Level 1

34 points

Apple Watch 8 not Tracking Sleep & Sleep Stages

Hello all,

I have an Apple Watch 8, running 9.5 (at the time of writing). This is paired with an iPhone 14 Pro running 16.5

When I first got the watch, an upgrade from Series 5, the sleep data appeared perfectly, showing stages and tracking correctly. This was working in tandem with AutoSleep which I was previously using. No issues for the first couple of weeks, then suddenly, the Apple Sleep was just showing the block of time my phone & watch were in 'Sleep' Focus, with no information on the stages. Some nights NO DATA is recorded at all. The sleep graph in Health.app is absolutely empty. Other nights I see only the green bar showing time asleep and time awake, but no stages. And that data is absolutely wrong. For example, tracking starts 3h after I have gone to bed. I regurarly sleep 7-8h and the Sleep in Health reports 1-2h of sleep.

Every once in a while everything is tracked perfectly....like every 9-10 days. Last night's sleep was tracked correctly. The night before the graph was absolutely empty. Today the graph is a mess with wrong data, a green bar only, and no stages.

I have tried:

Verified all tracking metrics are on and allowed under privacy;
Ensured wrist detection is turned on;
Kept watch charged (always 100% at bedtime);
Made sure Sleep Monitoring is turned on on Apple Watch;
Deleted current sleep schedule, turned phone & watch off and on again, then set up a new schedule;
Deleting Autosleep from both phone & watch;
Turned off 'Track time in bed' on iPhone;
Made sure Apple Watch 8 is first in the 'Data Sources' for sleep;
Reset the watch entirely to factory defaults, then paired it up again;
Turned OFF "Share Across Devices" in Focus (off on ALL devices).

Sometimes it will randomly track again for a couple of nights & then go back to tracking nothing or tracking wrongly.

This is super frustrating as it links into my fitness apps, which all think I am now not getting enough sleep so they adjust metrics accordingly (wrongly).

Any other solutions people have found other than those already tried above?

I'm in touch with Apple Support over the phone for 2 weeks now. Support is super kind and helpful, but they also can't figure it out. The issue has been escalated. Support has done Screen Sharing, checking settings, and adjusting things. I test Sleep for a few nights and then I call back (the same person via a special link) for further troubleshooting. So far, no good.

Any feedback and suggestions are very welcome.

Thank you!

Apple Watch Series 8

Posted on May 20, 2023 3:21 AM

Top-ranking reply

Kostadin Author

Level 1

34 points

Posted on Aug 29, 2024 10:28 AM

Hi SF-,

I'm sorry to hear that you are having the same issues in 2024 with a Series 9  Watch. But don't worry, and do not lose faith. Mine is now working fine like a charm, spot on, correct, and absolutely great. I spent a lot of time with  Support; the issue was escalated several times ("stairs") with no result. I gave up. But apparently, the problem wasn't with the  Watch/Health app at the time. Maybe, maybe a software update fixed things, but if you are having issues a year after my issues, probably it was not a hardware/software thing. I guess the problem was with my HEART. Later that year I had a yearly heart exam with my cardiologist and he said I had a "somewhat" irregular heart rhithm. A few weeks later, I had a full-blown AFIB (which  Watch detected immediately) and stayed this way for a few months (during that time, sleep tracking was not working). But then I got hospitalised, and the doctors performed Cardio Versio on me (a kind of electroshock under anaesthesia) to bring back the normal sinus rhythm - and they did succeed :) After that day,  Watch has been tracking perfectly sleep and everything health-related. So maybe check with your cardiologist if everything is OK with your heart. Good luck and success.

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53 replies

Jan 28, 2024 11:03 AM in response to kostakisss1010

Sleep not tracking. I just brought my iwatch 6 and traded it for the iwatch 9. I thought the update for the 6 stopped sleep tracking but the iwatch 9 doesn’t track sleep either.

I see a lot of people are having the same problem. Iphone 13. Iwatch 9. Sleep is set up. Hello!

Jan 28, 2024 2:10 PM in response to Debocoffin

This explains exactly what I’m experiencing with my brand new version 10.3 just got it at Christmas! I believe my updates are scheduled automatic.

very frustrated! Way too much money for a product not doing what is intended!

Ratunal

Level 1

20 points

Feb 4, 2024 3:35 PM in response to kostakisss1010

As per many comments the Apple Watch stopped tracking my sleep, first stages, now reports s few minutes each night. None of the suggestions on this sight have helped. If anything from Apple is following what is on this site, which they should be to continue to have sales, please correct the issue. If it was from an update, I assume it was not universal, so understanding the etiology and correction may be difficult. But loosing a helpful function is unacceptable

Ratunal

Level 1

20 points

May 29, 2024 5:50 PM in response to Kostadin

My watch stopped tracking sleep stages mid January. It now tracks “sleep “ periodically I’ve tried multiple ways to get it functioning, but nothing has work. Apple is growing out of the garden of Eden if it doesn’t figure what’s gone so wrong for so many

Jul 25, 2024 4:38 AM in response to Kostadin

The two things we care about most: STEPS and SLEEP TRACKING are the most difficult display (for steps, can't keep it on the watch face) and track (functions intermittently for sleep).

If you aren't on a precise schedule, and set a wider 'sleep schedule', it shows you are 'in bed' for the whole range of the schedule. Could deal with that if only the sleep tracking would work consistently.

IT logic is that the app needs to know when to start tracking?

There are few directions anywhere on the apple site. Aside from setting a sleep schedule, can the Bluetooth be off over night? Will the phone store the data until it is again synched with the phone? Should work.

Many thousands of users are having this issue, yet no dedicated and detailed instructions. I keep the bare minimum of apps on the watch to allow focus on the priorities, but still not functional. Would be great if apple could post a reference to any relevant content.

SF-

Level 1

14 points

Aug 28, 2024 11:39 PM in response to Kostadin

Hi Kostadin,

Just seeing your remarks about Apple Watch 8 and checking in to see if your sleep tracking has ever been resolved/fixed?

Would love to know if you found a solution, as I've been experiencing the same thing. Sleep stages randomly show up once every 1-2 wks. Otherwise just seeing a green bar broken up with lots of black space interspersed, not too accurately tracking sleep timing either.

I bought the watch primarily for sleep tracking as I can't wear an Oura ring unfortunately (my knuckles are too large!). But watch seems almost useless.

Thank you!

Ratunal

Level 1

20 points

Aug 29, 2024 10:45 AM in response to Kostadin

The problem is with the software or watch. As with many others, my reports of sleep stopped abruptly, with an occasional partial reading. The fact that Apple has not corrected/addressed this issue in a timely public manner is concerning

Nov 4, 2023 5:31 AM in response to Kostadin

Another problem from the latest horrible update. Ruined so many good things. Soooo disappointed in Apple. Time for an Android. 🤖

Nov 8, 2023 9:34 AM in response to Kostadin

Hii. I have the same problem. I got apple watch 8 for over a week now.

my sleep tracking does not work, its not tracking my sleep not for a day.. nothing, from the begining to now nothing... :(

Ajaxth

Level 1

8 points

Nov 12, 2023 11:08 PM in response to Kostadin

Hi. This is me too. Triple checked all settings and battery fully charged. If anyone knows how to resolve it please let us know

Dec 8, 2023 10:39 PM in response to Kostadin

My iPhone stopped going into sleep mode which now requires that I charge 2xs a day

rrodri09

Level 1

8 points

Jan 2, 2024 10:51 AM in response to Kostadin

I just bought the Ultra 2 but going to return it for same issues you have been having. I could not get accurate sleep tracking.

Jan 12, 2024 6:27 AM in response to Kostadin

I am having the same issue. Did you find a resolution? My watch is an 8 and brand new. Only see block of time.

jet386

Level 1

18 points

Jan 21, 2024 8:41 AM in response to Kostadin

I have the same issue. I have an Apple Watch Ultra 2 and I set up sleep tracking last night at about 3am.

It only shows “In Bed”.

Jan 28, 2024 4:25 PM in response to kostakisss1010

Same problem. My iwatch 6 wasn’t tracking sleep and my brand new iwatch 9 doesn’t either. I followed all your steps today. We will see

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Apple Watch 8 not Tracking Sleep & Sleep Stages