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There is an important difference from the older experience: on the affected U.S. models, the watch sensors collect the measurements, but the paired iPhone performs the analysis. The result appears in the iPhone’s Health app under Health > Respiratory, rather than being calculated entirely on the watch.
What changed with Apple Watch Blood Oxygen?
Apple’s redesigned Blood Oxygen feature became available on August 14, 2025, through two coordinated software updates:
- iPhone: iOS 18.6.1
- Apple Watch: watchOS 11.6.1
The change applied to certain Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 units sold in the United States without the original Blood Oxygen functionality. Apple described the update as a redesigned experience rather than a simple switch that restored the previous on-watch implementation.
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The watch still uses its optical sensors to collect the underlying readings. However, the paired iPhone measures and calculates the data, then makes the results available in the Health app’s Respiratory section. That means the feature is now more dependent on the paired iPhone, its software, and the Health app than it was on watches with the original implementation.
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Which Apple Watches are eligible?
Eligibility depends on more than the model name. The relevant combination is the watch family, where it was purchased, when it was purchased, and whether the unit already had Blood Oxygen enabled.
| Watch or situation | What to know |
|---|---|
| Apple Watch Series 9 | Certain U.S. units that were sold without Blood Oxygen can use the redesigned iPhone-based experience after the required updates. |
| Apple Watch Series 10 | Certain U.S. units without the original feature are included in the restoration. |
| Apple Watch Ultra 2 | Certain U.S. units without Blood Oxygen are included; do not assume every Ultra 2 has identical functionality. |
| U.S. purchase date | Apple Support identifies U.S.-purchased models bought on or after January 18, 2024, with part numbers ending in LW/A, as using iPhone-based Blood Oxygen analysis. |
| Models bought outside the U.S. | Apple said the restoration did not affect units purchased outside the United States. Their existing feature behavior was not changed by this U.S.-specific update. |
| Older units that already had Blood Oxygen | Apple said these watches were not affected. They should not be lumped together with the U.S. units that were sold with the feature disabled. |
The LW/A ending is a useful clue, not a replacement for checking the individual watch’s settings, region, software, and feature history. A Series 9, Series 10, or Ultra 2 label by itself does not establish that a particular watch has the restored experience.
General Blood Oxygen app compatibility
Apple’s support documentation generally lists the Blood Oxygen app for Apple Watch Series 6 or later and Apple Watch Ultra models. It does not support Apple Watch SE or Apple Watch configurations using Apple Watch For Your Kids. Apple also states that the feature is unavailable to users under 18.
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How the restored feature works
For an affected U.S. watch, the process is split between two devices:
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- The Apple Watch’s optical sensors collect the measurement.
- The paired iPhone measures and calculates the Blood Oxygen data.
- The result is stored and displayed in the iPhone Health app.
- You find the data in Health > Respiratory.
Do not expect the restored result to look exactly like the original feature on an older or non-U.S. Apple Watch. The key practical difference is that the iPhone is responsible for the analysis and is the main place to review the result.
How to turn it on and take a reading
1. Update both devices
Install iOS 18.6.1 on the paired iPhone and watchOS 11.6.1 on the Apple Watch if you are following the original restoration path. Apple’s current support guidance instead tells users to keep the iPhone and supported Apple Watch on the latest available compatible iOS and watchOS versions.
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2. Wear the watch correctly
- Wear it snugly, but comfortably.
- Make sure the back of the watch touches your wrist.
- Keep the watch and wrist still during the measurement.
A compatible Apple Watch band can help you achieve a stable fit, but a band cannot enable Blood Oxygen or restore the feature on an ineligible watch.
3. Take a manual measurement
- Open the Blood Oxygen app on the Apple Watch.
- Place your wrist flat.
- Hold your arm still for approximately 15 seconds.
- Review the result in the iPhone’s Health app under Health > Respiratory.
The iPhone-based design means that the paired iPhone is not merely an optional viewing screen. It performs the measurement calculation for the affected U.S. models.
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What if Blood Oxygen does not appear?
Work through these checks in order:
- Confirm both devices are updated. The original restoration required iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1, while Apple’s current guidance is to use the latest compatible versions.
- Check the watch’s model and sales region. The restoration targeted certain U.S.-sold Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 units. A model purchased elsewhere follows the experience intended for that market.
- Check the part number. Apple identifies affected U.S. watches purchased on or after January 18, 2024, with part numbers ending in LW/A as using iPhone-based analysis.
- Check whether the watch already had the original feature. Previously enabled watches were not changed by the August 2025 restoration.
- Check for unsupported configurations. Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch For Your Kids, and users under 18 are excluded by Apple’s current support documentation.
- Check the paired iPhone and Health app. Because the affected watches rely on the iPhone for analysis, the result should be sought in Health > Respiratory, not only on the watch.
- Check the fit and movement. Wear the watch snugly and keep the wrist flat and still for the approximately 15-second reading.
If the watch still does not show the app or record data after these checks, the unit may not belong to the affected restoration group, or it may require Apple’s current support process rather than the original 18.6.1/11.6.1 update path.
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No. iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1 are the historical software releases associated with the August 14, 2025 restoration. In the supplied Apple security-release status snapshot dated July 27, 2026, Apple listed iOS 26.6 and watchOS 26.6 as newer releases.
For current setup, follow Apple’s support guidance to use the latest compatible iOS and watchOS versions. The important historical point is that iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1 introduced the redesigned experience; they should not be described as the current Apple operating systems in 2026.
Why was Blood Oxygen disabled on some U.S. watches?
The background is a patent dispute involving Masimo’s pulse-oximetry technology. Apple introduced the Blood Oxygen sensor in 2020. The sensor uses LEDs and photodiodes to collect information related to blood oxygen levels.
A March 19, 2026 Federal Circuit opinion records the International Trade Commission’s finding that Apple infringed specified Masimo patent claims and describes the resulting limited exclusion order affecting the importation of infringing watches. In response to the dispute, certain newly sold U.S. Apple Watch units were shipped with the Blood Oxygen feature disabled.
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Apple’s August 2025 announcement said the redesigned feature was enabled by a recent U.S. Customs ruling. That does not mean the broader patent dispute simply disappeared. The more precise explanation is that Apple changed the software and processing arrangement for the affected watches, allowing the feature to return under the revised implementation.
This was not a universal ban on Apple Watch Blood Oxygen. Older watches that already included the original feature and watches purchased outside the United States were expressly outside the August 2025 change.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Buying or replacing a watch: check the unit, not just the model
If Blood Oxygen is important when you buy an Apple Watch, treat the model name as only the first screening step. Confirm the seller’s region, the exact part number, purchase timing, and whether the specific unit has the feature. Used and refurbished listings deserve extra care because two watches with the same family name can have different sales histories and feature behavior.
The Apple Watch Series 10 is one of the model families named in Apple’s restoration announcement, but a listing should still be checked for U.S. eligibility and unit history. The same caution applies if you compare an Apple Watch Series 9 or an Apple Watch Ultra 2. Do not interpret a product listing’s generic “Blood Oxygen” wording as proof that every regional version or individual unit works the same way.
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Also remember that the affected U.S. experience requires a compatible paired iPhone for analysis and Health-app results. A replacement watch without an appropriate paired iPhone may not deliver the workflow you expect.
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Health and safety limits
Apple presents Blood Oxygen as a wellness feature. A consumer Apple Watch reading should not be treated as a diagnosis, a substitute for clinical pulse oximetry, or a reason to ignore symptoms. Do not use an isolated wearable result to make a medical decision. If you have symptoms or concerns about your health, contact a qualified medical professional.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Blood Oxygen return to every Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2?
No. The restoration targeted certain U.S.-sold units that lacked the original feature. Units purchased outside the United States and watches that already had Blood Oxygen were not affected in the same way.
Where do I see the restored Blood Oxygen result?
For the affected U.S. watches, the paired iPhone performs the analysis and the result is available in the Health app under Health > Respiratory.
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Do I need to stay on iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1?
No such permanent requirement is established by the supplied Apple documentation. Those were the original restoration releases. Apple’s current guidance is to keep a supported iPhone and Apple Watch on the latest compatible iOS and watchOS versions.
Can Apple Watch SE use Blood Oxygen?
Apple’s current support documentation does not list Apple Watch SE as supported for Blood Oxygen. Apple also excludes Apple Watch For Your Kids configurations and users under 18.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: Blood Oxygen returned on August 14, 2025, to certain U.S. Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 units through iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1. The restored design is iPhone-based: the watch collects the data, while the paired iPhone calculates it and shows the result in Health > Respiratory. Check the watch’s region, purchase date, part-number suffix, and prior feature status before assuming it is eligible.
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