The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted clearance for Apple’s new hypertension notifications feature on the Apple Watch.This enables the Watch to passively monitor for signs of high blood pressure (“hypertension”) and alert users if consistent indicators are found.How it works:
The feature uses the Watch’s optical heart sensor to assess how a user’s blood vessels respond to individual heartbeats.Over a 30-day period, data are collected and analyzed by an algorithm running in the background. If it detects patterns consistent with chronic high blood pressure, the user receives a notification.Which devices & rollout:
It will be available via watchOS 26 and compatible with Apple Watch Series 9, 10, 11, and Ultra 2 & 3.The rollout is global, planned for over 150 countries and regions.

Recommendations for users:
If a user receives a “possible hypertension” alert, Apple recommends confirming via traditional blood pressure measurements (using a cuff) over a period of 7 days, then discussing results with a healthcare provider.