Blood Oxygen Feature Finally Returning to Apple Watch in the US

Apple today announced that blood oxygen monitoring will return to Apple Watch models in the United States via a software update.

apple watch series 6 blood oxygen monitoring 1
Apple says that its blood oxygen monitoring feature has been "redesigned" for the Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 in the United States. The new solution involves measuring sensor data from the Blood Oxygen app on the Apple Watch and sending it for calculation to a paired iPhone, with the results to be viewable in the Respiratory section of the Health app.

The redesigned blood oxygen monitoring feature will be available as part of iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1. The updates will roll out later today.

Apple Watch models in the United States that include the original blood oxygen monitoring feature and those purchased internationally will remain unchanged, with no need for the workaround solution.

Apple says that the update is enabled by a recent U.S. Customs ruling. Apple has been in a long-running patent dispute with health technology company Masimo over the Apple Watch's Blood Oxygen feature. The conflict intensified in December 2023 when an import ban took effect, which blocked U.S. sales of Apple Watch models with the feature.

Apple paused sales in the U.S. for several days before resuming on January 18, 2024, with the Series 9 and Ultra 2 being sold without blood oxygen monitoring. That arrangement has remained in place since then. The Apple Watch Series 10 launched in September 2024, still lacking the feature. Legal proceedings between Apple and Masimo continue.

Tag: Masimo
Related Forum: Apple Watch

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Top Rated Comments

Callander Avatar
9 weeks ago


Attachment Image
Score: 34 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HouseLannister Avatar
9 weeks ago
Now bring on the blood sugar and blood pressure measuring that has been rumored forever.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jameswilby Avatar
9 weeks ago
Processing on the phone… Almost certainly how they’re getting around it. Likely the trademark will have been about measuring and processing on device. So bring in a second device and maybe it’s no longer infringing? Just a thought
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
vertsix Avatar
9 weeks ago
FINALLY!!!

I hope this doesn’t get overruled again though. :p
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JeziLondon Avatar
9 weeks ago
Ridiculous that you can’t see results on the watch itself…
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ghostface147 Avatar
9 weeks ago
The point is to see it on your watch, not have to look on the phone. Of course I’m on watchOS 26, so I may not see it until final release.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)