Apple Watch users frustrated by the sudden loss of the blood oxygen feature in the U.S. finally have a reason to celebrate. According to a new report from TechRadar, Apple has quietly restored the feature on the Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 — but not by updating the wearable itself.
Instead, Apple devised a clever iPhone software workaround that shifts part of the blood oxygen calculation process to the paired iPhone. This allows the feature to return to modern Apple Watches while avoiding the patent dispute that forced Apple to disable it in the first place.
Why Was the Feature Removed?
Earlier this year, Apple removed blood oxygen tracking from new Apple Watch units in the United States due to an ongoing Masimo patent infringement case over pulse oximetry technology. All Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 watches shipped after the ruling arrived with the feature disabled.
How Does the New Workaround Work?
According to the original TechRadar report, Apple’s latest software update offloads part of the blood oxygen reading process from the watch to the paired iPhone.
This subtle workaround appears to sidestep the exact method that was contested in the patent case — allowing the Blood Oxygen app to function again without violating legal restrictions.
Which Models Can Use It?
The workaround currently applies to the following Apple Watch models:
| Model | Blood Oxygen Support (With Workaround) |
|---|---|
| Apple Watch Series 9 | ✅ Yes |
| Apple Watch Series 10 | ✅ Yes |
| Apple Watch Ultra 2 | ✅ Yes |
Note: Watches sold outside the U.S. were never affected and continue to support the feature normally.
Why This Matters
For many users, blood oxygen monitoring is a key part of their sleep tracking and health monitoring routine. The sudden removal of the feature caused plenty of frustration — especially given the premium price of the latest Apple Watches.
This new workaround restores the full health toolset Apple Watch owners expect, without requiring a new hardware revision or replacement device.
How to Get It
To regain blood oxygen monitoring, users simply need to:
-
Update their paired iPhone to the latest version of iOS
-
Update the Apple Watch to the latest version of watchOS
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Reopen the Blood Oxygen app on the watch
If the workaround has rolled out in your region, the toggle will reappear in Settings → Privacy & Security → Health → Blood Oxygen Measurements.