Apple has reintroduced a crucial health feature with the release of iOS 18.6.1, reinstating blood oxygen monitoring on the Apple Watch after nearly 18 months of restrictions in the United States. The return of this tool—once described as a potential lifesaver—comes as a relief to users, though the update has also triggered complaints of new glitches.
The blood oxygen feature, first disabled due to a heated patent dispute with medical technology company Masimo, is now available again on the Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2. However, instead of working directly on the watch, the readings now rely on an iPhone to process results, marking a significant change in how users access their health data.
