Apple is bringing back a redesigned Blood Oxygen feature on some of its latest Apple Watch models in the U.S. The update will be available for Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2, and it will roll out through new iPhone and Apple Watch software.
The company found a workaround and is restoring the feature with iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1. Apple said the move comes after a new U.S. Customs ruling that lets the company import watches with the redesigned version of the technology.
In the U.S., Apple Watch owners who don’t currently have access to Blood Oxygen can get it back by updating their iPhone to iOS 18.6.1 and their Apple Watch to watchOS 11.6.1.
Apple’s Blood Oxygen Feature: How It Works
With the update, the Blood Oxygen app on the Apple Watch will send its data to the paired iPhone for processing. Results will then appear in the Health app under the Respiratory section. This change follows a U.S. Customs ruling. In short, Apple Watch users will once again be able to measure blood oxygen from their watch, but the results will show up on the iPhone. Watches that already came with the original feature, or those bought outside the U.S., won’t be affected.
Apple’s Blood Oxygen Feature Banned in 2023
The Blood Oxygen feature was removed in late 2023 after a patent dispute with Masimo Corp. and a U.S. Customs ban. Now it’s making a comeback for Apple Watch models where it was disabled. The return is thanks to the latest Customs ruling. Apple is also expected to launch new Apple Watch models alongside the iPhone 17, which are again expected to highlight blood oxygen tracking along with other health tools like heart rate monitoring.
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