Apple Watch Series 9: Sleep Tracking Feature Explained

The Apple Watch Series 9 can track your sleep, but there are some limitations. With the release of watchOS 9, Apple added sleep stages to its tracking suite, allowing users to analyze when they were in REM, Core, or Deep Sleep and when they were awake throughout the night. Additionally, the Apple Watch Series 9 features a temperature sensor for tracking users' wrist temperature overnight, which can provide insights into overall health and, for those who menstruate, help with cycle tracking accuracy and ovulation estimates. However, some users have reported issues with sleep detection, and the watch requires a minimum of 4 hours of sleep to track. While the Apple Watch tracks sleep quantity, it may not provide the same level of insight or data interpretation as other sleep trackers or third-party apps.

How to set up sleep tracking on the Apple Watch Series 9

The Apple Watch Series 9 does have a built-in sleep tracker. Here is how you can set up sleep tracking on the device:

Firstly, ensure that your Apple Watch is charged to at least 30% before going to bed with Sleep Tracking enabled. You must wear your Apple Watch to sleep for at least 1 hour each night for the tracking to work.

Next, open the Health app on your iPhone. Tap 'Get Started' under 'Set Up Sleep' and then tap 'Next'. Here, you can set your sleep goals, i.e., the number of hours you would like to sleep. You can also set your bedtime and wake-up times.

You can also set up Sleep Focus, which reduces distractions on your iPhone and Apple Watch by simplifying your Lock Screen. It also limits distractions before your scheduled bedtime. You can also give certain people or apps permission to notify you.

To set a new wake-up time on your Apple Watch, tap the wake-up time, turn the Digital Crown to set a new time, and then tap again to confirm. If you do not want your Apple Watch to wake you up in the morning, you can turn off the alarm. You can also change the vibration or ringtone by tapping 'Sounds & Haptics' and then choosing a ringtone.

To view your sleep history, open the Health app on your iPhone or iPad. Tap 'Browse' at the bottom of the screen and then tap 'Sleep'. If you have Sleep saved as a favorite, you can access it from the Summary page in the Health app. The bar graph is set to 'D' for daily by default. Tap 'W' to view your sleep history for the past week, 'M' for the past month, or '6M' for the past 6 months.

To view your sleep data on the Apple Watch, open the Sleep app and then turn the Digital Crown to view your Sleep Stages data, Time Asleep, and your Sleep Duration for the last 14 days.

Third-party sleep tracking apps for the Apple Watch Series 9

The Apple Watch Series 9 does have sleep-tracking capabilities. The watch has a built-in Sleep app, which can be used to set a sleep schedule, including a sleep goal, bedtime, and wake-up time. The Sleep app also has a Sleep Mode, which hides the watch face and instead shows the current time and alarm time. Sleep tracking is available on watchOS 8 or later.

However, there are also third-party sleep-tracking apps available for the Apple Watch Series 9, which can offer more data and insights than the built-in Sleep app. Here are some examples:

• AutoSleep: This app provides daily briefings and sleep trends over time, with advanced tracking options like heart rate variability and sleep dip. It also offers a premium subscription for more advanced tracking options and reports.
• Sleep Pulse 3: Sleep Pulse 3 is a standalone sleep app that tracks your heart rate and motion. It provides a sleep view that can be accessed in the middle of the night, showing your resting heart rate and how long you've been sleeping. It also has features for tracking naps and recording sleep talk.
• Sleep++: Sleep++ offers data on sleep trends, cycles, phases, and a detailed timeline of your sleep, including when you were restful, restless, and awake. It also has a "Readiness Score" to help you know when to take it easy and recharge. Sleep++ is free, with an optional in-app purchase to remove advertisements.
• Pillow: Pillow is another third-party sleep-tracking app for the Apple Watch, which offers data on sleep trends.

How to view sleep data on the Apple Watch Series 9

The Apple Watch Series 9 does offer sleep tracking. To view your sleep data on the Apple Watch Series 9, follow these steps:

Firstly, ensure that Sleep Tracking is enabled on your Apple Watch Series 9. To do this, open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, tap 'My Watch', then tap 'Sleep'.

Next, make sure your Apple Watch is charged to at least 30% before you go to bed, as this is the minimum battery level required for Sleep Tracking. You can turn on Charging Reminders to remind you to charge your watch before your wind-down time and notify you when it is fully charged.

Now, wear your Apple Watch to bed. It is important that you wear your watch for at least 1 hour each night, as this is the minimum duration required for Sleep Tracking.

In the morning, open the Sleep app on your Apple Watch. You can do this by pressing the crown to view all your apps and selecting the blue bed icon. Scroll down to 'Analysis', where you will see a graph, as well as your Time Asleep and time in sleep stages. You can also turn the Digital Crown to view your Sleep Stages data, Time Asleep, and your Sleep Duration for the last 14 days.

To view your sleep history for the past week, month, or 6 months, open the Health app on your iPhone or iPad and tap 'Browse' at the bottom of the screen. Then, tap 'Sleep'. The bar graph is set to 'D' for daily by default. Tap 'W' at the top of the chart to view data for the past week, 'M' for the past month, or '6M' for the past 6 months.

You can also view more detailed sleep data by tapping 'Show More Sleep Data' and selecting a category to review additional details. This includes the average time spent in each sleep stage, your Sleep Goal, Time Asleep, Heart Rate, Respiratory Rate, and nightly wrist temperature data.

How to set sleep goals on the Apple Watch Series 9

The Apple Watch Series 9 can track your sleep and help you set sleep goals. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to set sleep goals on your Apple Watch Series 9:

Enable Sleep Tracking:

Firstly, ensure that Sleep Tracking is enabled on your Apple Watch Series 9. To do this, open the Watch app on your paired iPhone. Navigate to the Sleep section and turn on the "Track Sleep with Apple Watch" option.

Charge Your Apple Watch:

Before going to bed, make sure your Apple Watch is charged to at least 30%. If the watch is charged below 30%, you will be prompted to charge it.

Wear Your Watch to Bed:

Wear your Apple Watch to bed for at least one hour each night. The watch will automatically track your sleep and provide data such as sleep duration, sleep stages, and respiratory rate.

Set Up Sleep Schedules:

You can create personalized sleep schedules to help meet your sleep goals. Open the Sleep app on your Apple Watch or the Health app on your iPhone. Set your desired bedtime and wake-up times by turning the Digital Crown to adjust the time.

Adjust Sleep Goals:

To adjust your sleep goal, open the Health app on your iPhone. Tap "Browse" at the bottom of the screen, then tap "Sleep." Tap "Full Schedule & Options," followed by "Sleep Goal" under Additional Details. Adjust the amount of time you want to sleep, then tap "Sleep Goal" again to save your changes.

Use Sleep Focus:

To reduce distractions, you can enable Sleep Focus. This will simplify your Lock Screen and limit distractions before your scheduled bedtime. You can also set a Wind Down time, which will activate Sleep Focus and reduce distractions during that period.

By following these steps, you can effectively set and work towards your sleep goals using your Apple Watch Series 9.

How to adjust your sleep schedule on the Apple Watch Series 9

The Apple Watch Series 9 can track your sleep and help you create sleep schedules to meet your sleep goals. Here are the steps to adjust your sleep schedule on the Apple Watch Series 9:

• Ensure your Apple Watch is charged to at least 30% before going to bed. If it's below this threshold, you will be prompted to charge it.
• Open the Sleep app on your Apple Watch.
• Tap the sleep-alarm-icon in the upper-left corner.
• Tap on the current schedule to change it.
• Tap on "Wake Up" or "Bedtime" to adjust your wake-up time or bedtime. You can turn the Digital Crown to set a new time and then tap to confirm.
• If you want to change the days for your schedule, tap your schedule, then tap "Active On" and select the desired days.
• You can also adjust your wind-down time, which is the time before your scheduled bedtime when you start to wind down and limit distractions. Open the Health app on your iPhone, tap "Browse," then "Sleep," and tap "Wind Down" under "Additional Details." Adjust the time as needed and tap "Wind Down" to save your changes.
• If you need to make changes to your sleep schedule, you can update your full schedule or just the "Next Wake Up Only." Changes made to the full schedule will apply to all future days, while changes to "Next Wake Up Only" will only apply to the following day.
• To turn off your sleep schedule, go to the Sleep app and tap the sleep-alarm-icon. Under "Full Schedule," tap "Sleep Schedule" to turn it off.
• To view your sleep history and trends, open the Health app on your iPhone or iPad. Tap "Browse" and then "Sleep" to see your sleep data for the past 14 days.

Frequently asked questions