If you’re in the U.S. and own an Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, or Ultra 2, there’s great news: after an 18-month hiatus due to legal restrictions, blood oxygen monitoring is back—kind of.
What’s Changed and Why
A legal battle with medical company Masimo led to an import ban on U.S. Apple Watch models featuring the pulse-ox sensor. As a result, Apple disabled the feature in affected watches sold stateside in early 2024.
But now, thanks to a favorable U.S. Customs ruling, Apple is restoring the feature—via software updates that introduce a clever workaround. ReutersThe VergeDC RainmakerWikipedia
What You Can Do
If you own an impacted model:
- Update your iPhone to iOS 18.6.1.
- Update your Apple Watch to watchOS 11.6.1. TechRadarThe VergeAppleInsiderWikipedia
Once updated, your watch will capture sensor data like before—but instead of processing it on the watch, the raw data is sent to your paired iPhone, where it’s calculated and displayed under the Respiratory → Blood Oxygen section in the Health app.
Watches sold prior to January 18, 2024, or those purchased outside the U.S., are unaffected by this change and continue to function normally.
Why It Matters
While it’s not the seamless on-watch experience users previously enjoyed, this “two-device” method ensures the feature comes back without violating the import ban. Plus, with Apple planning future health innovations, routing more processing to the iPhone may offer long-term benefits. TechRadarDC RainmakerBusiness Insider
Quick Recap
| Detail | Update |
|---|---|
| Affected Models | Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, Ultra 2 (U.S.) |
| Required Updates | iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1 |
| How It Works Now | Watch collects data → iPhone processes & displays |
| Implementation Start Date | August 14, 2025 |
| Unaffected Devices | Watches bought pre-Jan 2024 or outside U.S. |
