Fitbit Versa: Tracking Sleep And Unlocking Insights

Fitbit devices have a robust sleep tracking function that can help you understand your sleep patterns and quality. The Fitbit Versa 3 and 4 are wrist-worn devices that automatically detect your sleep when you wear them to bed. They use metrics like physical movement, pulse rate, and breathing to determine which sleep stage you're in. The devices also have a microphone that can be used to track noise levels and snoring. To get the most accurate results, it's recommended to wear the device snugly on your wrist, about 2-3 finger widths above your wrist bone. While the sleep tracking data provided by Fitbit can give you valuable insights into your sleep habits, it's important to remember that it shouldn't be used for medical diagnosis or treatment.

How to set up sleep tracking on the Fitbit Versa

To set up sleep tracking on the Fitbit Versa, you'll first need to download the Fitbit app on your smartphone or tablet. You'll also need to ensure that your Fitbit is synced to your device via Bluetooth.

Once you've downloaded the app and synced your Fitbit, you can start tracking your sleep. To do this, simply wear your Fitbit to bed. It is recommended that you wear your Fitbit in a snug wristband during sleep. If you wear your device in a clip or pendant accessory, it may not be able to track your sleep.

If you want to manually start a sleep log, you can do so by selecting "Begin Sleep Now" in the app. If you don't want to start a log manually, you can simply fall asleep, and your Fitbit will automatically detect when you've fallen asleep.

If you have a Fitbit Versa 3 or Fitbit Sense, your device can also monitor the noise in your bedroom, including your snoring or someone else's. To receive a Snore & Noise Report, you must wear your Fitbit during sleep, and your sleep must be at least 3 hours long.

In the morning, open the Fitbit app and go to the Today view. Pull down on the page to refresh and sync the app with your tracker. Continue pulling down on the page to sync until you see a sleep duration show up under the section that shows the image of a moon and a letter Z. Tap on the icon to see the total hours and minutes you slept, as well as your Sleep Score.

How does the Fitbit Versa monitor sleep quality?

The Fitbit Versa 3 and Fitbit Sense can monitor the noise in your bedroom, including your snoring or someone else's. The device can track the overall noise level of your surroundings by analysing noise information every few seconds. This feature is intended to provide information that can help you manage your well-being.

The Fitbit Versa 4 is also advertised as having a sleep-tracking function. However, some users have reported issues with the device not tracking their sleep data. Fitbit states that the device can automatically detect your sleep when you wear it to bed. It is recommended that you wear your device in a snug wristband during sleep, about 2-3 finger widths above your wrist bone. The band should feel secure but not too tight. If your device doesn't track your heart rate, you can check your sleep pattern in the Fitbit app. Your sleep pattern includes your time spent awake, restless, and asleep. If your Fitbit has a heart rate monitor, it can tell the difference between light, deep, and REM sleep.

The Fitbit app provides a detailed sleep breakdown that is available on the first of every month. This breakdown includes 10 monthly metrics and also features a sleep animal that characterizes your long-term sleep behaviours. To be eligible for a sleep profile, you must have a Fitbit Premium subscription and use a compatible device.

How does the Fitbit Versa monitor sleep stages?

The Fitbit Versa 3 and Fitbit Sense devices can monitor your sleep stages. The feature is also available on other Fitbit devices, including the Charge 5, Charge 6, Inspire 2, Inspire 3, Luxe, Pixel Watch series, Sense 2, Versa 2, and Versa 4.

The Fitbit Versa 3 and Fitbit Sense devices can monitor your sleep stages by tracking noise levels in your surroundings and checking for snoring throughout the night. The devices use the in-built microphone to register noise levels and snoring, but do not save any audio recordings. The nightly results are summarised in a report that you can access when you wake up.

The Fitbit Versa 4 has been reported by some users to not track their sleep data. However, manually adding sleep time in the app has been found to work around this issue, as the data is recorded but not communicated to the app.

Fitbit devices that track heart rate can also monitor sleep stages. The devices use physical movement, pulse rate, and breathing to infer which sleep stage you are in. The sleep stages that can be monitored include light, deep, and REM sleep. The data collected by the Fitbit device is used to calculate a sleep score, which is a number up to 100. This score is a weighted measure of various factors, including the amount of movement during the night and the amount of deep sleep.

How does the Fitbit Versa monitor sleep duration?

The Fitbit Versa 3 and 4 models are both capable of tracking sleep duration. However, some users have reported issues with the Versa 4 not tracking their sleep data. Fitbit devices and the Google Pixel Watch series can automatically detect your sleep when you wear your device to bed. It is recommended that you wear your device in a snug wristband during sleep, with the band secured about 2-3 finger widths above your wrist bone. When your body is completely at rest and you haven't moved for about an hour, your device records that you're asleep. Your time asleep is calculated by subtracting your time spent awake and restless from your overall tracked sleep time. For example, if you slept 8 hours but woke up twice for 15 minutes each, your time asleep would be 7 hours and 30 minutes.

The Fitbit Versa 3 and Fitbit Sense can also monitor the noise in your bedroom, including your snoring or someone else's, if you have a Fitbit Premium account. Your device can track the overall noise level of your surroundings and check for snoring throughout the night by analyzing noise information every few seconds. When you wake up, your nightly results are summarized in a report.

The Fitbit Charge 5, which is also a wrist-worn device, can be finicky in its recording of sleep stages, and factors like how the tracker is worn or how you're sleeping can prevent it from reporting this information on any given night.

How does the Fitbit Versa's sleep tracking compare to other methods?

The Fitbit Versa 4 is one of the latest Fitbit devices to include a sleep tracking function. It automatically detects your sleep when you wear the device to bed, provided it is worn snugly on the wrist. The device records the amount of time you are asleep, as well as the quality of sleep, by measuring physical movement, pulse rate, and breathing. It can also detect snoring and noise levels.

Compared to other methods of sleep tracking, the Fitbit Versa offers a convenient and non-invasive way to monitor sleep. Unlike laboratory sleep studies that use electrodes to directly measure brain activity, the Fitbit Versa is less obtrusive and can be used in the comfort of one's home. However, it is important to note that the Fitbit Versa's sleep staging data may be less accurate than more comprehensive methods like polysomnography.

One advantage of the Fitbit Versa is its ability to provide insights into sleep patterns over time. The device syncs automatically with the Fitbit app, allowing users to access their sleep stats and track their sleep history over several months or even a year. This long-term data can help users identify trends and make informed decisions about their sleep habits.

Additionally, the Fitbit Versa offers a Smart Wake feature that uses sleep staging data to wake the user during a light sleep stage, within a specified time window. This can help improve wake-up experiences and make mornings feel less abrupt.

While the Fitbit Versa provides a wealth of information about sleep patterns and quality, it is important to remember that it should not be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. For serious sleep concerns, users should consult a healthcare professional.

Frequently asked questions