Level 1

74 points

Latest update (11.6.1) doesn’t add Blood Oxygen app / capabilities to Apple Watch Series 9

One app that I really need is the Blood Oxygen app; I have sleep apnea that is being treated by a CPAP, and it helps to have constant readings of my blood oxygen levels. Today I saw breathless headlines on 9to5Mac and other Apple sites touting how the latest iOS and watchOS updates would add the ability for US users to “work around” Apple’s patent dispute and finally use the Blood Oxygen app for level tracking.

I updated my iPhone 16 Pro Max to iOS 18.6.1 and my Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS) to watchOS 11.6.1. When I attempt to install the Blood Oxygen app from the Watch app store, I get this helpful message: “The Blood Oxygen app is no longer available. Learn more in the Health app on your iPhone.”

Any ideas? Did Apple send out the update and forget to put the app back in the Watch app store?

Frustrating.

Apple Watch Series 9, watchOS 11

Posted on Aug 14, 2025 11:18 AM

Top-ranking reply

jblumel

Level 1

18 points

Posted on Aug 14, 2025 12:51 PM

After applying the updates to both devices, I initially also got this message from the watch app. I restarted both devices again, and after fiddling with it a bit, the app on the watch started working to initiate a recording. It may have just taken it a while to sort things out. It did also seem to record a "background" reading prior to the watch app beginning to work to initiate recordings.

The results ("recordings") are still only viewable in the Health app on the iPhone — under Respiratory or, in my case at least, All Health Data — but it's better than no data at all.

I would say to make sure you have the watch app installed, check your settings to make sure it's turned on, and just try periodically to see if it has started working.

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27 replies

KiltedTim

Level 10

220,530 points

Aug 14, 2025 01:05 PM in response to Malt-O-Mac

My series 10, purchased in September of 2024, did get the feature today after updating my phone and watch.

Aug 14, 2025 01:12 PM in response to Steven Sande

My guess is - they need the servers to update at midnight Pacific time, then it will trigger this to start working.

Aug 14, 2025 03:00 PM in response to Laura Fowler

That worked! THANKS!

Aug 14, 2025 03:32 PM in response to Steven Sande

You’re welcome, I’m glad it worked for you.

Aug 14, 2025 04:43 PM in response to Steven Sande

Yes, running the ECG app activated the new Blood Oxygen app on my Series 10 watch. This fix should be widely circulated.

Aug 14, 2025 06:24 PM in response to Laura Fowler

Running an ECG also worked for me.

Aug 15, 2025 01:33 AM in response to Steven Sande

Ugh! That did not work for my series 10 watch.

Aug 15, 2025 06:18 AM in response to photojeep1722

@photojeep1722 - if the Blood Oxygen app is not on your wife's watch, go to the APP Store on her watch and you can download it from there.

msquatch

Level 1

8 points

Aug 15, 2025 08:40 AM in response to Laura Fowler

This also fixed my issue.

Aug 15, 2025 10:55 AM in response to Laura Fowler

You are exactly right. I did this after I read what you’d said and now mine works too. Thanks so much.

Aug 16, 2025 05:19 PM in response to sneirbo2k7

This worked Perfectly on my wife's watch as well! Thanks

Aug 20, 2025 12:34 PM in response to sneirbo2k7

Thank you! This worked perfectly. If only Apple had included that little morsel of information when they put out the update.

Thank you again!

Latest update (11.6.1) doesn’t add Blood Oxygen app / capabilities to Apple Watch Series 9