The Best Way to Sleep with the Apple Watch - Don't use Apple's Method

Apple built in sleep tracking to watchOS 7, but they took more of a hands off approach. I used it for a few months, but gave up cause it was just lacking too much info and added more annoyances then benefits.
I highly recommend just using Apples shortcuts. The Shortcuts feature that allows you to change you watch face at certain times of the day or based on locations. I use that with also setting theater mode that turns off the screen and allows the user to set the brightness based on the scrolling up the dial. I then use Sleep++ to track my actual sleep it give me a more detail look at how well I actually slept.
My other video on using shortcuts to change the watch face automatically on the watch:
• Using Apple Shortcuts ...
Sleep++: apps.apple.com/us/app/sleep/i...
AutoSleep: apps.apple.com/us/app/autosle...
AutoWake: apps.apple.com/us/app/autowak...
Pillow: apps.apple.com/us/app/pillow-...
Napbot: apps.apple.com/us/app/napbot-...
Check out my instagram:
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Music:
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[@angeliamyers436]

I am going from having a Fitbit for 6 years and I love the sleep tracking on it. One reason I haven’t gotten an Apple Watch before was I heard you couldn’t track your sleep. But I got an Apple Watch because I like all the things I can do with Apple Watch that I can’t with my Fitbit. So thanks for the suggestions on tracking my sleep.

[@TheAppleBias]

Happy to have helped. Enjoy the watch. It’s so much better than the Fitbit in my opinion.

[@jmm1000]

What a great video tip! Im just starting to consider a sleep tracker. Im concerned about the timing of my sleep intervals, making it impractical to decide on an 11:30p (or other time) for the watch face to change over. Can the watch face and theater mode be enacted to stay on 24/7?, so that any time of day these “under the blanket”-friendly features will be available? Also-how can you see the app’s sleep-reports on a bigger screen? Does it require syncing to your laptop via usb when charging? Or is there a website or desktop app to match the 3rd party watch app? ….and how are the Watches charged? Sone sort of “proximity-dock”?, tiny plug in cable?, etc-thx!

[@Savage_howie]

I haven’t used any sleep tracking on the watch but I might start to my sleeping is not the best just looking at the different apps for sleep that are out there

[@WeAllFloatHere]

Fitbit user for many years until i broke my last one last year. My fiancé and i got apple watches for Christmas this year and I’m still working on setting it up (series 7, larger display). But my god this thing is so much better than Fitbit. It feels so much more durable and the feature set is absurd. Just wish for better battery life 😢 Thanks for the advice on sleep! That’s one thing i haven’t been able to get right until this video

[@TheAppleBias]

So happy to help. Congrats on the Apple Watches. They are amazing. I went through so many Fitbits, Nike Fuel bands and Jawbone Ups durability just wasn’t there. Never once have I had a watch break on me since 2015 it just amazing the quality.

[@ifofanah1]

I finally have an Apple Watch after years of using Fitbit and honestly Fitbit’s sleep tracking is infinitely better than the default Apple Watch sleep app. I’ll try your method and see how that works out. I find that the sleep app grossly underestimates the time I wake up (and sometimes the time I go to sleep) because it kinda just goes off of the alarm set even though I might’ve fallen back asleep after silencing it 😕 the app itself is also not as simple to navigate as far as seeing each day’s specific data like exact times of sleeping and waking but maybe that’s just me. Anyway, great video!

[@TheAppleBias]

Yeah 3rd party apps handle the data way better. Apple is improving theirs in the next major iOS and watchOS release but that won’t be out till September

[@philoupc2239]

I use the app sleep cycle, i also wear my apple watch to sleep and i activate the sleep cycle app on my IPhone because it records if i snore at night or any other sounds ! Thanks for the video !

[@TheAppleBias]

Very cool. I’ve heard of them doing that. I may have to try that out.

[@nisarg7584]

Do that app comes for Apple Watch S2 ?

[@TheAppleBias]

It may still support it. Only thing would be battery and if they cut off support for older OSes since the S2 doesn’t getting the latest software updates.

[@katerinapsora]

great video thank you

[@TheAppleBias]

Happy to help.

[@CoachTadris]

Thanks for this video. One of the best I've seen. And you may have just changed my life with the shortcuts video. You encouraged us to watch the other video so I did and now I have a watch face set for morning workouts and then it will switch for business during the day. What I want to know is kind of 2 fold. I am gonna set a new face to remind me it's bedtime and attempt to set it to Theator mode....... In the shortcuts is there a time limit in which it will turn off the Theator mode or will I have to manually turn it off on the morning? Question 2. So doesn't the phone/ watch if you set a morning alarm also automatically put your devices in sleepmode? How do you get around that? Just not set a morning alarm? (Which I'm considering not doing? Or at least set morning alarm for well past the time I expect to wake up naturally) Thanks for your help with this.

[@TheAppleBias]

Thanks so much for the kind word and glad I was able to help. A1: you can just turn off theater mode manually or setup another automation to control when it is turned off. A2: the sleep mode screen can be turned off in the health app prior to iOS 16/ watchOS 8. But now the sleep tracking is so much better I have just kept it on the update should come out this week for everyone.

[@WhatIsThisAllAbout]

I have been using ocean band for 1 month now on ultra

[@TheAppleBias]

How comfortable is it?

[@Not-EN-Native-Speaker_Sorry]

Good video, and BTW interesting AW night use case ;) Im not interacting with my Watch, while asleep, but i like to check the time (while AW tracks my sleep). For that i use that nice simple Nike face with huge numbers (and i use that with Hours only filled, Minutes only as outlines. Im not interested in minutes, while sleeping, just an Hour :) made it dark orange plus i put AW into water lock mode. Works for my needs perfectly. Thx for the video, Subscribed.

[@Savage_howie]

I love all your Instagram and KZbin content not only do you go into detail about the individual product or specific app you are very clear and you breakdown things really well it’s all just awesome keep up the amazing work I might be becoming a fellow nerd lol 😎👍🏼

[@TheAppleBias]

Thanks! It’s hard trying to find that balance of detail but also keeping the video short.

[@soesan2963]

What abt auto sleep tracker?

[@mhchoudhury8135]

I've been tracking my sleep for quite sometime but I find Apple watch 6 is not that good compared to other devices I've used. I've found out that if I set had alarm and I go to sleep again just after shutting the alam down, the sleep time after the alarm is not recorded.

[@TheAppleBias]

Very odd Is that with Apples sleep tracking or third party ones. Like I mentioned in my video I am not a huge fan of Apple's version its pretty limited.

[@la196]

@@TheAppleBias Which is another thing I've considered, Apple Watch for life, Fitbit separate for sleep and maybe exercise! :)

[@TheAppleBias]

If I got any other device for sleep tracking it’s be the oura ring. That thing looks pretty awesome.

[@DecafToaster740]

The crown scrolling you don’t like is called Sleep Screen and can simply be turned off in the Health app, under Sleep section options.

[@TheAppleBias]

That’s not what I want tho. I really like the way theater mode works wish sleep worked more like it.

[@chekseng80]

Try to minimise changing bands. Which is the best band material for sleep tracking and someone doing HIIT 3-4 times a week? Thx..

[@marcodevito7171]

apple's sports loop

[@TheAppleBias]

I agree sport loop is probably the best. holds it size better than the braided. It’s also light weight. I prefer the white one. Darker color can show dust and lint on them easier.

[@chekseng80]

Interesting..i will take into consideration 👌

[@CaiStroudHD]

Does sleep++ work alongside the Apple one? Like does the Apple one still provide you with information on the health app of how long you were asleep for and sleep ++ give you the detailed breakdowns?

[@TheAppleBias]

Yep. You can give sleep++ the ability to write to the health app or not and even if it does you can set priority in the health app as well.

[@adreiu446]

I get the scrolling thing but that’s the bedtime’s purpose, to keep you away from screens at night

[@julieta203]

So basically he wakes up 28 times a night to check his amazon deliveries, emailsa and to confirm his watch knows its raining

[@TheAppleBias]

Doesn’t everybody. 🤪

[@Oharsh0928]

I have a question for you regarding sleep focus with Apple Watch. So let’s say I have my watch set to enter sleep mode at 9:00 pm and wake up time set to 6:00 am. During the night i decide to change my alarm to 7:00 am. For some reason my sleep focus still turns itself off at 6:00 am so I start receiving notifications. Do you know how to fix it to where the sleep focus will stay on until the new time I’ve changed my alarm to?

[@TheAppleBias]

The sleep focus mode comes with its own alarm. If you change that one it should stay in sleep mode until that time.

[@Oharsh0928]

@@TheAppleBias so I have to change the time on my phone or can I do it from the Watch?

[@TheAppleBias]

I just change it in the sleep app on the watch. They have it setup so you can just change one night instead of messing with your normal schedule.

[@Henrz999]

I've found when using the sleep schedule function, my applewatch 8 only vibrates (taps) and neither Iphone or applewatch produces any actual sound lol?

[@TheAppleBias]

Make sure the device isn’t on silent. Swipe up on the bottom of the watchface to get to the control panel and make sure the bell isn’t red. If it’s red then it will only vibrate if not it should make a sound and vibrate. Now if you want to keep your watch on silent most of the time you’ll need to get in the habit of switching it back and forth or you could setup an automation to do it automatically based on time of day.

[@erfuellte-ehe]

when do you charge the watch?

[@TheAppleBias]

In the morning when getting ready for the day and at night when getting ready for bed.

[@la196]

Same---I've used Fitbit for years for exercise and especially tracking my sleep. I have refrained from Apple Watch for two reasons, battery life, and not having a sophisticated sleep tracking breakdown like I've grown accustomed to with the Fitbit? Yeah, I know, I've been waiting it out. Which has led me to this video in search of an app that works on Apple watch for the sleep data that's as close as possible to my Fitbit. This video has gotten me 1 step closer:) Good tips! All my other stuff is Apple so I know Apple's a better watch. The thing is, those two things I mentioned are most important to me and so far, and those two things is where Fitbit shines. But my gut feeling keeps telling me Apple Watch next time around.

[@TheAppleBias]

Yeah the sleep++ UI reminds me the most of the fitbits (at least when I used it last). Also I did hear they may be doing more with sleep tracking this year. 🤞

[@bobthebuilder9416]

How do I make it automatically track my sleep without having to make a "sleep tracking time table"... I want to be able to fall asleep randomly and my watch track it... thank u for video...

[@TheAppleBias]

Sleep++ will autotrack it. All you have to do is wear the watch at night. You don’t even have to install the watch app. Just the app on your phone. If you install the watch app it will give you the option to manually start the going to bed trigger if you don’t trust the automatic version.

[@bobthebuilder9416]

@@TheAppleBias you're the best thank you!!!!

[@TheAppleBias]

Happy to help.

[@Excellent2009able]

Is there a feature to say wake you up after you have sleep enough? say for someone like a musician that is flexible to wake up whenever they’re like but can be in bed late & could sleep too much if not woke ?

[@TheAppleBias]

Pretty sure the AutoWake up let you set the alarm to a number of hours so it will always wake you up the number of hours you slept and not the time of day. apps.apple.com/us/app/autowake-smart-sleep-alarm/id1279650551

[@Excellent2009able]

@@TheAppleBias thank you very much 😊😊😊

[@TheAppleBias]

Happy to help.

[@RoyTravels]

I cant find if my apple watch detects if i snore.

[@TheAppleBias]

If I recall the pillow app might do that but I believe it does the listening via the phone so it will need to be close by.

[@robertolira9843]

why would you do stuff when sleeping. I heard of multi-tasking but when sleeping this is unbelievable . :)

[@TheAppleBias]

?? I don’t do stuff when sleeping but I do have kids and sometimes they wake up and then I need my watch for triggering smart lights or all sorts of things so the sleep app always locking me out is sorta annoying.

[@robertolira9843]

@@TheAppleBias you got a point. Fortunate for me I don’t have kids :)

[@TheAppleBias]

😂 like everything even kids are a personal preference.

[@adamyt0]

What do you think about the new apple sleep tracking, and has it changed your methods?

[@TheAppleBias]

It’s better. I plan to do a video on it. Even picked up a Fitbit to compare it with.

[@adamyt0]

@@TheAppleBias ah wow, so would you ditch Sleep++ now? and isnt the Ultra too clunky to sleep with? look forward to your video!

[@TheAppleBias]

Yeah and I’ve slept fine with it for over a week now no issue.

[@Wowwwzaaa]

Which one is free? Totally free?

[@TheAppleBias]

Think most are paid or with ads. I personally like paying for apps and supporting the developers. More likely to make the app better with time. I also expect the next Apple Watch or watchOS to have even better tracking.

[@DerekNewtonKeswick]

I find it uncomfortable to sleep in. I like my hand under my pillow, under my head. This just squashes the phone into your wrist.

[@TheAppleBias]

I've gotten so used to it it doesn't bother me anymore, but sleep is so important if it does bother you then no reason to risk a bad night of sleep for tracking. You may want to look into those smart rings. they're pretty tempting.

[@hamletshero]

What band do you use to go to sleep with?

[@TheAppleBias]

I use a bunch but braided solo is one of the best. It’s like the sweatpants of watchbands.

[@daniellasteel8863]

@@TheAppleBias solo is great!

[@Wowwwzaaa]

Yeah but I don’t wanna sleep when the watch tells me to..I just can’t shut down that quickly

[@rubedog516]

Same. It would be most practical if it tracks it automatically instead you having to set it. I’m one the likes taking naps throughout the day so I should not have to set that too

[@TheAppleBias]

A lot of the 3rd party apps will just automatically track it. Good part of the sleep tacking with apple is it will turn off your screen at night. But you can always use both.

[@protectork9831]

Galaxy is the best tracker it tracks your naps and blood oxygen shows on same map and lets you know when you are snoring .

[@TheAppleBias]

You realize the Apple Watch has apps for all that stuff too right.

[@protectork9831]

@TheAppleBias it does but it doesn't record any off it or can show it in one chart. No nap recording on apple watch either . If you wake up in middle of the night for extended period of time u r shit out of luck

[@ast-og-losta]

I bought the NapBot, but I cant get it to work.

[@TheAppleBias]

Did you grant it access to the needed health data? You can doubt check that in the Privacy->Health section in the Settings app. If you have then you may want to reach out to the developer. They be more familiar with other issue that could be causing it to not work probably.

[@ast-og-losta]

@@TheAppleBias Yes, I did that. Its dead weight.

[@TheAppleBias]

That bites. Sorry. I’m still using Sleep++ and love it.

[@dr.psycho897]

My sleep tracking app is not working someone help pls

[@TheAppleBias]

What app are you using?

[@deepcoolclear]

The garmin watch sleep provides more valid information in my opinion because it monitors SpO2 , heart rate variability stress, REM vs awake and some other variances like body battery to give you a more meaningful assessment if sleep quality. I think Apple will get there, but not today

[@TheAppleBias]

A lot of that is coming next week with an update. I’ve been wearing a Fitbit and the Apple Watch to sleep every night I have the beta of the watchOS that’s coming next week and plan to release a video on the comparison and features soon.

[@jaredwhite489]

“Pillow” is the best one.

[@Wowwwzaaa]

Apple sleep tracker is always wrong!

[@thelthrythquezada8397]

why use the watch to check emails, just use the phone.

[@TheAppleBias]

Watch is more convenient at night and easier not to be sucked into social media to where I could stay up for hours.

[@thelthrythquezada8397]

@@TheAppleBias aaahhhh okaayyy, I was worried about your eyes. but then I thought what if he is charging it in another room xyz. Sometimes I have to do that. Anyway thank you for the reply.

[@TheAppleBias]

Yeah I’ve been tempted to charge in another room. Woke up at 2am this morning and made the mistake of grabbing my phone to check on things next thing I know it was 4. Got some stuff done on it but still 😴

[@808cipher]

Worst sleep tracking ever, regret buying Apple watch love Fitbit and Samsung

[@TheAppleBias]

Did you use a 3rd party app or just apples. Theirs is very lack luster. However there is a chance it will get better in the next watchOS and/or Watch.

[@808cipher]

@@TheAppleBias sleep++ was much better, I will try to give Apple chance