Apple Watch Blood Oxygen Feature Returns with iOS 18.6.1 Update

Why this matters: This update ensures that users in the U.S. can continue to utilize the Blood Oxygen feature on their Apple Watches, providing valuable health monitoring capabilities.

The reintroduction of the Blood Oxygen feature is a significant development for Apple Watch users in the U.S. The patent dispute with Masimo led to the deactivation of this feature, impacting the health monitoring capabilities of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2. The iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1 updates provide a workaround by shifting the data processing from the watch to the paired iPhone.

This solution allows users to measure their blood oxygen levels using the Apple Watch, with the data being processed on the iPhone and displayed in the Health app. This ensures that users can continue to monitor their respiratory health and detect potential issues.

While there are no explicit security updates included in iOS 18.6.1, the primary focus is on restoring functionality. Users have reported improved performance after installing the update, suggesting potential optimizations. To get the update, go to Settings > General > Software Update on your iPhone.

Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 models sold in the U.S. that previously had the Blood Oxygen feature disabled.

Yes, both devices need to be updated to iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1, respectively.

The data will be available in the Respiratory section of the Health app on your paired iPhone.

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