{"id":1238403,"date":"2025-03-10T13:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-03-10T17:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/?p=1238403"},"modified":"2025-03-10T13:30:00","modified_gmt":"2025-03-10T17:30:00","slug":"how-to-track-your-sleep-with-an-apple-watch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/?p=1238403","title":{"rendered":"How to Track Your Sleep With an Apple Watch"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<p>We may earn a commission from links on this page.<\/p>\n<p>The Apple Watch has a built-in sleep tracker, but it can be hard to find. Here\u2019s how to access it, how to set it up so that it properly records how much sleep you\u2019re getting, and how to understand the results.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"does-my-apple-watch-support-sleep-tracking\">Does my Apple Watch support sleep tracking?\u00a0<\/h2>\n<p>Sleep tracking was introduced with <a href=\"https:\/\/zdcs.link\/aR3EoX?pageview_type=RSS&amp;template=content&amp;module=content_body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=WatchOS%20version%207&amp;short_url=aR3EoX&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss\" rel=\"sponsored\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"open in a new window\"><u>WatchOS version 7<\/u><\/a> (released in 2020). That version of WatchOS works on watches from Series 3 and newer, paired with an iPhone 6S or newer, with iOS 14 and newer.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In other words: The oldest devices that will work are a 2015 phone, a 2017 watch, and 2020 releases of the software that run on them. As long as your Apple Watch isn\u2019t truly ancient, it should support this. (If you&#8217;re looking to buy a new Apple Watch, though, we recommend the <a href=\"https:\/\/zdcs.link\/a0nRYp?pageview_type=RSS&amp;template=content&amp;module=content_body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Series%2010&amp;short_url=a0nRYp&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss\" rel=\"sponsored\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"open in a new window\">Series 10<\/a> as the <a href=\"https:\/\/lifehacker.com\/tech\/why-the-series-10-is-the-best-apple-watch-for-most-people\" target=\"_blank\">best Apple Watch for most people<\/a>.) <\/p>\n<div class=\"pogoClear mb-12 mt-10 rounded-md border-2 border-gray-100 py-7 shadow-xl md:py-6\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/cc.lifehacker.com\/v1\/otc\/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?merchant=05kie42h3YvHwjr4G1w80Qq&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB0DGJ5KQL7&amp;template=Explainers&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=offer-btn&amp;position=1&amp;element_label=Apple+Watch+Series+10+&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&amp;product_uuid=05Qd7TUDwYqwO5MJqSknIF7&amp;offer_uuid=072CQy4klGTrPXnxQv5GhF4&amp;pageview_type=RSS&amp;object_type=072CQy4klGTrPXnxQv5GhF4&amp;object_uuid=05Qd7TUDwYqwO5MJqSknIF7&amp;data-aps-asin=B0DGJ5KQL7&amp;data-aps-asc-tag=lifehack088-20&amp;data-aps-asc-subtag=072CQy4klGTrPXnxQv5GhF4\" data-commerce=\"1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow sponsored\" data-parent-group=\"affiliate-link\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\" class=\"cursor-default no-underline\" data-ga-click=\"data-ga-click\" data-ga-module=\"shop-card\" data-ga-element=\"offer\" data-ga-item=\"offer-btn\" data-ga-label=\"Apple Watch Series 10\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex flex-wrap justify-between px-7 text-black no-underline md:flex-nowrap md:px-8\">\n<div class=\"order-1 mx-auto flex flex-col justify-center md:order-2 md:ml-4 md:w-full md:grow\">\n<div class=\"block cursor-pointer text-center font-akshar text-2xl font-medium leading-7 text-brand-green duration-200 ease-in-out hover:text-brand-green-700 md:text-left md:text-xl md:leading-6\">Apple Watch Series 10\n                <\/div>\n<div class=\"mt-4 hidden md:flex md:justify-between\">\n<div class=\"self-end\">\n<div class=\"mb-0 h-11 md:flex md:flex-col md:justify-center\">\n<div class=\" font-sans leading-4 text-black\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-wrap items-center justify-center gap-x-1 md:justify-start\">\n        <span class=\"font-bold\"><br \/>\n            $299.00<br \/>\n                            <span class=\"font-medium\">at Amazon<\/span><br \/>\n                    <\/span><br \/>\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mt-0 h-[15px]\" src=\"https:\/\/lifehacker.com\/images\/amazon-prime.svg\" title=\"Amazon Prime\" alt=\"Amazon Prime\">\n            <\/div>\n<div class=\"flex items-center justify-center gap-x-1 font-bold md:justify-start\">\n            <span class=\"text-sm line-through\">$399.00<\/span><br \/>\n            <span class=\"text-sm text-brand-green\">Save $100.00<\/span>\n        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"w-44 self-end\">\n                            <button class=\"flex justify-center items-center w-full bg-brand-green text-white text-base font-sans font-medium rounded-md hover:bg-brand-green-700 hover:cursor-pointer md:text-sm h-11\"><br \/>\n    Shop Now<br \/>\n<\/button>\n                        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"order-2 mt-5 h-auto w-full md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:hidden\">\n<div class=\"flex aspect-video items-center justify-center\">\n                                            <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"m-0 max-h-full max-w-full rounded-md\" src=\"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/hero-image.fill_.size_autoxauto.v1731323698-1.jpg\" alt=\"Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS, 42mm, Black, S\/M 130-180mm, Sports Band)\" width=\"auto\" height=\"auto\" loading=\"lazy\">\n                                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"order-2 ml-2 hidden w-32 shrink-0 items-center md:order-1 md:ml-0 md:flex\">\n<div class=\"flex aspect-video items-center justify-center\">\n                                            <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"m-0 max-h-full max-w-full rounded-md\" src=\"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/hero-image.fill_.size_autoxauto.v1731323698-1.jpg\" alt=\"Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS, 42mm, Black, S\/M 130-180mm, Sports Band)\" width=\"auto\" height=\"auto\" loading=\"lazy\">\n                                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"order-3 flex grow flex-wrap md:hidden md:grow-0\">\n<div class=\"mt-4 w-full\">\n                        <button class=\"flex justify-center items-center w-full bg-brand-green text-white text-base font-sans font-medium rounded-md hover:bg-brand-green-700 hover:cursor-pointer md:text-sm h-11\"><br \/>\n    Shop Now<br \/>\n<\/button>\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"mx-2 mt-4 w-full\">\n<div class=\" font-sans leading-4 text-black\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-wrap items-center justify-center gap-x-1 md:justify-start\">\n        <span class=\"font-bold\"><br \/>\n            $299.00<br \/>\n                            <span class=\"font-medium\">at Amazon<\/span><br \/>\n                    <\/span><br \/>\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mt-0 h-[15px]\" src=\"https:\/\/lifehacker.com\/images\/amazon-prime.svg\" title=\"Amazon Prime\" alt=\"Amazon Prime\">\n            <\/div>\n<div class=\"flex items-center justify-center gap-x-1 font-bold md:justify-start\">\n            <span class=\"text-sm line-through\">$399.00<\/span><br \/>\n            <span class=\"text-sm text-brand-green\">Save $100.00<\/span>\n        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<h2 id=\"where-to-find-the-apple-watch-sleep-app\">Where to find the Apple Watch Sleep app<\/h2>\n<p>You\u2019ll need to navigate to <em>four<\/em> different places to access all of the sleep-related features of your Watch and iPhone. (Three of them are on the phone.)<\/p>\n<h3>On the Apple Watch<\/h3>\n<div class=\"eloquent-imagery-image\">\n<div class=\"flex justify-center\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"border border-gray-100\" src=\"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/images-8.fill_.size_2000x1125.v1741623255.jpg\" alt=\"Finding the Sleep app on Apple Watch\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1125\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lifehacker.com\/imagery\/articles\/01HRWQ655TYGRYNZSTV627G9V8\/images-8.fill.size_800x450.v1741623255.jpg 800w, https:\/\/lifehacker.com\/imagery\/articles\/01HRWQ655TYGRYNZSTV627G9V8\/images-8.fill.size_1400x788.v1741623255.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/images-8.fill_.size_2000x1125.v1741623255.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px\">\n            <\/div>\n<div class=\"mt-2\">\n                            <span class=\"mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide\"><\/span><br \/>\n                                        <span class=\"text-xs inline-block text-gray-600\">Credit: Beth Skwarecki\/Apple<\/span>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>On your Watch, look for a bed icon with a greenish-blue background. (Pro tip: You can <a href=\"https:\/\/zdcs.link\/aD31yg?pageview_type=RSS&amp;template=content&amp;module=content_body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=change%20this%20screen%20to%20use%20the%20names%20of%20apps%2C%20alphabetized&amp;short_url=aD31yg&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss\" rel=\"sponsored\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"open in a new window\">change this screen to use the names of apps, alphabetized<\/a>, rather than having to play hide and seek with little icons.) When you open the Sleep app, scroll down to check (or set) your sleep schedule. That&#8217;s all you need to do with this app for setup; the Apple Watch will track your sleep automatically even if you never open this app again.<\/p>\n<h3>In the Health app<\/h3>\n<div class=\"eloquent-imagery-image\">\n<div class=\"flex justify-center\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"border border-gray-100\" src=\"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/images-4.fill_.size_2000x1125.v1741623214.jpg\" alt=\"Sleep settings in the Health app\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1125\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lifehacker.com\/imagery\/articles\/01HRWQ655TYGRYNZSTV627G9V8\/images-4.fill.size_800x450.v1741623214.jpg 800w, https:\/\/lifehacker.com\/imagery\/articles\/01HRWQ655TYGRYNZSTV627G9V8\/images-4.fill.size_1400x788.v1741623214.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/images-4.fill_.size_2000x1125.v1741623214.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px\">\n            <\/div>\n<div class=\"mt-2\">\n                            <span class=\"mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide\"><\/span><br \/>\n                                        <span class=\"text-xs inline-block text-gray-600\">Credit: Beth Skwarecki\/Apple<\/span>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>On your iPhone, the sleep functions are part of the Health app. (There is no dedicated Sleep app.) Open the Health app, tap <strong>Browse<\/strong>, then tap <strong>Sleep<\/strong>. From here, you can view data on recent nights of sleep, and set your sleep schedule for the future.<\/p>\n<p>At the bottom of this screen, you can edit your next sleep schedule or your full sleep schedule (the one that repeats daily and weekly). This tells your phone when you\u2019re planning on sleeping. Tap Full Schedule &amp; Options to set that schedule, and scroll down to the bottom for the next step.<\/p>\n<h3>In the Watch app<\/h3>\n<div class=\"eloquent-imagery-image\">\n<div class=\"flex justify-center\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"border border-gray-100\" src=\"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/images-5.fill_.size_2000x1125.v1741623214.jpg\" alt=\"Watch app and Sleep Focus settings\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1125\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lifehacker.com\/imagery\/articles\/01HRWQ655TYGRYNZSTV627G9V8\/images-5.fill.size_800x450.v1741623214.jpg 800w, https:\/\/lifehacker.com\/imagery\/articles\/01HRWQ655TYGRYNZSTV627G9V8\/images-5.fill.size_1400x788.v1741623214.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/images-5.fill_.size_2000x1125.v1741623214.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px\">\n            <\/div>\n<div class=\"mt-2\">\n                            <span class=\"mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide\"><\/span><br \/>\n                                        <span class=\"text-xs inline-block text-gray-600\">Credit: Beth Skwarecki\/Apple<\/span>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>To make sure your watch will track your sleep, you need to configure your Watch-specific sleep settings in the Watch app. The easiest way to access this from the Health app (tap <strong>Full Schedule &amp; Options<\/strong> from the Sleep screen), and at the bottom of that screen, there\u2019s a link to <strong>Manage Sleep<\/strong> in the Apple Watch App. Tap that, and you\u2019ll go straight to those Watch settings.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Turn on \u201cTrack Sleep with Apple Watch\u201d to enable tracking, and turn on \u201cCharging Reminders\u201d so the Watch can notify you to charge it before bedtime if your battery is low in the evening.<\/p>\n<h3>In the Settings app<\/h3>\n<p>We\u2019re not quite done. In the Settings app, you can set up your Sleep Focus. This is optional for tracking, but it gives you access to <a href=\"https:\/\/lifehacker.com\/your-iphones-alarm-doesnt-have-to-be-so-annoying-1848417806\" target=\"_blank\"><u>specialized home screens and notification settings<\/u><\/a> that will turn on at bedtime. There is a link from here back to the settings app. (Hey, this may be confusing, but at least it\u2019s easy to navigate from each app to the others.)\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"how-to-set-up-your-apple-watch-to-record-your-sleep\">How to set up your Apple Watch to record your sleep<\/h2>\n<p>You can fully explore all the sleep-related features through the apps I mentioned above, but here is the short version. Do these things and you\u2019ll have your Watch recording your sleep tonight:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>\n<p>Set up a Sleep schedule (Health app &gt; Sleep &gt; Full Schedule &amp; Options).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Tap Manage Sleep With Apple Watch at the bottom of that screen. (This sends you to the Watch app.)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Turn on Track Sleep with Apple Watch.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Wear your Apple Watch to bed. It should be unlocked, and if you have a passcode, you\u2019ll want wrist detection turned on.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>The Apple Watch will use the sleep schedule (or Sleep Focus, which you can turn on manually) to know when you <em>might<\/em> be sleeping. During this time, it uses your movements and your phone use, to detect whether you\u2019re sleeping, and to estimate when you are in each stage of sleep.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"how-to-read-your-results-from-the-apple-watch-sleep-app\">How to read your results from the Apple Watch sleep app<\/h2>\n<p>To see your sleep on your watch, scroll down from the main watch face (using the digital crown, or swipe up with your finger) and you&#8217;ll see a card in your Smart Stack with the previous night&#8217;s sleep. Tap this to open the Sleep app, which will show you your sleep stages, time asleep, last 14 days&#8217; sleep, and your sleep schedule settings.<\/p>\n<div class=\"eloquent-imagery-image\">\n<div class=\"flex justify-center\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"border border-gray-100\" src=\"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/images-6.fill_.size_2000x1125.v1741623214.jpg\" alt=\"Photos of Apple Watch showing sleep data\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1125\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lifehacker.com\/imagery\/articles\/01HRWQ655TYGRYNZSTV627G9V8\/images-6.fill.size_800x450.v1741623214.jpg 800w, https:\/\/lifehacker.com\/imagery\/articles\/01HRWQ655TYGRYNZSTV627G9V8\/images-6.fill.size_1400x788.v1741623214.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/images-6.fill_.size_2000x1125.v1741623214.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px\">\n            <\/div>\n<div class=\"mt-2\">\n                            <span class=\"mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide\"><\/span><br \/>\n                                        <span class=\"text-xs inline-block text-gray-600\">Credit: Beth Skwarecki<\/span>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>You can also see this information anytime you visit the Sleep app on your watch, or the Sleep section of the Health app on your phone. (If you wake up before your sleep schedule ends, you may need to wait until your scheduled sleep time is finished before the data becomes available.)\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Your sleep data, on either the watch or phone, will show your sleep stages represented with deep sleep at the bottom in purple, <a href=\"https:\/\/lifehacker.com\/health\/what-is-core-sleep-apple-watch\" target=\"_blank\"><u>\u201ccore\u201d (that is, light) sleep<\/u><\/a> in the middle in blue, REM higher up in lighter blue, and awake in orange at the top. (That said, no wearable is going to be completely accurate when it comes to sleep stages, so don\u2019t read too much into these.)<\/p>\n<p>The app will also show you your heart rate during the night, your sleep trend (mine says \u201cYou slept an average of 7 hr 22 min over the last 7 days\u201d), and monthly and yearly highlights showing whether you\u2019re getting more or less sleep than in the past.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We may earn a commission from links on this page. The Apple Watch has a built-in sleep tracker, but it can be hard to find. Here\u2019s how to access it, how to set it up so that it properly records &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/?p=1238403\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[91,110],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1238403","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-lifehacker","category-unfiltered-rss"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1238403","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1238403"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1238403\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1238403"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1238403"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1238403"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}