Apple has rolled out iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1, and this time it’s not just a routine patch – it’s the long-awaited return of Blood Oxygen Monitoring for U.S.
users. The feature was disabled in 2024 following a messy patent dispute with health tech company Masimo, leaving Apple Watch owners without one of the device’s flagship health tools.
Now, Apple has found a workaround. Instead of processing readings directly on the Apple Watch, the wearable will silently capture your blood oxygen data and beam it to your paired iPhone. The iPhone then processes the data, and you can find the results in the Health app under the Respiratory section. It’s a clever technical detour that avoids infringing Masimo’s patent, while still giving users back their health metrics.
Installing the update is straightforward. On iPhone, head to Settings > General > Software Update, download iOS 18.6.1, and follow the prompts. For Apple Watch, open the Watch app on your iPhone, go to General > Software Update, and install watchOS 11.6.1 – just make sure your watch has at least 50% battery, is on the charger, and is within Bluetooth range of your phone.
Beyond this health feature’s revival, Apple hasn’t detailed other changes or bug fixes in these updates. For now, the focus is entirely on restoring blood oxygen tracking to users, albeit in this new iPhone-dependent format. Whether this is a temporary fix or the new normal will depend on how the ongoing legal tensions play out – but for now, Apple Watch owners can finally breathe a little easier.