Apple on Thursday released iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1 which introduces a redesigned Blood Oxygen feature for Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 users in America.
The iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1 updates are rolling out now.
Users with these models in the U.S. who currently do not have the Blood Oxygen feature will have access to the redesigned Blood Oxygen feature by updating their paired iPhone to iOS 18.6.1 and their Apple Watch to watchOS 11.6.1. Following this update, sensor data from the Blood Oxygen app on Apple Watch will be measured and calculated on the paired iPhone, and results can be viewed in the Respiratory section of the Health app.
There is no impact to previously purchased Apple Watch units that include the original Blood Oxygen feature or to Apple Watch units purchased outside of the U.S.A.
iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1 release notes:
This update provides a new Blood Oxygen experience for users in the United States with Apple Watch Series 9 and Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2. Measurements are calculated on iPhone and viewed in the Health app.
For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit: https://support.apple.com/100100
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[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Fred Mertz” for the heads up.]
we all know apple dropped the ball on AI. But I think if Apple could releases a AI health platform that combines hardware, on device security and AI health guidance that is secure and private they could secure a large demographic of new users
Has anyone gotten this to work yet? Updated both iPhone and WATCH – I get a message saying the Blood Oxygen app is no longer available. Deleted the Blood Oxygen app from the WATCH, re-installed, still no joy.
4:18 EST: I just called Apple who told me that this statement is INcorrect:
“There is no impact to previously purchased Apple Watch units that include the original Blood Oxygen feature…”
I was specifically told that the Blood Oxygen feature that I currently have on Apple Watch Ultra2 will NOT be visible on the watch.
Sad 🙁
This is a feature I use regularly on my Apple Watch 7 and is exactly the reason I have not upgraded. The fact that Apple is f’ing around with it seems to confirm what is becoming a louder and louder refrain: Apple prioritizes its financial concerns over the user experience that made the company what it is. If Apple cared about its users, this would have been fixed long ago. The idea that people are going to have to look at their PHONE to see results from their WATCH is a huge kludge. Jobs/Ive Apple would never have tolerated this. Pay the money. Serve your users. Lock-in loyalty. That’s what matters.