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iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1 Released: Blood Oxygen Monitoring Returns to U.S. Apple Watches
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I downloaded the updates on my iPhone 16 and Ultra Gen I watch yesterday afternoon and the blood oxygen percentage continues to be displayed on my watch just as before. The result seems to consistently be a point or two higher than what I was getting prior to the phone and watch updates.
Brutal that they couldn’t include this into 18.7 which comes in a few weeks.
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
I just woke up and sadly blood oxygen data still isn’t populating the vitals section of the Health app. Anyone else seeing the same?
It’s court approved.
The import ban prevented watches from coming in that had on device processing of o2 data and display of that data.
Now the watch sends the raw, unprocessed data to the phone to be processed and displayed. It does not interfere with the patent and is court approved.
Not sure why that’s so hard to understand.
It's not showing up in my "Vitals" tab, but it shows up under Blood Oxygen in the Health app and looks like it took several readings while I slept last night:
Same here. I don’t remember if it took a couple of readings, like the temperature readings, before it shows up in Vitals tab.
Same here first thing I checked this morning hoping to see O2 level in Vitals but it was not there
@azhava @vroom2 @techiegirl @YatBob Curious to learn if it will eventually show under the Vitals section of the health app on iPhone. It will definitely not show in the Vitals app on the watch itself.
Thanks everyone for confirming it isn’t just on my end! Maybe it’ll start working tomorrow? (Might just be wishful thinking on my part lol)
edit: this resolved itself later. But initially I just got the error message below even though all was set up correctly. Leaving this post here in case anyone runs into the same issue.
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Weirdly, Blood Oxygen is not working at all on my S10. I've updated iOS and watchOS this morning, rebooted both devices and still see this on the watch. As you can see, I've got the 11.6.1 update installed.
In the Watch app on my iPhone, meanwhile, I see what I would expect:
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Weirdly, Blood Oxygen is not working at all on my S10. I've updated iOS and watchOS this morning, rebooted both devices and still see this on the watch. As you can see, I've got the 11.6.1 update installed.
In the Watch app on my iPhone, meanwhile, I see what I would expect:
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200 million is nothing, it’s a walk in the park for them, they the CEO and the board approved a 1 billion dollars acquisition of Sound United then sold it a. 66% loss for 350 million to Samsung. That over 600 million dollars loss in that acquisition and subsequent sale. If I was a shareholder I would be beyond pissed and questioning if they are living up to their contractual fiduciary responsibilities.
I bet there will be ios 18.6.2 to fix bugs and security updates. Especially since the message app keeps crashing in 18.6.1 when you try to hit the i button next to a number so u can block the number. When u click the i button the messages app crashes. Its def a bug in ios 18.6.1 Id say
They'll look at their phone. Problem solved for anyone with a modicum of common sense and/or not on the spectrum.
this update is universal to all Apple Watches BUT does NOT change the functionality for watches that already have blood oxygen sensors enabled... your previously enabled watch will continue to do and show blood oxygen calculations directly on the watch.
You mean the way people who track their sleep have always done it? By looking at the blood oxygen readings taken overnight via the Health app or whatever sleep tracking app they use?
Oh no, we have to look at our phone for manual readings from now till 2028 when Apple can re-engage normal use. The horror.
Sure as heck is better than having NO usable sensor, as I can attest with my AW Ultra 2.
Apple is adhering to a ruling that allows them to use this workaround. They are within the law. Your comparison makes zero sense.
So the whole world has to update OS because US Apple users have a new feature unlocked? Seriously?
This can't be switched on the server side? Or make the update only available to the US?
This can't be switched on the server side? Or make the update only available to the US?
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I'm wondering the same, since it's a "new" feature to my AWU2. I have many older Sp02 readings in Health from my AW8, but the 'familiarity' historically hasn't translated across devices.
I'm running the latest iOS 26 Beta and the latest watch OS and the health App still doesn't have any readings after the day I upgraded to Apple Watch 10.
The option to turn on blood oxygen recording in the Watch App is still greyed out and the link for more information takes me to a page dated 8/14/25 that tells you that it's in the Health App, so it's contradicting what the Health App says. Perhaps they're rolling this out in phases?
The option to turn on blood oxygen recording in the Watch App is still greyed out and the link for more information takes me to a page dated 8/14/25 that tells you that it's in the Health App, so it's contradicting what the Health App says. Perhaps they're rolling this out in phases?