iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1 Released: Blood Oxygen Monitoring Returns to U.S. Apple Watches

[MacRumors]

Apple today released iOS 18.6.1 for the iPhone and watchOS 11.6.1 for the Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2. The updates re-enable blood oxygen monitoring in the United States.

iOS 18.6.1 can be downloaded on eligible iPhones over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. watchOS 11.6.1 is available for newer Apple Watch models that have blood oxygen monitoring disabled, and it can be downloaded through the Apple Watch app on the iPhone.

Apple said that blood oxygen monitoring is coming back to U.S. Apple Watch models due to a "recent U.S. Customs ruling."

Back in early 2024, the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) found that Apple violated blood oxygen sensing patents owned by Masimo. The ITC implemented a trade ban, and Apple had to stop selling the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2. Sales resumed after Apple disabled the blood oxygen monitoring feature in Apple Watch devices sold in the U.S.

Since January 2024, no Apple Watch models purchased in the U.S. have had a functioning blood oxygen sensor, including the Apple Watch Series 9, the Apple Watch Series 10, and the Apple Watch Ultra 2.

With iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1, Apple is implementing a workaround. Data collected by the blood oxygen sensor on the Apple Watch will be processed on a paired iPhone, with the results available in the Respiratory section of the Health app.

The feature typically allows users to see a readout of their blood oxygen level right on the Apple Watch, but this isn't how it will work in the U.S.

The update is designed for Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 models sold in the U.S. that do not already have blood oxygen sensing available. Blood oxygen monitoring remained available on older watch models, and there has also been no change to Apple Watch models sold outside of the United States.

Article Link: iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1 Released: Blood Oxygen Monitoring Returns to U.S. Apple Watches

 

[jz0309]

Great move and workaround by Apple!

 

[eXoenDo]

iOS 26 beta re-released as well!

 

[Apple_Robert]

My download was in the 'verifying update' step a long time and then said it couldn't verify the update. Trying again and the phone isn't seeing the update anymore.

edited to add: It now says Unable to check for update. An error occurred while checking for an update. Try again. Finally verified and is now installing.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Apple is implementing a workaround. Data collected by the blood oxygen sensor on the Apple Watch will be processed on a paired iPhone, with the results available in the Respiratory section of the Health app.

Somewhat burying the lede.

This really isn't "coming back to the Watch".

 

[Entilzha]

Somewhat burying the lede.

This really isn't "coming back to the Watch".

Sensor capability is coming back to the watch. Whether said data is displayed ON the watch or not, the sensors are enabled again.

 

[btrach144]

Masimo spent $200 million on lawyers and was just out maneuvered by Apple.

Glad to have o2 back!

They need to fire their CEO. ROI on that exercise was $0 now.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Sensor capability is coming back to the watch. Whether said data is displayed ON the watch or not, the sensors are enabled again.

You're really stretching here.

Ask any normal person what a feature "coming back to the Watch" means and you won't get anyone saying "that means I view the data on my iPhone"

 

[turbineseaplane]

Masimo spent $200 million on lawyers and was just out maneuvered by Apple.

Glad to have o2 back!

This is so depressing to see said out loud.

Apple used IP they had no right to and you're happy about Apple "out maneuvering" the IP rights holder?

 

[SKeijmel]

how about Europe ? did we still have blood oxygen ?

 

[btrach144]

This is so depressing to see said out loud.

Apple used IP they had no right to and you're happy about Apple "out maneuvering" the IP rights holder?

Apple is no longer using methods that infringe on IP. Not sure why that’s so hard to understand.

 

[Mazda 3s]

So, do the iOS 26 developer betas have the O2 sensor readout as well?

 

[btrach144]

how about Europe ? did we still have blood oxygen ?

You never lost it.

 

[jz0309]

This is so depressing to see said out loud.

Apple used IP they had no right to and you're happy about Apple "out maneuvering" the IP rights holder?

Massino could not convince a jury that Apple breached their patent, so they chose a roundabout way and got the ITC to ban the import of the AW with said feature - what Apple has done now I call a brilliant move.

 

[jz0309]

Apple is no longer using methods that infringe on IP. Not sure why that’s so hard to understand.

Some people seem to make it a sport to find something negative in anything Apple does... quite bizarre.
Apple is not always right, but in this case they definitely are

 

[msz95]

how about Europe ? did we still have blood oxygen ?

Nothing Changes for Europe

 

[Black_Mage]

With blood oxygen monitoring back on the menu, I might upgrade to a newer Apple Watch. Maybe the Ultra.

 

[abatabia]

Not showing up for me.

 

[Starflyer]

What about those of us who purchased the watch before it was disabled? This has always functioned on my Ultra 2.

 

[xpxp2002]

Has anyone installed this on a US watch that was sold before the ban? Just curious if those watches will also lose the on-watch O2 display.

 

[Apple_Robert]

What about those of us who purchased the watch before it was disabled? This has always functioned on my Ultra 2.

Those watches stay the same.

 

[I7guy]

Wow! Christmas in the heat of the summer.

 

[roncron]

You're really stretching here.

Ask any normal person what a feature "coming back to the Watch" means and you won't get anyone saying "that means I view the data on my iPhone"

I think a normal person would see this as:

• Before January 2024, people could buy an Apple Watch and use it to measure/monitor their SPO2 levels.
• After January 2024, people could not.
• Now, people can use Apple Watches purchased after January 2024 to measure/monitor their SP02 levels.

That people now need an iPhone to see the results is orders of magnitude less important than being able to use the Watch instead of a more bulky device to monitor their O2 levels. Everyone who owns a Watch owns an iPhone, too.

I'm also guessing a normal person would not find this debate particularly interesting, so my apologies to the normal people out there for contributing to it.

 

[roncron]

With blood oxygen monitoring back on the menu, I might upgrade to a newer Apple Watch. Maybe the Ultra.

Good idea. But wait for the Ultra 3. Even if you don't need its new features, the price of Ultra 2's will go down.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I think a normal person would see this as:

• Before January 2024, people could buy an Apple Watch and use it to measure/monitor their SPO2 levels.
• After January 2024, people could not.
• Now, people can use Apple Watches purchased after January 2024 to measure/monitor their SP02 levels.

So if the normal person did this before 1/24 and viewed the results, along with plenty of other metrics, on their watch..

...and now they always have to get their phone and open the Health app to go find it ..

You think they won't find that pretty different and perhaps fairly unappealing?

I wonder how the normal person would feel if there were told and it was explained "why" Apple has done all this. Sort of like telling them ... we are going to watch this movie, but just so you know, it was stolen and/or people with the rights to it were not remunerated as they should have been.