Apple Revives Blood Glucose Monitoring Feature on Apple Watch

• The blood glucose monitoring feature is being revived on the Apple Watch.
• The update became possible after the recent decision of the U.S. regulatory agency.
• Users can activate the new feature through iOS 18.6.1.

On September 15, 2025, Apple announced the release of the long-awaited update iOS 18.6.1, which restores the blood glucose monitoring feature for users of the Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2. This feature had been removed 18 months ago due to legal issues with the company Masimo.

The update became possible after the recent decision of the U.S. regulatory agency, which allowed Apple to introduce a new version of the feature. Users can activate this feature after installing iOS 18.6.1 on their iPhone and watchOS 11.6.1 on their Apple Watch. This measurement will be stored in the "Breathing" section of the Health app.

The iOS 18.6.1 update is available for all iPhones released since 2018, including the iPhone Xs, Xs Max, and XR. The update can be downloaded through the settings on the iPhone.

This change is significant for users who can now receive blood glucose data securely on their iPhones. Previously, this feature was unavailable due to legal restrictions. Apple is actively expanding the medical capabilities of its devices, including new features for detecting apnea during sleep and improving hearing in AirPods.

Tags: Technology/Devices