🔥 iOS 18.6.1 Released - what’s new ?
7Here’s what’s new in iOS 18.6.1 (released August 14, 2025), paired with watchOS 11.6.1:
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Apple has just released iOS 18.6.1 along with watchOS 11.6.1, bringing back the Blood Oxygen monitoring feature for Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 users in the United States.
In this video, I’ll explain:
✅ What’s new in iOS 18.6.1
✅ How the redesigned Blood Oxygen feature works
✅ Which devices are supported
✅ Why this change was made
✅ Step-by-step guide to activate the feature
📌 Important: This update is mainly for U.S. users whose Apple Watch Blood Oxygen feature was disabled due to legal restrictions. Now, readings are calculated on your iPhone and viewed in the Health app instead of directly on the Watch.
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📅 Release Date: August 14, 2025
🔗 Related Update: watchOS 11.6.1
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💬 Tell me in the comments – Did you get the Blood Oxygen feature back after updating?
👍 If you found this video helpful, LIKE, SHARE, and SUBSCRIBE for more iPhone and Apple updates!
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Redesigned Blood Oxygen Monitoring (U.S. Only)
• Who’s affected: iPhone users paired with Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, or Ultra 2 devices sold in the U.S. after January 2024 (those that lacked the feature due to the Masimo legal dispute)    .
• How it works now: The Watch collects sensor data, but the actual blood-oxygen calculations happen on your iPhone. Results show up in the Health app → Respiratory section—not on the Watch face itself    .
• Why this change: It’s a workaround approved by U.S. Customs to navigate the 2023–2024 import ban stemming from Masimo’s patent claims    .
• Roll-out specifics: Requires updating both your iPhone to iOS 18.6.1 and your Apple Watch to watchOS 11.6.1. An OTA activation file may take up to 24 hours to install, but launching the ECG or Health app can accelerate it  .
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Release Notes (iOS & watchOS)
“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.”  
As noted by multiple sources (Apple Newsroom, 9to5Mac, AppleInsider, Cult of Mac, etc.), no additional features or security patches are included—this update strictly restores blood-oxygen monitoring in this new form    .
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Limitations & Impact
• No on-device readings: You won’t get immediate blood-oxygen results on your Watch—everything now shows up in the Health app on iPhone   .
• Not applicable globally: Devices bought outside the U.S. or Watch models that originally shipped with the feature intact are unaffected    .
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TL;DR Summary
Update What it adds Where you see it Requirements
iOS 18.6.1 / watchOS 11.6.1 Restores blood-oxygen feature Health app on iPhone (Respiratory tab) Affected U.S. Watch + paired iPhone, update both
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If you’re a U.S. user with a Series 9/10 or Ultra 2 Watch that lost the blood-oxygen feature, updating to iOS 18.6.1/watchOS 11.6.1 will bring it back—in a new, compliant format.
Let me know if you’d like help installing the update or if you’re curious about how this workaround compares to the original, on-device experience! 😊