Apple Watch 2: Sleep Tracking Feature Explained

The Apple Watch Series 2 can be used to track sleep, but not out of the box. Sleep tracking is available on watchOS 8 or later, and users can view their sleep data on the Sleep app on their watch. However, there are also third-party apps, such as SleepWatch, that can be downloaded to track sleep.

Sleep tracking apps for Apple Watch Series 2

The Apple Watch Series 2 can track your sleep when you wear it to bed. However, it is recommended that you ensure your Apple Watch is charged to at least 30% before going to bed. You can also turn on charging reminders to notify you when to charge your watch.

To track your sleep, you can use the Sleep app on your Apple Watch. This allows you to set up a sleep schedule, including a sleep goal, a wind-down period, and Sleep Focus, which limits distractions before bedtime. The Sleep app can also show you the amount of sleep you got, the time spent in each sleep stage, and your sleep average over the last 14 days.

In addition to the built-in Sleep app, there are several third-party sleep tracking apps available for the Apple Watch Series 2 on the App Store. Here are some options:

• AutoSleep: This app automatically tracks your sleep when you wear your Apple Watch to bed. It provides information such as sleep duration, sleep rating, sleep rings, heart rate, deep sleep, REM sleep, respiration rate, and sleep analysis. AutoSleep also offers total privacy, with no user analytics tracking or advertising plugins.
• Sleep Cycle: Sleep Cycle is an intelligent alarm clock that wakes you up during your lightest sleep phase, helping you feel more refreshed. It offers detailed sleep analysis, including sleep patterns, snoring and coughing detection, and premium features like relaxing sleep sounds and a sleep story library. Sleep Cycle also allows you to set sleep goals and provides a sleep score based on your sleep quality.
• Pillow: Pillow is another sleep tracking app that automatically registers sleep-awake data and syncs it with Apple Health. It offers a brief overview of your sleep data and can be helpful if you don't need detailed insights.

Sleep tracking with watchOS 8 or later

Sleep tracking is available on watchOS 8 or later. To use sleep tracking, make sure your Apple Watch is charged to at least 30% before going to bed. If your watch is charged to less than 30%, you will be prompted to charge it. You can also turn on Charging Reminders, which will remind you to charge your watch before your wind-down time and notify you when your watch is fully charged.

When you first create a sleep schedule, you can set up the following general settings:

• A sleep goal (how many hours of sleep you want to get)
• Whether or not to turn on Sleep Focus, which limits distractions before you go to bed and protects your sleep after you're in bed
• When to start winding down before bed, which gives you a bedtime reminder and turns on Sleep Focus

You can also create multiple sleep schedules, for example, one for weekdays and another for weekends. To change a sleep schedule, tap the current schedule. To add a sleep schedule, tap Add Schedule. To change your sleep goal, tap Sleep Goal, and set the amount of time you want to sleep. To change your Wind Down time, tap Wind Down, and set the amount of time you want the Sleep Focus to be active before bedtime.

With the Sleep app on Apple Watch, you can create sleep schedules to help you meet your sleep goals. Wear your watch to bed, and Apple Watch can estimate the time spent in each sleep stage—REM, Core, and Deep—as well as when you might have woken up. When you wake up, open the Sleep app to learn how much sleep you got and see your sleep trends over the past 14 days. You can also view your recent sleep data on your Apple Watch. Open the Sleep app on your watch, then turn the Digital Crown to view your Sleep Stages data, Time Asleep, and your Sleep Duration for the last 14 days.

When Sleep Tracking is on, your Apple Watch tracks your sleep and adds sleep data to the Health app on your iPhone. To see your sleep history on your iPhone, open the Health app, tap Browse, then tap Sleep. For more details, tap Show More Sleep Data to see the average time spent in each sleep stage. Your Apple Watch can also help track your breathing rate as you sleep, which can give you greater insight into your overall health.

Sleep tracking with watchOS 11.4 or later

The Sleep app on the Apple Watch can be used to create sleep schedules to help you meet your sleep goals. Wear your watch to bed, and Apple Watch can estimate the time spent in each sleep stage—REM, Core, and Deep—as well as when you might have woken up. When you wake up, open the Sleep app to learn how much sleep you got and see your sleep trends over the past 14 days.

To set up sleep tracking, you can open the Health app on your iPhone, tap Browse, then tap Sleep, and tap Get Started (below Set Up Sleep). Go to the Sleep app on your Apple Watch and follow the on-screen instructions. You can also create multiple sleep schedules—for example, one for weekdays and another for weekends.

If your Apple Watch is charged less than 30% before you go to bed, you will be prompted to charge it. In the morning, you can glance at the greeting to see how much charge remains. When you first create a sleep schedule, you can set up the following general settings: a sleep goal (how many hours of sleep you want to get), whether or not to turn on Sleep Focus, which limits distractions before you go to bed and protects your sleep after you're in bed, when to start winding down before bed, which gives you a bedtime reminder and turns on Sleep Focus, and sleep tracking, which uses your motion to detect sleep when you wear Apple Watch to bed.

In watchOS 11.4 or later, if you want your alarm to play out loud while you have Silent Mode turned on, tap Break Through Silent Mode. You can also open the Health app on your iPhone, tap Browse, tap Sleep, then tap Edit below Your Schedule to change your schedule. The changes apply only to your next wake-up alarm, after which your normal schedule resumes.

Sleep tracking with SleepWatch

SleepWatch is a sleep-tracking app that can be used with your smartphone or synced with your Apple Watch. It is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play, and can be downloaded for free.

SleepWatch offers advanced tracking and analysis of your sleep. It can monitor how rested, energised, and fatigued you feel, and how these moods are indicative of how well you slept. The app allows you to track your progress and see how your sleep is evolving over time. It can also track your sleeping heart rate, total restful sleep, sleep rhythm, and sleep disruptions. SleepWatch can also record sleep sounds such as snoring, coughing, and flatulence.

SleepWatch can be used as a digital sleep coach, providing personalised insights to help you get a better night's rest. It can make suggestions and personalise your sleep journey. Upon waking, SleepWatch provides a personalised sleep report, daily customised tips, and recommendations on how to improve your sleep. The app also features a smart alarm and bedtime function, allowing you to find your ideal bedtime and wake up during your optimal sleep stage, helping you to feel less groggy when you wake up.

SleepWatch can be used to track your sleep goals, such as falling asleep faster, improving snoring and breathing, and optimising your sleep and health. It can also be used to monitor your daily activities and lifestyle choices that can impact your sleep. While SleepWatch is free to download and use, most of the app's functions, such as sleep scores, smart alarms, and ongoing sleep analysis, require a paid subscription. The Premium Membership is available with a monthly or yearly subscription, which can be purchased through your iTunes Account.

Sleep tracking with Pillow

The Pillow app helps you track your sleep on Apple devices like the Apple Watch, iPhone, and iPad. It is a smart sleep tracker that can automatically analyze your sleep cycles when you wear your Apple Watch during sleep. It uses an advanced algorithm to monitor your movements and heart rate to wake you up at the lightest possible sleep stage.

Pillow's sleep analysis is combined with audio recordings and heart rate analysis to give you a comprehensive understanding of your sleep. The app can record important audio events such as snoring, sleep apnea, and sleep talking. It also allows you to explore trends about your sleep and compare your sleep quality with various Apple Health metrics that impact sleep.

The Pillow app is easy to use and features a beautiful interface and fun animations. It is well-integrated with HealthKit, making it a great choice for those who want to track their sleep patterns and improve their sleep quality. The app also provides a quality of sleep rating, which is not available on the Apple Watch's native sleep tracking feature.

To use Pillow as your primary sleep tracking app, you may need to launch it every morning to write the data to Apple Health. However, it can also auto-add sleep data as a secondary device when used with the Apple Watch's native sleep tracking.

Frequently asked questions