Apple Watch users in the United States are regaining access to a key health feature that had been unavailable for over a year. The Blood Oxygen monitoring tool — removed from certain models due to a patent dispute — is being reintroduced with a redesign that complies with legal restrictions.

The Update and Supported Models
Apple confirmed on Thursday that Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 owners in the US will receive the restored feature through the latest iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1 updates.

Under the revised setup, sensor data from the Blood Oxygen app will now be measured and calculated on the paired iPhone rather than directly on the watch. Results will be viewable in the Respiratory section of the iPhone’s Health app. This workaround allows Apple to sidestep the ban while still offering the functionality to users.

Background of the Ban
In January 2024, Apple was ordered to remove the feature from certain models sold in the US after being found to infringe on patents held by medical technology company Masimo. The patents related to blood oxygen measurement technology.

Affected devices displayed the Blood Oxygen icon, but attempting to open the app showed the message: “The Blood Oxygen app is no longer available.” Models with part numbers ending in LW/A were among those impacted.

Masimo also accused Apple of hiring its employees to develop similar technology for the Apple Watch, further fueling the legal battle. Notably, older Apple Watch models and imported devices not covered by the ruling continued to offer full health-tracking capabilities.

Why It Matters
The Blood Oxygen feature is a popular health monitoring tool, helping users track oxygen saturation levels — an important indicator of respiratory and cardiovascular health. Its return, even with changes to how the data is processed, restores a major selling point for Apple’s latest wearables.

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