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

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.

Mine also wasn’t activating and I tried restarting both devices. Then I read where running an ECG might activate it, so that’s what I did and it worked.

After the update the other day it didn't work, but today I noticed that new Iphone update came out 18.6.2 and Yay the feature now works :)

Did you read this: An update on Blood Oxygen for Apple Watch in the U.S. - Apple

I believe this only applies to devices that shipped without that feature. If your watch originally had that feature and it was removed after purchase due to the patent dispute, I don't believe it will get it back.

Steven Sande wrote:

My watch is one of those with the model number ending in LW/A that this update is allegedly supposed to re-enable.

I could be wrong, but that is not my understanding.

My understanding is that if the watch originally came with blood oxygen monitoring, this update does not re-enable it.

This update enables a different method of monitoring blood oxygen, but only on devices sold AFTER the feature was removed.

So, if I originally had the Blood Oxygen app on my Watch and removed it because it was essentially worthless due to the patent dispute, I can’t reinstall it? Is that what you’re telling me, KiltedTim?

That's my understanding, yes.

Edit: Just to add, the patent dispute has NOT been settled. This is an alternate method that the courts have ruled does not infringe on the original patent. Devices that came with that feature prior to the ban are still banned from having it until and unless the dispute is resolved.

My wife has an Apple Watch 10 and an iPhone 14. After installing both iPhone and Apple Watch updates, her iPhone says the app is not activated and it doesn't even show up on her Apple Watch.

When she gets home I'll have her try the ECG method to see if it works but this fix seems to be for those who can see the the app on their watch but it doesn't run. The Blood Oxygen app isn't even on her watch so I think it's a long shot at best but thank you for the info. I hope it works for her.

Watch Series 10, iPhone 11 Pro. Running the ECG worked for me, after updating and rebooting both the watch and the phone. The error message disappeared from the watch and it ran the Blood Oxygen after doing those three things. The results of blood oxygen show up on the phone in the Health app as Steven commented.

Thank you, Laura, and Steven for confirming, I would not have made this work without your tip!

You don't need to install the app. It's handled differently now.

Open the app that's already on the watch after updating. The icon looks like this:

App already on my watch (series 10) gives the same message The Blood Oxygen app is no longer available. Learn more in the Health app. The health app is not helpful.

And additional info is here:

https://www.theverge.com/news/759158/apple-watch-blood-oxygen-redesign-import-ban-wearables-smartwatch

My Series 10 (bought in December 2024) did not have the feature enabled. The update has not (as yet) re-enabled it.