Top 11 Ways to Fix Apple Watch Not Tracking Sleep

Apple Watch supports sleep tracking, and with watchOS 9, Apple enabled sleep stages to understand your sleeping habits better. However, many have raised issues with Apple Watch not tracking sleep. If you are affected, read along to fix missing sleep data on your Apple Watch.

Aside from showing real-time notifications and calls, the Apple Watch can serve as a fitness tracker too. It tracks your steps, running miles, exercises, sleep, and other fitness data in the background. Apple Watch not recording sleep can confuse you. Let’s troubleshoot the issue and learn your sleep patterns better.

1. Enable Sleep Tracking on Apple Watch

Before we go over advanced tricks, let’s cover some basics first. You should enable sleep tracking and try again.

Step 1: Open Settings on your Apple Watch and scroll to Sleep.

Step 2: Enable the Sleep Tracking toggle.

Next, enable sleep tracking in the Watch app.

Step 1: Open the Watch app on your iPhone.

Step 2: Scroll down to select Sleep.

Step 3: Enable the Track Sleep with the Apple Watch toggle.

2. Set Apple Watch as a Data Source in the Health App

You need to set the Apple Watch as the data source in the Health app on your iPhone.

Step 1: Launch the Health app and scroll down to Sleep.

Step 2: Select ‘Data Sources & Access.’

Step 3: Tap Edit and select Apple Watch as primary data source.

3. Charge Your Apple Watch

Apple advertises all-day battery life on Apple Watch models. If your Apple Watch battery life is below 30%, you may face issues with tracking sleep during night hours. You’ll need to charge your Apple Watch before hitting the bed.

4. Enable Wrist Detection

You need to enable wrist detection on Apple Watch to track your sleep in real-time.

Step 1: Open Settings on your Apple Watch. Select Passcode.

Step 2: Enable the Wrist Detection toggle.

5. Uninstall Third-Party Sleep Apps

Do you use third-party sleep-tracking apps on your Apple Watch? They may interfere with the native Sleep app. You should uninstall such third-party apps and try again.

Step 1: Open the Watch app on your iPhone. Go to the My Watch tab.

Step 2: Locate any third-party sleep-tracking app. Tap on it.

Step 3: Disable the ‘Show App on Apple Watch’ toggle.

6. Disable DND and Use Sleep Focus

This trick has worked for many, and it’s worth trying. You need to disable DND and enable Sleep Focus on your Apple Watch.

Step 1: Open Control Center on your Apple Watch. Enable Sleep Focus.

Step 2: Launch Settings on your iPhone and select Focus.

Step 3: Tap Sleep and select Sleep Schedule.

Step 4: Enable the schedule toggle and check your schedule for sleep hours.

7. Delete and Add the Sleep Schedule Again

At times, a messed up Sleep schedule can also prevent in tracking your sleep properly. So, you can delete the current sleep schedule and add it again.

Step 1: Launch the Health app and go to the Browse menu.

Step 2: Select Sleep.

Step 3: Tap Full Schedule & Options.

Step 4: Tap Edit and select Delete Schedule.

Step 5: Return to the previous screen and tap Add Schedule.

Step 6: Add your bedtime schedule and select your active days. Tap Add.

Step 7: Tap Manage Sleep in the Apple Watch app.

Step 8: Enable the Track Sleep with the Apple Watch toggle. You can also switch on charging reminders.

You can enable other options such as sleep reminders, sleep results, track time in bed with an iPhone, and more.

8.  Reset Watch’s Calibration Data

You can reset your Apple Watch’s calibration data and try again.

Step 1: Open the Apple Watch app.

Step 2: Scroll to My Watch tab. Select Privacy.

Step 3: Tap ‘Reset Fitness Calibration Data’ and confirm your decision.

9. Turn off Track Time in Bed on iPhone

Track time in bed feature analyses your sleep patterns based on how frequently you pick iPhone during night hours. You need to turn off the track time in bed feature and try again.

Step 1: Head to the Full Schedule & Options menu in the Health app (check the steps above).

Step 2: Scroll to Additional details and turn off Track Time in Bed with iPhone toggle.  

10. Unpair Your Apple Watch

You should unpair your Apple Watch, pair it again with your iPhone and start tracking astute sleep data.

Step 1: Keep your Apple Watch beside the iPhone. Open the Watch app on select All Watches.

Step 2: Select the info button beside Apple Watch and hit ‘Unpair Apple Watch’.

Step 3: Confirm your decision and type your Apple ID and password.

Turn on your Apple Watch and place it beside the iPhone to start setting it up.  

11. Update iOS and watchOS

A buggy iOS or watchOS build can prevent your Apple Watch from tracking sleep. You should download the latest iOS and watchOS update and try again.

Step 1: Open Settings on your iPhone and scroll to General.

Step 2: Tap Software Update and download the latest iOS build.

Similarly, head to the General menu in Apple Watch Settings and download the newest watchOS build.

Track Your Sleep Patterns Like a Pro

For some users, Apple Watch not recording sleep defeats the purpose of using Apple’s wearable. Which trick worked for you? Share your findings in the comments below.