF) Checked 2026-10-13.
Battery symbol flashing, partly filled The batteries are running low but it still measures
“the battery symbol will flash as soon as the device is switched on (partly filled battery displayed).”
“Although the device will continue to measure reliably, you should obtain replacement batteries.”
The BP B3 AFIB Advanced takes four AA batteries; changing them keeps the stored readings, but the year flashes so that the date and time can be set again.
Every make: Low battery symbol. Source: Microlife — Instruction manual, BP B3 AFIB Advanced (PDF) Checked 2026-10-13.
Battery symbol flashing, empty The batteries are flat and it will not measure
“When the batteries are flat, the battery symbol will flash as soon as the device is switched on (flat battery displayed). You cannot take any further measurements and must replace the batteries.”
Both battery states flash, so look at the drawing: partly filled means low, empty means flat.
Every make: Low battery symbol. Source: Microlife — Instruction manual, BP B3 AFIB Advanced (PDF) Checked 2026-10-13.
Err 1 Signal too weak
“The pulse signals on the cuff are too weak.”
What Microlife says to do: “Re-position the cuff and repeat the measurement.”
The display legend calls the matching mark the cuff signal indicator.
Every make: Error display. Source: Microlife — Instruction manual, BP B3 AFIB Advanced (PDF) Checked 2026-10-13.
Err 2 Error signal: movement or muscle tension
“During the measurement, error signals were detected by the cuff, caused for instance by movement or muscle tension.”
What Microlife says to do: “Repeat the measurement, keeping your arm still.”
The display legend names this the arm movement indicator.
Every make: Body movement symbol. Source: Microlife — Instruction manual, BP B3 AFIB Advanced (PDF) Checked 2026-10-13.
Err 3 Abnormal cuff pressure
“An adequate pressure cannot be generated in the cuff. A leak may have occurred.”
What Microlife says to do: “Check that the cuff is correctly connected and is not too loose. Replace the batteries if necessary. Repeat the measurement.”
Weak batteries are on Microlife’s list for Err 3 as well as a loose cuff or a leak.
Every make: Error display. Source: Microlife — Instruction manual, BP B3 AFIB Advanced (PDF) Checked 2026-10-13.
Err 5 Abnormal result
“The measuring signals are inaccurate and no result can therefore be displayed.”
What Microlife says to do: “Read through the checklist for performing reliable measurements and then repeat the measurement.”
The checklist the manual means is its own section 3: no activity, eating or smoking just before, 5 minutes’ rest, feet flat and the cuff at heart height.
Every make: Error display. Source: Microlife — Instruction manual, BP B3 AFIB Advanced (PDF) Checked 2026-10-13.
Err 6 Too many errors in MAM mode
“There were too many errors during the measurement in MAM mode, making it impossible to obtain a final result.”
What Microlife says to do: “Read through the checklist for performing reliable measurements and then repeat the measurement.”
Err 6 can only appear in MAM mode, because it is about the series of readings that mode takes.
Every make: Error display. Source: Microlife — Instruction manual, BP B3 AFIB Advanced (PDF) Checked 2026-10-13.
HI Pulse or cuff pressure too high
“The pressure in the cuff is too high (over 299 mmHg) OR the pulse is too high (over 200 beats per minute).”
What Microlife says to do: “Relax for 5 minutes and repeat the measurement.”
HI is not a blood pressure reading: no numbers are given because the measurement went outside what the monitor reports.
Every make: Error display. Source: Microlife — Instruction manual, BP B3 AFIB Advanced (PDF) Checked 2026-10-13.
LO Pulse too low
“The pulse is too low (less than 40 beats per minute).”
What Microlife says to do: “Repeat the measurement.”
LO is about the pulse only; Microlife’s table gives no low-pressure meaning for it.
Every make: Error display. Source: Microlife — Instruction manual, BP B3 AFIB Advanced (PDF) Checked 2026-10-13.
These pages report what each maker’s manual says and quote it wherever health is involved. They do not diagnose anything and are not medical advice; only your own monitor’s manual describes your model.
Other blood pressure monitor makers
Sources
Every symbol above is quoted from this document on Microlife’s own website, fetched and read on the date shown. Words in quotation marks are Microlife’s; everything else is ours.
- Microlife: Microlife — Instruction manual, BP B3 AFIB Advanced (PDF) Checked 2026-10-13.