Apple released iOS 18.6.1 on Thursday after the tech giant mentioned this latest update to its mobile software in a blog post earlier today. The update introduces a redesigned blood oxygen experience to iPhones paired with certain Apple Watches, but not much else.
You can download iOS 18.6.1 by going to Settings, then tapping General. Next, select Software Update, then tap Update Now and follow the prompts on your screen.
People with an Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10 or Apple Watch Ultra 2 can also download WatchOS 11.6.1 to bring the new blood oxygen app to their device. Apple wrote online that the update won't affect Apple Watches that include the original blood oxygen feature or people who bought an Apple Watch outside the US.
"This update was enabled by a recent U.S. Customs ruling," Apple wrote. "Following this update, sensor data from the Blood Oxygen app on Apple Watch will be measured and calculated on the paired iPhone, and results can be viewed in the Respiratory section of the Health app."
Apple disabled the blood oxygen feature in January 2024, after an import ban sparked by a patent dispute between Apple and the company Masimo.
Here are the full release notes for iOS 18.6.1.
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.
For more iOS news, here are my first impressions of the beta version of iOS 26, how to enable call screening in the beta and all the new features Apple said it will bring to your device later this year.
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