Apple Watch Series 6: Sleep Tracking Explained

The Apple Watch Series 6 can track sleep through the Sleep app, which is available on watchOS 8 or later. The Sleep app can be used to track sleep by wearing the watch to bed, turning on Sleep Tracking in the Watch app, and setting the device to Sleep Focus. The Sleep app can also be used to set up a sleep schedule, with options to customise bedtime and wake-up times, as well as wind-down reminders. The Health app on iPhone can be used to view sleep data, including sleep duration, sleep stages, and sleep quality. The Sleep app on Apple Watch Series 6 also provides insights into the user's heart rate and respiratory rate during sleep.

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Sleep tracking with Apple Watch: Wear your watch to bed to track your sleep

To track your sleep with the Apple Watch, you need to wear it to bed. It's as simple as that. The Apple Watch will then track your sleep and add sleep data to the Health app on your iPhone. 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.

To set up sleep tracking, you need to create a sleep schedule. This involves setting a sleep goal (how many hours of sleep you want to get), turning on Sleep Focus, and setting a bedtime reminder. Sleep Focus limits distractions before your scheduled bedtime and protects your sleep after you're in bed. You can also set a Wind Down period before your bedtime, during which Sleep Focus will turn off the watch display and limit distractions.

Once you've set up sleep tracking, you can view your sleep history and data in the Health app on your iPhone. Tap Browse at the bottom of the screen, then tap Sleep. Here, you can view your sleep history for the past week, month, or six months. You can also tap Show More Sleep Data and select a category to review additional sleep details, such as the time and percentage you spent Awake or in REM, Core, or Deep sleep.

In addition to sleep duration and sleep stages, the Apple Watch can also track your heart rate and respiratory rate in relation to your time spent asleep. With certain Apple Watch models, you can also compare changes in your nightly wrist temperature data.

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View sleep history: Check the amount of sleep you got and sleep stages

To view your sleep history on your Apple Watch Series 6, you can open the Sleep app. Here, you can see the amount of sleep you got the night before, your sleep trends over the past 14 days, and the time spent in each sleep stage.

If you want to see more detailed data, you can use the Health app on your iPhone. Open the Health app and tap "Browse" at the bottom of the screen. From here, you can tap "Respiratory" and then "Respiratory Rate" to view your breathing rate data while sleeping. To view your sleep history, tap "Sleep" and then "Show More Sleep Data" to see additional details such as the time and percentage you spent awake or in REM, Core, or Deep sleep. You can also view your sleep data for the past week, month, or 6 months by tapping D, W, M, or 6M.

Additionally, you can use the Sleep app on your Apple Watch to create sleep schedules and set sleep goals. This feature helps you wind down at the end of the day and limits notifications to reduce distractions before bedtime. You can also set up Sleep Focus, which turns off the watch display before your scheduled bedtime.

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Heart and respiratory rate: View your heart and respiratory rate in relation to sleep

The Apple Watch Series 6 can track your heart rate and respiratory rate while you sleep. This is done through the Sleep app on the watch, which can be viewed by turning the Digital Crown. To view your heart rate and respiratory rate, open the Health app on your iPhone or iPad and tap "Browse" at the bottom of the screen. Then, tap "Respiratory" under Health Categories, followed by "Respiratory Rate".

The respiratory rate tracking feature in watchOS 8 tells you the number of breaths you take per minute while you are asleep. This number is typically higher when your body requires more oxygen, such as during exercise, and lower when you are resting, especially while you sleep. If your sleeping respiratory rate is higher than normal, it could indicate unhealthy lungs.

Your Apple Watch also checks for irregular rhythms in your heart rate and will send you a notification if it detects any. Irregular rhythms could indicate atrial fibrillation (Afib), where the heart's upper chambers beat out of sync with the lower chambers. You can also be notified when your heart rate goes above 120 bpm or drops below 40 bpm while inactive for 10 minutes.

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Sleep schedules: Create a sleep schedule and set a sleep goal

The Apple Watch Series 6 can help you create a sleep schedule and set a sleep goal. Here's how:

First, ensure your Apple Watch is charged to at least 30% before you go to bed. When you first create a sleep schedule, you can set up the following general settings:

• A sleep goal: Decide on the number of hours of sleep you want to get each night.
• Sleep Focus: You can choose to turn on Sleep Focus, which limits distractions before bedtime and while you sleep. It simplifies your Lock Screen and ensures you are not disturbed by notifications.
• Wind Down: Decide when to start winding down before bed. This gives you a bedtime reminder and turns on Sleep Focus.
• Sleep tracking: This uses your motion to detect sleep when you wear your Apple Watch to bed.

You can also create multiple sleep schedules, such as one for weekdays and another for weekends. To change or add a sleep schedule, open the Health app on your iPhone, tap Browse, then tap Sleep. From there, you can tap the current schedule to change it, or tap Add Schedule to add a new one.

To change your sleep goal, tap Sleep Goal and adjust the amount of time you want to sleep. You can also edit your sleep goal by swiping down on the Full Schedule menu screen and tapping Sleep Goal. Adjust the hours and minutes as needed.

The Sleep app on your Apple Watch will show you the amount of sleep you got, the time spent in each sleep stage, and your sleep average over the last 14 days. You can also view your sleep history for the past week, month, or six months by tapping W, M, or 6M at the top of the chart.

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Sleep Focus: Reduce distractions and limit notifications before bedtime

Sleep Focus is a feature on the Apple Watch Series 6 that helps you maintain a healthy sleep schedule by reducing distractions and limiting notifications before bedtime. Here are some tips to get the most out of this feature:

• Set a Sleep Schedule: Start by setting a consistent sleep schedule in the Health app on your iPhone. This will help the Apple Watch understand your sleep patterns and provide tailored recommendations. Go to "Browse" in the Health app, select "Sleep" and then "Get More Insights" to set your sleep schedule.
• Enable Do Not Disturb: The Sleep Focus mode includes an automatic Do Not Disturb setting, which silences calls and notifications during your specified sleep hours. This ensures that you won't be disturbed by unwanted distractions when you're trying to wind down.
• Manage Notifications: Before enabling Sleep Focus, decide which notifications you want to allow during your wind-down period. You can customize this by going to "Focus" settings in the Control Center, selecting "Sleep," and then choosing which notifications to allow. It's recommended to keep only essential notifications enabled to minimize distractions.
• Wind Down with Apple Watch: Utilize the Wind Down feature on your Apple Watch to create a pre-sleep routine. This can include activities like meditation, deep breathing, or listening to soothing music. Set up your Wind Down routine in the Watch app on your iPhone. The Watch can start your routine when it detects that you're getting ready for bed, helping you establish a consistent and relaxing pre-sleep routine.
• Charge Your Apple Watch: Ensure that your Apple Watch is charged before bedtime, as Sleep Focus and other sleep-tracking features may consume battery power. Develop a habit of charging your Apple Watch at specific times during the day so that it's ready for nightly sleep tracking.
• Review Sleep Data: In the morning, take time to review your sleep data in the Health app on your iPhone. This data includes your sleep duration, any disturbances during sleep, and your overall sleep quality. By understanding this data, you can make informed decisions to improve your sleep habits over time.

Remember, the key to getting the most out of Sleep Focus is to reduce distractions and create a calm environment before bedtime. This feature helps you develop a healthy sleep routine, contributing to your overall well-being.

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