Does my Apple Watch update remove the oxygen sensor?

The blood oxygen sensor can not be physically removed, it can only be disabled for existing Apple Watch models if the watch has the modified watchOS software installed. But, this will only be the case for models sold after January 18th 2024.

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• The ability to measure blood oxygen is no longer available on Apple Watch units sold by Apple in the United States beginning January 18, 2024. These are indicated with part numbers ending in LW/A. Learn how to identify your Apple Watch.

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copied from: Watch - Apple

It was not removed by the last update. It should be working. If it’s not working you have other issues to deal with. Try restarting your Watch.

Restart Apple Watch - Apple Support

All current owners who purchased their series 9 BEFORE 1/18/2024 will NOT have the O2 feature disabled, period, end of story. As of 1/18/2024 Apple neither promotes, advertises or makes any reference to O2 for the series 9 and Ultra models.

So no, there will be no refunds to registered owners because nothing has changed for them. If you buy the watch today you will know going in that it does not have the feature. And the update doesn’t disable the feature. That is accomplished by a firmware update applied to watches sold on or after 1/18/2024.

mbb3977 wrote:

So if I buy a series 9 from Best Buy or Amazon today run Apples update it can disable the O2 Functionality?

If anything Apple should be refunding money to all the Series 9 registered users. Misleading and being irresponsible is not the way the company should be run. Tim collects his bonus's for WHAT?

[Edited by Moderator]

No, it does not matter where you activate your watch. If bought in the US, the Blood Oxygen app is disabled for now.

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• The ability to measure blood oxygen is no longer available on Apple Watch units sold by Apple in the United States beginning January 18, 2024. These are indicated with part numbers ending in LW/A. Learn how to identify your Apple Watch.

...

copied from: watchOS - Feature Availability - Apple

Simple answer is NO, your watch will not have its O2 sensor disabled. Only watches sold January 18 or later will experience this. Fact

daaron273 wrote:

No it’s not I have the series 7, and updated it all the time and still use my oxygen sensor all the time also. Actually I just used it before posting this comment.

I think we’re talking about different scenarios here. If your series 7 has the oximeter feature it will remain UNTIL it replaced for repair, battery, or damage reasons. The replacement will not have the feature enabled.

daaron273 wrote:

No it’s not I have the series 7, and updated it all the time and still use my oxygen sensor all the time also. Actually I just used it before posting this comment.

That's because the ban only applies to the Watch 9 and the Ultra 2. The person Ingo2271 was answering stated they had an Ultra 2.

The watch SE, 2nd gen never had either of those features:

Apple Watch SE (2nd generation) - Tech Specs - Apple Support

An update did not remove the sensor. The federal court order only restricts the import and sale of the feature. If your watch was sold with the feature it still has the feature.

Resrick2 wrote:

While an OS update will not remove the feature... apparently getting a purchased watch repaired will.

My parents bought the watch specifically for the O2 feature, AND purchased AppleCare+.

Well after only a few months, the watch stopped charging. Took it to the geniuses and they couldn't figure it out and had to send it in for repair. But my parents were informed that when they got the watch back, the O2 feature would be disabled. Even though that's why they bought the watch at all. When explaining this, the genius said "well then don't get it repaired". How can you use a watch that doesn't charge? What a rip.

I suspect if they replace the Apple Watch, with a new Series 9, then they might be required to provide one that has the O2 sensor disabled.

If they actually repair the same Apple Watch, then it might be able to still have the O2 sensor.

HOWEVER, you are also saying this about Series 8 and old Apple Watches, which are NOT banned by the FTC, and for those I would like to know if you have personal 1st hand experience with a Series 8 or older being sent in for repair that has had the O2 sensor removed.

Something went unexpectedly wrong with your pairing and/or iOS update. I’ve two watches with the feature and they paired fine with two new iPhones. The blood oxygen sensor was not deleted nor app were deleted.

TL15H wrote:

Your statement is incorrect. My watch was purchased in 2021. After the most recent update I had to do to pair the watch to a new device, the sensor was removed. The widget on the watch face was absent and the app was completely gone from the device. I called Apple which confirmed that’s what happened but was an error and provided steps to reinstate it.

Sorry, but your statement is incorrect. There was a glitch during your update and Apple provided steps to clear the glitch. Watch updates do NOT disable the O2 sensor in watches that were purchased with it enabled.

If their watch is a series 9 or Ultra 2 and it has to be replaced (not just fixed but actually swapped out with another watch) then yes, since due to the current legal restraint it would have to be replaced with a 9/Ultra 2 that has the feature disabled. There is no way around that. This isn’t a choice that Apple made because they wanted to. They legally can not provide a series 9 or Ultra 2 with the feature active. This would include replacements. So knowing that legal limitation your parents would have to decide if not having that one feature for at least the duration of this legal battle is enough to not have the watch replaced and apparently having an uncharged. The question is if their watch was truly repaired versus replaced is the feature truly suddenly disabled. I suspect if it’s disabled they received a replacement.

It’s possible they could try their hand at trying to get a refund for the watch since they can’t be provided a watch with the exact same features they are trying to have repaired under warranty but it’s an uphill battle that doesn’t go in their favor thanks to the terms and conditions stating that “Features are subject to change”….which this would unfortunately fall under. Isn’t necessarily impossible but probably won’t be easy or worth the frustration.

I now have 10.5 and still there.

CyberTulip7 wrote:

Just purchased Apple series 6 specifically for the blood oxygen feature and found out it’s no longer available but is available in other countries. Why is that? Also I hope this feature will be reinstated.

There was a patent dispute between Apple and another company. Apple lost. The court ruling only applies to the U.S. The patent expires in 2028. At that point, Apple should be free to use the technology again. They may also come to some agreement before then.