How to enable Apple Watch health features not available in China
by Ryan Carter Updated on 2026-10-20 / Update for Change Location
Apple Watch has quietly turned into one of the most capable health-monitoring devices most people own. But a lot of users open their Health app and find that a feature they read about online simply isn't there. Usually, that comes down to one of three things: your software isn't updated, your specific watch model doesn't support that sensor, or the feature hasn't been cleared yet for your Apple Watch region. This guide walks through exactly how to enable Apple Watch health features, what's changed with Apple Watch Series 11 and the new Series 12, and why availability still varies from country to country.
- What Health Features Does Apple Watch Offer by Region?
- How to Enable Apple Watch Health Features Not Available in Your Region
What Health Features Does Apple Watch Offer by Region?
Not every Apple Watch health feature is available everywhere on day one. Several of them, especially anything that flags a possible medical condition, are treated as regulated health tools, which means Apple has to get clearance from each country's health authority before switching them on there. That's why the same Apple Watch model can behave differently depending on where it's activated.
| Health Feature | China (Mainland) | Hong Kong | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECG | Available | Available | Available |
| AFib History | Available | Available | Available |
| Blood Oxygen | Model/region dependent | Available | Available |
| Hypertension Notifications | Pending regulatory clearance | Available | Available |
| Sleep Apnea Notifications | Pending regulatory clearance | Available | Available |
| Vitals | Available | Available | Available |
A couple of notes worth knowing:
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Hypertension and sleep apnea notifications rolled out to more than 150 countries with watchOS 26, but Mainland China wasn't part of that first wave because local regulatory review was still in progress. This is the same pattern Apple followed with the ECG app and AFib History a few years earlier, before they were eventually cleared.
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Blood Oxygen availability isn't really a "China vs. US" story it's tied to a long-running patent dispute with Masimo in the US specifically. On US models affected by that dispute, the sensor data is now calculated on the paired iPhone instead of the watch itself, and results show up in the Health app's Respiratory section rather than on your wrist.
How to Enable Apple Watch Health Features Not Available in Your Region
Tenorshare iAnyGo is a virtual location tool that lets you change your iPhone's GPS location to a different region without physically travelling there. If certain Apple Watch health features are unavailable in your location, you can use iAnyGo to test whether switching to a supported region makes them accessible. Simply connect your iPhone to your computer, select a supported location, and check the Health app for the feature you want to enable. However, changing your GPS location does not guarantee access, as Apple may also consider device compatibility, software versions, and other eligibility requirements.
How to Enable Apple:
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Download and Install iAnyGo
Download and install Tenorshare iAnyGo on your computer, launch the software, and click "Enter" to get started.
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Connect Your iPhone to iAnyGo
Use a USB cable to connect your iPhone to your computer. Follow the on-screen instructions to establish the connection.
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Change Your GPS Location to a Supported Region
Select a region where Apple Watch hypertension notifications are available, such as Hong Kong or another supported location. Then, use a GPS location tool to change your iPhone's virtual location to the selected region.
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Open the Health app on your iPhone and navigate to the health feature settings to enable hypertension notifications.
If the feature is available in your region, you should now see the Hypertension Notifications option and complete the setup process. After enabling the feature, you can click the Restore button in iAnyGo or restart your iPhone to return to your actual location. By using Tenorshare iAnyGo virtual location technology, you can bypass regional availability limitations and experience Apple Watch health features without physically traveling to a supported country or region.
- If the Health app still displays a region availability message, your virtual location may not have updated properly. Return to iAnyGo and move your virtual location a few steps before checking the Health app again.
- Changing your virtual location does not guarantee access to region-restricted Apple Watch health features. Availability may also depend on your country, device compatibility, software version, and Apple's eligibility requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Does Apple Watch track your health?
Yes. Apple Watch continuously tracks metrics like heart rate, sleep, blood oxygen (where available), and activity, and uses that data to power features like Vitals, Sleep Score, and heart health notifications.
What health features does Apple Watch have?
Core features include the ECG app, AFib History, irregular rhythm and high/low heart rate notifications, hypertension notifications, sleep apnea notifications, Blood Oxygen, Sleep Score, Vitals, and women's health tracking, with a readiness score newly added on Series 12.
Are Apple Watch health features available in China?
Most are, including ECG, AFib History, and Vitals. Hypertension and sleep apnea notifications are still pending local regulatory clearance in Mainland China, even though they're already live in Hong Kong and the US.
What are the new health features in Apple Watch Series 11?
Series 11 introduced hypertension notifications and Sleep Score, both of which were also extended to Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 via watchOS 26.
What are the new health features in watchOS 27?
watchOS 27 adds a readiness score, an updated Heart Rate app, new Readiness and Recap apps, and Siri AI with the most significant heart-rate sensing improvements showing up on Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4.
