Ashwin Lewis
The Apple Watch is a useful tool for tracking sleep and monitoring overall health. While the watch has traditionally required users to set a sleep schedule or manually turn on Sleep Focus, newer versions of the watchOS have introduced changes to this. With watchOS 11, the Apple Watch can track sleep without the need for Sleep Focus Mode, and it can even record overnight rest and naps. Additionally, third-party apps like AutoSleep can be used to track sleep without needing to set a focus or change alarms. However, some users have expressed concerns about the accuracy of sleep tracking without a schedule, as it relies on the watch guessing when the user is asleep based on limited information. Nonetheless, the Apple Watch provides a convenient way to monitor sleep patterns and gain insights into one's health.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Apple Watch model | Series 8 |
| watchOS version | 8 or later |
| Third-party apps | AutoSleep, Sleep++ |
| Sleep tracking without schedule | Possible with third-party apps |
| Sleep tracking without alarm | Possible |
| Sleep tracking accuracy | Algorithm-based, sometimes wrong |
| Sleep data | Accessible via Health app |
| Sleep tracking with Apple Watch | Requires schedule |
| Sleep Focus | Limits distractions, optional |
| Charging | Reminders available |
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What You'll Learn
Use the AutoSleep app to track sleep without a schedule
AutoSleep is an automatic sleep tracking app for Apple Watch that does not require you to set a sleep schedule. The app can track your sleep and sleep quality whether or not you wear your watch to bed. If you do wear your watch to bed, you don't need to do anything; AutoSleep will track your sleep and send you a notification in the morning. If you don't wear your watch to bed, AutoSleep can still track the time you spend in bed. As soon as you touch your iPhone or put your watch back on in the morning, AutoSleep will know that you have finished sleeping.
AutoSleep provides a simple setup wizard and an option to tweak if you are a very restless sleeper. It also integrates with the Eclipse Yourself and HeartWatch apps. AutoSleep requires an Apple Watch running WatchOS 4 or higher.
To use AutoSleep, make sure your Apple Watch is ready by ensuring Wrist Detection & Passcode are turned on. Passcode On is required for the Apple Watch to access your background heart rate, which AutoSleep needs to work. Open your iPhone and go into the Apple Watch settings app (its a black icon with the image of a Watch). If wearing a Watch to bed, it needs to be unlocked to enable the heart rate sensors, so make sure the passcode has been entered before you go to sleep.
AutoSleep includes all the information and functionality you need for sleep monitoring, including: Time Asleep, Sleep Rating, Sleep Rings, Apple Sleep Stages, Sleep Apnea detection, Sleep Blood Oxygen measurements, Respiration Rate, Noise, Sleep Analysis, Sleep Fuel, Tonight’s Bedtime, Readiness, and Sleep Consistency.
AutoSleep learns your sleep behaviours and gets better the more you use it. It uses HRV and your waking pulse to indicate your physical and mental stress. As soon as you finish your 1-minute breathe session, open AutoSleep on your Apple Watch and you will see a Readiness star rating.
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Manually activate sleep focus from the watch's control centre
If you want to manually activate Sleep Focus from the Control Centre on your Apple Watch, you must first turn off the "Turn On at Wind Down" feature. By default, the Sleep Focus begins at the wind-down time you set in the Sleep app. To turn this off, go to the Sleep app on your Apple Watch and turn off the "Turn On at Wind Down" option.
Once you have turned off the "Turn On at Wind Down" feature, you can manually activate Sleep Focus from the Control Centre. To do this, press and hold the Digital Crown to unlock your Apple Watch. Then, press the side button to open the Control Centre. From there, you can tap the Sleep app icon to activate Sleep Focus.
You can also turn off Sleep Focus from the Control Centre. To do this, press the Digital Crown to go to the watch face, then press the side button to open the Control Centre. Finally, tap the icon to turn off Sleep Focus.
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Track sleep without setting an alarm
To track your sleep using an Apple Watch without setting an alarm, you can manually activate Sleep Focus on your Apple Watch or iPhone.
First, make sure your Apple Watch is charged to at least 30% before you go to bed, with Sleep Tracking enabled. Then, open the Sleep app on your Apple Watch and follow the on-screen instructions. You can also open the Health app on your iPhone, tap 'Browse', tap 'Sleep', and then tap 'Get Started' under 'Set Up Sleep'.
To manually activate Sleep Focus, you can tap the 'sleep' icon in the Control Center on your Apple Watch and tap it again when you wake up. Alternatively, you can press the Digital Crown to go to the watch face, press the side button to open the Control Center, and then tap the 'sleep' icon.
You can also use third-party apps such as AutoSleep or Sleep++. However, these apps will only track your sleep if it falls within the time set in your sleep schedule.
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View your sleep history in the Health app
To view your sleep history in the Health app, you must first ensure that your Apple Watch is set up to track your sleep. To do this, open the Health app on your iPhone and tap "Browse" at the bottom of the screen. Then, tap "Sleep". From here, you can view data on recent nights of sleep and set your sleep schedule for the future.
If you have Sleep saved to your Favorites list, you can access it from the Summary page in the Health app. Tap "Full Schedule & Options", then tap "Wind Down" or "Sleep Goal" under "Additional Details". Adjust your time, then tap "Wind Down" or "Sleep Goal" to save your changes.
To view your sleep history, tap "Browse" at the bottom of the screen if you're on your iPhone. If you're using an iPad, tap the sidebar to open it. Tap "Sleep". If Sleep is 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" at the top of the chart to view your sleep history for the past week, "M" for the past month, or "6M" for the past 6 months.
You can also view your sleep data by week or month by tapping a tab at the top of the screen. To change the time span displayed in the graph, swipe the graph left or right. To view the details for a specific day, tap the column for that day. To manually add sleep data, tap "Add Data" in the top-right corner of the screen. To get cumulative sleep data, tap "Show More Sleep Data".
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Track your breathing rate while you sleep
To track your breathing rate while you sleep using an Apple Watch, you will need an Apple Watch Series 3 or later with watchOS 8 or later.
First, ensure that your Apple Watch is charged to at least 30% before going to bed. If your watch is charged below 30%, you will be prompted to charge it. Next, wear your Apple Watch to bed. After wearing your watch to bed, you can follow these steps to track your breathing rate:
- Go to the Health app on your iPhone.
- Tap 'Browse'.
- Tap 'Respiratory'.
- Tap 'Respiratory Rate'.
- Tap 'Show More Respiratory Rate Data'.
- The Sleep entry will show the range of your respiratory rate as you've slept.
Please note that respiratory rate measurements are not intended for medical use. If you would like to turn off respiratory rate tracking, go to the Settings app on your Apple Watch. Go to Privacy & Security > Health. Tap Respiratory Rate, then turn off Respiratory Rate. You can also open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, tap 'My Watch', tap Privacy, then turn off Respiratory Rate.
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Frequently asked questions
You can use third-party apps such as AutoSleep or Sleep++. AutoSleep can detect when you're asleep as long as you're wearing the watch. It will also pick up short naps. Sleep++ uses less information to give you a picture with less resolution.
No, the alarm is not required. It is optional.
It is recommended that you wear your Apple Watch for at least 1 hour each night.
Open the Health app on your iPhone or iPad. Tap 'Browse' at the bottom of the screen. Tap 'Sleep'. The bar graph is set to 'D' for daily by default. Tap 'W' at the top of the chart to view your sleep history for the past week, 'M' for the past month, or '6M' for the past 6 months.
