watchOS 11 brings automatic sleep tracking to the Apple Watch. This means the smartwatch can track your sleep even if you don’t set a sleep schedule or use the Sleep Focus mode.
While a small change, it makes sleep tracking on the Apple Watch much more useful.
Sleep tracking on Apple Watch will soon get a lot better
Currently, Apple requires you to enter a sleep schedule to ensure that the Apple Watch tracks your sleep. It will also track your sleep when the Sleep Focus mode starts. However, the watch only logs your sleep metrics during this time.
So, if you nap outside your regular sleep schedule or without activating Sleep Focus, it won’t log your sleep metrics. This means you can’t get insight into your sleep stage, blood oxygen level during this period, and more. Thankfully, watchOS 11 fixes this annoying restriction.
Max Weinbach noticed his Apple Watch on watchOS 11 tracking his sleep despite Sleep Focus not being activated. Similarly, you don’t need to have a sleep schedule set for the tracking to work.
Update: Can confirm, does auto track naps https://t.co/AuzcULKusm
— Max Weinbach (@MaxWinebach) June 11, 2024
Admittedly, you should use Sleep Focus while sleeping to avoid your Apple Watch from constantly buzzing with notifications. But if you forget to enable Sleep Focus or your schedule has gone haywire, you will be glad to know your Apple Watch will still record your sleep metrics.
watchOS 11 packs several health-focused improvements
The improved sleep tracking in watchOS 11 comes alongside the new Vitals app. The latter will track and display your key health metrics: heart rate, respiration, temperature, blood oxygen and sleep. A warning will appear if these metrics go outside of your typical range. The app will also provide useful insights that could affect your health metrics, like illness or alcohol consumption.
If you have not already, learn how to use advanced Apple Watch sleep stage tracking for sound and peaceful sleep.
Rajesh has been closely following and writing about the latest happenings in the world of mobile for nearly a decade now. While he prefers Android, he does not deny the superiority of Apple’s products and ecosystem.
