Colin Snow
Sleep tracking devices are becoming increasingly popular, with many people using them to monitor their sleep patterns and quality. While there are many devices on the market, one of the most popular ways to track sleep is through the Health app on iPhones. This app can sync with the Apple Watch to track sleep, as well as with third-party apps that provide more detailed sleep data. Additionally, the iPhone's built-in Clock app has a Bedtime feature that can record when you go to bed and wake up, and this data can also be synced to the Health app. For those who don't use iPhones, other options such as the Oura Ring, Whoop, and Google Fit are also available to track sleep. These devices and apps can provide valuable insights into sleep duration, quality, and environmental factors, helping users understand and improve their sleep habits.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Track sleep duration | By tracking the time you’re inactive, the devices can record when you fall asleep at night and when you stir in the morning |
| Track sleep quality | Trackers can detect interrupted sleep, letting you know when you’re tossing and turning or waking during the night |
| Track sleep phases | Some tracking systems track the phases of your sleep and time your alarm to go off during a period when you’re sleeping less deeply |
| Record environmental factors | Some devices record environmental factors like the amount of light or temperature in your bedroom |
| Record lifestyle factors | Some trackers prompt you to enter information about activities that can affect sleep, such as caffeine intake, food consumption, and stress levels |
| Track sleep using Apple Watch | Wear your Apple Watch to bed to track your sleep |
| Track sleep using Apple Health App | The Health app can take data from multiple sources, including manually entered health data, data from your Apple Watch or iPhone, and data from third-party apps and other devices |
| Track sleep using Google Fit | Sync your data from your sleep-tracking app into Google Fit and find your sleep charts |
| Track sleep using Oura Ring | The Oura Ring is a smart ring that tracks sleep and provides sleep and readiness scores |
| Track sleep using Whoop | Whoop offers sleep tracking in addition to strain, recovery, and health tracking |
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What You'll Learn
Using an Apple Watch
To track your sleep using an Apple Watch, you will need to set up sleep tracking. This is available on watchOS 8 or later.
Firstly, ensure your Apple Watch is paired with your iPhone. If you have already set up your Apple Watch, go to the Watch app on your iPhone, tap the My Watch tab, then tap Sleep. Here, you can turn on Track Sleep with Apple Watch. If you have not yet set up your Apple Watch, you can turn on sleep tracking during the setup process.
Next, you will need to set up a sleep schedule. Open the Health app on your iPhone and tap Browse at the bottom of the screen. Then, tap Sleep and tap Full Schedule & Options. Here, you can adjust your wind-down and sleep goal as needed. You can also turn off your sleep schedule as needed.
To view your sleep history, open the Health app on your iPhone and tap Browse at the bottom of the screen. Then, tap Sleep. Here, you can view the time and percentage you spent awake or in REM, Core, or Deep sleep. You can also see the amount of sleep you got the night before, the time spent in each sleep stage, and your sleep average over the last 14 days.
To get the most accurate results, it is recommended that you turn on Charging Reminders. This will remind you to charge your watch before your wind-down time and notify you when your watch is fully charged.
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Using a smart ring
Smart rings are one of the newest categories in the world of wearable sleep-tracking technology. They are discreet, lightweight, and comfortable. Some of the most popular smart rings include the Oura Ring 4, the Samsung Galaxy Ring, the Amazfit Helio Ring, and the Ultrahuman Ring. These rings can track your sleep patterns, including the time and duration of your sleep, how much time you spend in each sleep phase (such as REM or deep sleep), and how often you wake or move during the night. They can also monitor your heart rate, heart rate variability, body temperature, blood oxygen rate, and menstrual cycles.
The Oura Ring 4 is one of the most popular smart rings on the market. It offers top-notch sleep insights, tracking vitals like blood-oxygen saturation, breathing disturbances, and heart rate. The Oura Ring also has an upgraded app that makes it easier to parse data, with a "Score Shortcuts" tab that provides a snapshot of your daily "sleep," "readiness," and "activity" scores. However, the Oura Ring does come with a monthly subscription fee of $5.99, which can be a downside for some users.
The Samsung Galaxy Ring is another highly anticipated smart ring that offers sleep tracking data and insights. It does not have a subscription fee, so once you purchase the ring, there are no further payments to be made. The Samsung Galaxy Ring provides accurate and useful sleep and recovery insights, although they may not go into as much depth as some other rings.
The Amazfit Helio Ring is a more affordable option, priced at $199 with no subscription costs. It offers similar health-tracking technology to the Galaxy Ring and Oura Ring, and works with both Android and iOS devices. While the sleep and recovery insights provided by the Helio Ring are not as comprehensive as those of the Samsung Galaxy Ring, they are still accurate and useful. The Helio Ring also supports female health tracking, with period and ovulation predictions.
The Ultrahuman Ring is another subscription-free smart ring that provides health data and suggestions for improving your sleep and overall health. The companion app offers recommendations for the best times of day to take a break, boost your vitamin D levels, and consume caffeine, as well as insights into how screen time may be impacting your sleep. The Ultrahuman Ring is available in four styles and a wide range of sizes, ensuring a comfortable wearing experience.
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Using a third-party app
While the Apple Health app can be used to track sleep, it does not provide detailed insights. Third-party apps can be used to provide more in-depth information about your sleep. These apps can be used in conjunction with the Apple Health app, which can take data from multiple sources.
Sleep Cycle is one such third-party app that can be used to monitor sleep. It uses the iPhone itself as a sleep monitor device to measure different stages of sleep, sleep quality, and even snore times. It can be connected to Apple Health by opening "Settings" in Sleep Cycle, tapping "Apple Health," and toggling it on.
Other third-party apps like Sleep++ or Beddit work with other gear, such as an Apple Watch or Beddit mat, to detect movement or details like heart rate and room temperature. The Apple Watch can also be used to track sleep, and this data can be synced with the Apple Health app. However, it does not feature a native way to track sleep, so third-party apps are needed.
There are also other wearable sleep trackers available on the market, such as the Oura Ring, Whoop 5.0, and Fitbit, which have their own apps to track sleep and activity metrics. These devices can be worn on the wrist or finger and can provide insights into sleep duration, sleep quality, and even environmental factors like temperature or light levels.
By using a combination of these third-party apps and devices, users can gain a more comprehensive understanding of their sleep patterns and quality. This information can be synced with the Apple Health app to provide a centralized view of sleep data.
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Using your iPhone Clock app
Apple's Clock app contains a Bedtime feature, which can help you take control of your sleep. The data it collects at night can be synced to Apple Health. To use the Bedtime feature, follow these steps:
- Open the Clock app on your iPhone.
- Tap on the "Bedtime" tab.
- Set your desired bedtime and wake-up time.
- Adjust your wind-down and sleep goal as needed.
- Tap "Alarm" to turn on the alarm and adjust the alarm sound, volume, and haptics.
- Tap "Done" to save your changes.
It's important to note that the Clock app does not provide granular details about your sleep quality. If you're interested in more detailed sleep tracking, you might consider using third-party apps like Sleep Cycle, Sleep++, or Beddit, which can provide insights into sleep stages, quality, and more. These apps can work with your iPhone or additional gear, such as an Apple Watch, to track your sleep.
Additionally, if you have an Apple Watch, you can enable the Track Sleep feature to measure and record your sleep data, including your respiratory rate. This data is then synced to the Health app on your iPhone, providing a more comprehensive view of your sleep patterns and overall health.
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Syncing data from another app
The Health app on your iPhone or iPad can sync data from other apps, such as third-party sleep tracking apps, to help you track your sleep. To sync data from another app, you can follow these steps:
Firstly, open the Health app on your device. If you're using an iPhone, tap the Browse tab at the bottom of the screen. If you're on an iPad, tap the sidebar to open it. From here, you can tap a category, such as "Activity", and then a subcategory, such as "Steps".
Next, tap Add Data in the upper-right corner. You will then be able to enter the date, time, and data for the activity you are tracking. Once you have entered this information, tap Add to save the data.
It is worth noting that the Health app takes data from multiple sources, including other apps and devices, and prioritises the data in the following order:
- Health data entered manually
- Data from your iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch
- Data from third-party apps and other devices
You can change the order of sources at any time. Additionally, if you use multiple methods to track your sleep, the Health app will log and average out the data points. You can also toggle off data sources as needed.
There are also third-party apps, such as Health Sync, that can help you sync data between health and fitness apps. Health Sync supports syncing data from apps such as Apple Health, Fitbit, Garmin Connect, and Strava.
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Frequently asked questions
To track your sleep using an Apple Watch, you need to have watchOS 8 or later. You can then set up sleep tracking during the initial setup of your Apple Watch, or turn it on later in the settings. Make sure to wear your watch to bed, and you will be able to view your sleep history in the Health app on your iPhone or iPad.
In the Health app, you can see the length of your sleep, as well as the time and percentage spent awake or in REM, core, or deep sleep. You can also view your respiratory rate while sleeping.
Yes, you can use third-party apps to track your sleep and sync the data to the Health app. Examples of third-party apps include Sleep Cycle, Sleep++, and Beddit.
Yes, you can use the Clock app on your iPhone, which has a Bedtime feature. This feature automatically triggers "Do Not Disturb" mode and records when you go to bed and when you wake up. This data is logged into the Sleep section of the Health app.
Yes, there are many alternatives to Apple devices for tracking your sleep. Some popular options include the Oura Ring, Whoop, Fitbit, and Motiv Ring. These devices often provide more detailed sleep tracking data, including sleep staging and heart rate zone monitoring.
