Finger Out on a pulse oximeter
The oximeter no longer detects a finger in the clip, either because it was taken out or because it is not in far enough to cover the sensor. It is a prompt, not a fault, and most models switch themselves off a few seconds later.
Check your oximeter’s manual — makers differ.
What it is for
If you meant to finish, just wait: the oximeter turns itself off. If you were still measuring, push the finger in until the tip reaches the end, nail side up, and hold still. Beurer’s PO 45 troubleshooting table gives the cause as the finger “has not been inserted properly” and the fix as “Insert the finger in the pulse oximeter again”. Microlife’s OXY 300 manual says the display indicates « Finger Out » when you remove your finger and that the oximeter switches off about 8 seconds later.
These pages report what each maker’s manual says and quote it wherever health is involved. They do not diagnose anything, they are not medical advice, and they do not tell you whether an oxygen or pulse reading is right for you or what to do about it; only your own oximeter’s manual and your doctor or nurse can do that for the person you are looking after.
- What it looks like
- The words Finger Out on the screen, sometimes after the readings disappear.
- Names makers use
- Finger Out (Microlife OXY 300); Finger out (Beurer PO 45); Switches off when the finger is removed (Nonin, Beurer PO 30 and PO 60, Microlife OXY 200)
Where makes differ
Only some models write the words. The switch-off time after the finger comes out also differs: about 5 seconds on Beurer’s PO 30, 8 seconds on the Beurer PO 45 and Microlife OXY 300, and about 10 seconds on the Nonin 9590, Beurer PO 60 and Microlife OXY 200, according to their manuals.
What it does not mean
It is not an error code and does not mean the oximeter is faulty. It does not say anything about the reading taken before the finger came out.
Other symbols with the same shapes
Sources
No published standard we could check defines what a fingertip pulse oximeter’s display shows, so this meaning is taken from 3 makers’ own manuals and support pages, each fetched and read on the date shown:
- Microlife: Microlife OXY 300 fingertip pulse oximeter — instruction manual (IB OXY 300 N-V9, revision 2023-11-30, PDF) — Directions for use: “Remove your finger from the device. The display will indicate « Finger Out ».” The device switches off approx. 8 seconds after the finger is removed. Checked 2026-09-29.
- Beurer: Beurer PO 45 pulse oximeter — instructions for use (2020-06-12, German/English, PDF linked from beurer.com) — Troubleshooting: “Finger out” appears on the display — the finger has not been inserted properly; insert the finger again; switch-off after approx. 8 seconds. Checked 2026-09-29.
- Beurer: Beurer PO 30 pulse oximeter — instructions for use (2020-01-08, German/English, PDF) — Operation note: after the finger is removed the device switches off automatically after approx. five seconds. Checked 2026-09-29.
- Nonin: Nonin Onyx Vantage 9590 finger pulse oximeter — instructions for use (P/N 10906-001-04, 2020, PDF) — The device shuts off approximately 10 seconds after the finger is removed, or after a 2-minute period of inadequate pulse signals. Checked 2026-09-29.
- Microlife: Microlife OXY 200 fingertip pulse oximeter — instruction manual (IB OXY 200 S-V10, 2026-09-14, PDF) — The device switches off automatically approx. 10 seconds after the finger is removed. Checked 2026-09-29.
Written in our own words; quotations are the makers’ wording.