Gina Johnson
The Apple Watch has offered sleep tracking since at least 2020, when watchOS 7 was released. The feature is available on watches from Series 3 onwards, paired with an iPhone 6S or newer, with iOS 14 or newer. To use it, you need to enable 'Sleep Focus' and 'Track Sleep with Apple Watch' in the settings, and ensure your watch is charged to at least 30% before bed. The watch will then use your movements and phone use to detect whether you're sleeping and to estimate the time spent in each stage of sleep.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Apple Watch sleep tracking availability | Available on WatchOS 8 or later |
| Apple Watch sleep tracking app | SleepWatch, Sleep App, Sleep Clock App, AutoSleep |
| Apple Watch sleep tracking requirements | Apple Watch must be charged at 30% or more, worn for at least 1 hour, and unlocked with wrist detection turned on if a passcode is set |
| Apple Watch sleep tracking data | Sleep history, time spent in each sleep stage, sleep average over the last 14 days, nightly wrist temperature, respiratory rate |
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What You'll Learn
Apple Watch sleep tracking features
Apple Watch offers sleep-tracking features that provide insight into your sleeping habits. The watch can track how long you sleep and wake you up with an alarm. It can also estimate the amount of time spent in different sleep stages, including REM, core sleep, and deep sleep. To receive sleep data, you must enable "Track Sleep with Apple Watch" and wear the watch for at least one hour each night. The watch needs to be snug for accurate data collection, and it is recommended to have at least a 30% charge before bed.
The Health app on your iPhone, which can be synced with your Apple Watch, allows you to set sleep goals, create a customised sleep schedule, and view your sleep history. You can also enable Sleep Focus, which reduces distractions before bedtime and protects your sleep. Additionally, the Sleep app on the Apple Watch can provide charging reminders to ensure your device has sufficient battery life to last through the night.
While the Apple Watch provides basic sleep tracking features, it does not offer in-depth data interpretation or sleep condition diagnoses. For more detailed insights, you may consider using third-party apps. It is also important to note that the watch's sleep tracking may not capture all data if it is not worn throughout the entire night.
Apple has continuously improved its sleep tracking capabilities with updates to watchOS. The introduction of watchOS 9 added sleep stages to the tracking suite, allowing users to analyse their time in different sleep stages. watchOS 10 further enhanced sleep tracking by integrating sleep data with new mental health tools, providing insights into how restfulness affects overall mood. The latest models, such as the Apple Watch Ultra 2, Ultra, Series 9, and Series 8, are equipped with temperature sensors for tracking wrist temperature, which can provide additional health insights.
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Third-party sleep tracking apps
Apple Watch users have been able to track their sleep using third-party apps for several years. However, native sleep tracking was introduced in watchOS 8, and in watchOS 9, this was updated to offer details on sleep cycles, such as time spent in deep, REM, and light sleep stages.
AutoSleep is a popular third-party sleep tracking app for Apple Watch. It automatically tracks your sleep with no buttons to press and no watch app required. It also offers total privacy, with no user analytics tracking, advertising plugins, third-party code, or data upload. The app integrates with Sleep Stages from the Apple Sleep app, so you can view all your sleep data in one place.
Sleep Pulse 3 is another fully-featured standalone sleep tracking app for Apple Watch. It tracks your heart rate and motion and features a sleep view that shows your resting heart rate and how long you've been sleeping. It also allows you to track naps and record sleep talk, and all the sleep analysis is done on the Watch, not your phone.
Other third-party sleep tracking apps for Apple Watch include Pillow and HeartWatch.
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Sleep tracking accuracy
The Apple Watch can track how long you sleep and wake you up with an alarm. It can also estimate the amount of time you spend in REM, core sleep, and deep sleep. To receive sleep data, you must enable sleep tracking and wear your Apple Watch for at least one hour each night. If you don't wear your Apple Watch to sleep, your graph might not show any data. The watch needs to be snug to collect your data overnight.
While the Apple Watch is a convenient way to monitor and analyze sleep, its accuracy has been called into question by some users. Some have noted discrepancies between the Apple Watch's sleep data and their personal experiences, with the watch sometimes reporting significantly less deep sleep than other algorithms or devices. However, others have found the Apple Watch to be more accurate than third-party sleep apps and other wrist trackers in detecting sleep and sleep stages. It is important to note that no app or watch can perfectly measure sleep stages, as they all rely on algorithms and different methods to estimate sleep patterns.
A study by The Quantified Scientist analyzed the Apple Watch algorithm for sleep tracking and rated it as the best wearable for this purpose. However, the study also noted that the Apple Watch consistently reported lower deep sleep scores than what is typically considered normal for healthy adults. This finding highlights the need for further investigation and underscores the complexities of accurately measuring sleep stages.
To maximize the accuracy of sleep tracking, it is recommended to keep the Apple Watch charged and snugly fitted during sleep. Additionally, factors such as a quiet, cool, and dark environment, avoiding meals and exercises close to bedtime, and practicing relaxation techniques can contribute to better sleep and potentially enhance the accuracy of sleep tracking.
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Sleep tracking and battery life
Apple Watch users can track their sleep using the Sleep app. The watch can estimate the amount of time spent in REM, core sleep, and deep sleep. It can also track changes in nightly wrist temperature and breathing rate. To receive sleep data, users must enable sleep tracking and wear the watch for at least one hour each night. The watch must be charged to at least 30% before bed to use the sleep tracking feature. If the watch is not charged to at least 30%, users will be prompted to charge it.
To set up sleep tracking, users can open the Health app on their iPhone and tap "Get Started" under "Set Up Sleep." From there, they can set a sleep goal, bedtime and wake-up times, and Sleep Focus, which reduces distractions before bed. The Sleep app on the Apple Watch can also be used to set up charging reminders, so the device will remind users to charge it before their predefined wind-down and sleep schedule.
To view sleep history, users can open the Health app on their iPhone or iPad and tap "Browse" at the bottom of the screen. From there, they can tap "Sleep" to see their sleep data for the past week, month, or six months. They can also see the time and percentage spent awake or in different sleep stages.
According to Apple, the Apple Watch battery life is typically 18 hours with regular use. It takes about 90 minutes to charge the battery from 0% to 80%. Therefore, users can ensure their watch is charged overnight by charging it for about 60 to 90 minutes each day.
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Sleep tracking and health benefits
Apple Watch's sleep tracking feature was introduced with watchOS 8. The watch needs to be charged to at least 30% before bed and worn for at least 1 hour each night to track sleep. The Sleep app on the Apple Watch can be used to set up charging reminders, and the watch can also be charged during the user's wind-down time before bed.
The Apple Watch is one of the most accurate and consistent sleep trackers available. It can track how long the user sleeps and wake them up with an alarm. The watch can also estimate the amount of time spent in REM, core, and deep sleep, as well as the number of times the user breathes per minute (respiratory rate). This data can be viewed in the Health app on the iPhone or iPad, where users can also see their sleep history for the past week, month, or six months. The data allows users to understand their long-term sleep trends and make informed decisions about their sleep habits.
The Sleep app on the Apple Watch can help users set up personalized sleep schedules and improve their overall health by setting sleep goals and creating a customized sleep schedule. The app also includes a Sleep Focus feature, which limits distractions before bed and protects sleep after the user is in bed. Users can also set a wind-down time, which gives a bedtime reminder and turns on Sleep Focus.
Additionally, the Apple Watch can track the user's nightly wrist temperature and heart rate during sleep. This data can be used to identify any worrying trends or breathing disturbances, such as sleep apnea.
While the Apple Watch's sleep tracking feature can provide valuable insights into a user's sleep habits and help them set personalized sleep schedules, it is important to note that the watch is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If users have concerns about their sleep, they should consult a healthcare provider.
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Frequently asked questions
Apple Watch started tracking sleep with the release of watchOS 8.
To track your sleep with the Apple Watch, you need to enable "Sleep Focus" and "Track Sleep with Apple Watch" in the Watch app. You can also download third-party apps such as SleepWatch and AutoSleep for more insights.
The Apple Watch can track the time and percentage spent awake or in REM, core, or deep sleep. It can also track changes in nightly wrist temperature.
To view your sleep data on the Apple Watch, scroll down from the main watch face using the digital crown or swipe up with your finger. You will see a card in your Smart Stack with the previous night's sleep data.
