iOS 26.4 Adds Average Bedtime Metric and Restores Blood Oxygen to Health App Vitals Graph

Apple has released iOS 26.4, bringing new features focused on sleep tracking and health monitoring to iPhone users. The update introduces an “Average Bedtime” metric within the Health app’s Sleep section, and restores a previously missing feature: blood oxygen level readings in the Vitals overview.

Enhanced Sleep Tracking

The new Average Bedtime feature allows users to monitor their typical bedtime over a two-week period. This builds upon the existing functionality in iOS 26.3, which displayed average sleep time over the past seven days. The addition of daily bedtime data provides a more granular view of sleep patterns.

Did You Know? Apple first displayed average sleep time in iOS 26.3, but the new release supplements that data with a daily bedtime readout.

Restored Blood Oxygen Monitoring

Alongside the sleep improvements, Apple has re-integrated blood oxygen level readings into the Vitals section of the Health app. Previously, in iOS 26.3 and earlier versions of iOS 26, while a section for blood oxygen existed, the graph did not display the measurement.

The restoration of this feature follows a period where blood oxygen sensing was removed from the Apple Watch starting in early 2024 due to a legal dispute with Masimo. Apple was able to re-add blood oxygen readouts in August 2025, but these are currently limited to display on the iPhone, not directly on the Apple Watch in the U.S.

Expert Insight: The reintroduction of blood oxygen monitoring, even with current limitations, demonstrates Apple’s commitment to health features despite ongoing legal challenges. This suggests a strategic approach to navigating intellectual property disputes while continuing to deliver valuable health data to users.

iOS 26.4 is currently available to developers and public beta testers, with a wider public release anticipated in the spring.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Average Bedtime metric?

The Average Bedtime metric, added in iOS 26.4, displays the time a user typically goes to bed, calculated over a two-week period, within the Sleep section of the Health app.

Why was blood oxygen monitoring removed from the Apple Watch?

Blood oxygen sensing was removed from the Apple Watch starting in early 2024 due to an import ban secured by Masimo, who accused Apple of infringing on their patents related to blood oxygen sensing technology.

Where can users now view their blood oxygen levels?

Blood oxygen levels are now visible on the line graph overview within the Vitals section of the Health app on the iPhone, after being re-added in iOS 26.4.

How might these incremental health tracking improvements influence consumer expectations for wearable technology and smartphone integration?