FDA Approves Apple Watch Hypertension Feature

Apple can now bring a blood pressure alert to some of its watches. The FDA gave the green light recently, and Apple first showed it off at its September 9 event alongside the slimmer iPhone Air.

Not every watch is included. The update will hit Series 9, 10, 11, and the Ultra 2 and Ultra 3. By the end of September, users in about 150 countries—including the U.S. and EU—should see it.

The watch uses its optical heart sensor. It checks how your blood vessels respond to your heartbeat. And here’s the thing—it runs quietly in the background for about 30 days. After that, if it spots consistent signs of high blood pressure, it sends a notification.

Apple warns it won’t catch every case. Still, it could help around a million people notice problems they didn’t know about.

High blood pressure often shows no symptoms. You might feel fine but still be at risk. This alert can push you to check in with your doctor or adjust daily habits. It doesn’t replace medical advice, but it’s a handy early warning.

This joins Apple’s other health tools like heart rate tracking, ECG, and oxygen monitoring. So, your watch is moving from just tracking fitness to actually helping with long-term health.

Reports say it could start next week. The update will likely come through the Apple Watch app or via iOS updates. Keep your watch and phone up to date, and you should get it automatically.

This FDA clearance marks a significant step for wearable health technology. It demonstrates how smartwatches are increasingly able to assist users in monitoring long-term health trends, rather than only recording short-term metrics. So, even though it’s not a doctor on your wrist, the Apple Watch may help you catch trends before they become serious. It’s another step toward using wearables for everyday health.