Sleep Apnea Detection on Apple Watch Now Available in iOS 18.1 beta 6

Last month, Apple announced a new sleep apnea detection feature for the Apple Watch. The featurewas still not available to iOS 18.1 beta users. However, iOS 18.1 beta 6 finally enables sleep apnea detection for compatible Apple Watch models paired with an iPhone running the beta software.

Sleep Apnea Detection on Apple Watch

As confirmed by 9to5Mac, iOS 18.1 beta 6 allows users to turn on sleep apnea detection. After updating iPhone to the latest available beta, users will see the option to turn on sleep apnea detection in the Sleep settings of the Watch app.

iPhone and Apple Watch users who weren't in the beta were already able to use sleep apnea detection, but The feature just rolled out today for those using iOS 18.1 beta. Of course, you need a compatible Apple Watch. In this case, sleep apnea detection works with the Apple Watch Series 9 and later, as well as the Apple Watch Ultra 2.

However, like other health features, it requires regulatory approval in each country. For this reason, it is not available everywhere.

The feature relies on the Apple Watch accelerometer, which is able to detect potential breathing disorders during sleep. The feature requires wearing the Apple Watch for several nights before you can receive sleep apnea notifications. Here's how Apple describes it:

Sleep is an important area of health because it affects a person’s overall physical and mental well-being. Sleep apnea is a common disorder in which breathing stops momentarily during sleep, preventing the body from receiving enough oxygen. The condition is estimated to affect more than 1 billion people worldwide and remains largely undiagnosed. If left untreated, it can have serious health consequences over time, including an increased risk of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and heart problems.

Breathing abnormalities are an innovative new metric on Apple Watch that uses the accelerometer to detect small movements in your wrist that are associated with interruptions in normal breathing during sleep. Every 30 days, Apple Watch analyzes breathing patterns and notifies users if there are persistent signs of moderate or severe sleep apnea so they can talk to their doctor about next steps, including potential diagnosis and treatment.

Apple says sleep apnea detection on Apple Watch is now available in more than 150 countries and regions, with more to come. For a full list of supported countries, visit Apple's website.