Apple Enhances Health App with Average Bedtime Metric and Unified Vitals Overview in iOS 26.4
Apple’s forthcoming iOS 26.4 update introduces significant enhancements to the Health app, focusing on sleep tracking and vital signs monitoring. These updates aim to provide users with a more comprehensive understanding of their health patterns and improve overall wellness management.
Introduction of the Average Bedtime Metric
A notable addition in iOS 26.4 is the Average Bedtime metric within the Health app’s sleep tracking feature. This new metric calculates the average time a user goes to bed over a two-week period, offering insights into sleep schedule consistency. By comparing the actual bedtime with the usual bedtime, users can assess how regular sleep patterns influence sleep quality over time.
The Average Bedtime metric is presented in a new Sleep Highlight card, which juxtaposes the user’s actual bedtime against their typical bedtime. This visual representation simplifies the identification of deviations from regular sleep schedules, enabling users to make informed adjustments to enhance sleep quality.
Complementing Existing Sleep Metrics
This new feature complements the existing seven-day average sleep duration metric introduced in iOS 26.3. Together, these metrics provide a holistic view of both the quantity and consistency of sleep. Users can now conveniently compare total sleep duration and bedtime regularity in a single interface, eliminating the need to navigate multiple charts.
Unified Health Vitals Overview
In addition to sleep tracking enhancements, iOS 26.4 updates the Health app’s Vitals overview in the United States by reintegrating blood oxygen data into the daily line graph. Previously, blood oxygen readings were displayed in a separate section due to a patent dispute with Masimo, which led to an import ban and the removal of on-watch blood oxygen measurements in early 2024. Although Apple reinstated phone-side reporting in August 2025, the integration into the main Vitals overview was pending until now.
With this update, the Vitals overview now reflects all tracked health signals together, providing a more cohesive and comprehensive view of a user’s health metrics. It’s important to note that, due to the ongoing restrictions, direct blood oxygen measurement on the Apple Watch remains unavailable in the U.S. Users can access these readings on their iPhone within the Health app after syncing supported data.
Availability and Release Timeline
As of now, iOS 26.4 is available for developers and public beta testers. Apple plans a wider public release in the spring, aiming to make these health-focused enhancements accessible to all users.
Conclusion
The introduction of the Average Bedtime metric and the unified Vitals overview in iOS 26.4 underscore Apple’s commitment to advancing health monitoring capabilities. By providing users with detailed insights into their sleep patterns and vital signs, these updates empower individuals to make informed decisions about their health and well-being.
