iOS 18.6.1: The Update That Revived Apple Watch’s Blood Oxygen Feature

Muhe - Wednesday, 20 August 2025 | 04:00 PM (WIB)

iOS 18.6.1: The Update That Revived Apple Watch’s Blood Oxygen Feature

Oh, the technology world! When all is going well, a curveball comes along. For Apple, that curveball was recently a patent fight that threatened one of the Apple Watch's defining health features.
Instead of a normal rollout, the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 were suddenly caught up in a legal storm, denying users the Blood Oxygen feature they'd been promised.

The Update That Changed Everything

Savvy came in the form of iOS 18.6.1. At face value, it would be just another run-of-the-mill software update — but this one was of monumental importance. It wasn't a matter of stability or bug patches. It was a matter of restoring the Blood Oxygen measurement feature, a function many Apple Watch users see as essential.

Why the Feature Disappeared in the First Place

This week, users woke up to discover their Blood Oxygen readings gone. Why? A patent war with Masimo, a health technology company accusing Apple of infringing their pulse oximetry patents.
The matter extended to the International Trade Commission (ITC), which put an import ban on Apple Watch models in which the feature is enabled. Apple was compelled to eliminate Blood Oxygen monitoring through an expedited software update — something that made individuals frustrated and perplexed.

Apple's Sneaky Solution

Apple does not yield, however. Behind the scenes, engineers concocted a solution: a modified formula for software.
Instead of intruding upon Masimo's technology, Apple reimagined the capability of the Blood Oxygen app in a new way, delivering the same health data without venturing into any legal quicksand. Think finding a newly discovered, fee-free route to the same destination.

Why This Is Important to Users

For owners of Series 9 and Ultra 2 Apple Watches, this software update restores what they shelled out for: the full suite of health features.
For some, it's a sense of security. For others, it's a device that may save their lives. For Apple, it means its flagship watches can once more be marketed and sold with no apology.

The Bigger Picture: Tech and Legal Battles

This episode reminds us of the patent-cutthroat technology world. Apple always walks on the thin wire between innovation and copying.
Apple's strategy towards this issue demonstrates two things: their determination in a court fight and their engineering prowess when challenged. They did not abandon the feature; they re-invented it.

Breathing Easy Again

With iOS 18.6.1, Blood Oxygen returns. It's not just a health reading on your wrist — it's the result of legal trickery, creative engineering, and Apple's commitment to user experience.
The bigger battle with Masimo maybe hasn't gone away, but for now, users of Apple Watch can breathe easily: the feature they love is here to stay.