“Time Asleep” no longer shows correct sleep start time after watchOS 26.3 update

Just to close the loop on this.

After unpairing and re-pairing the Apple Watch restoring from backup (not setting up as new), the issue is resolved.

The “Time Asleep” screen is now correctly showing the exact sleep start and end time again (e.g., 4:52 AM – 12:23 PM).

Importantly, this is with Sleep Focus — not Sleep Schedule — and Sleep Focus is now displaying the correct sleep start time as it did previously.

No full setup-as-new was required.

Additionally, my Sleep Score returned to normal (90 last night), which further confirms the tracking data is displaying correctly again.

So in my case, this appears to have been a pairing/software glitch rather than a configuration issue.

Thanks to those who suggested re-pairing — that step did fix it.

— Paul C

Canada 🇨🇦

Thanks for the link — I checked it out.

Just to confirm, I had already tried the following steps before this conversation:

1.Restart Apple Watch: I turned it off (press and hold the side button, then slide Power Off), then turned it back on.

2.Force restart Apple Watch: I pressed and held both the side button and the Digital Crown for at least 10 seconds, and released when I saw the Apple logo.

3.Unpair and set up again: In the iPhone Watch app → My Watch → All Watches → tap the (i) → Unpair Apple Watch, then I paired it again and restored from backup.

The issue is still the same: on the Apple Watch, in the “Time Asleep” section, Sleep Focus no longer shows the exact time I fell asleep. Instead, it now shows the same date-range layout that Sleep Schedule uses. That’s why I originally switched to Sleep Focus — because it used to display the exact sleep start time in that section on the watch.

At this point I’m just trying to confirm: is this a bug, or an intentional change in watchOS 26.3?

If I don’t receive any further clarification here, my next step will be to contact Apple Support directly via chat before attempting a full setup as new.

Thanks again for your help — I appreciate it.

Paul C

Canada 🇨🇦

Thanks for your reply — your help is much appreciated.

However, I don’t believe this resolves the issue, as it seems to be a different problem.

I’m using an Apple Watch Series 11.

Before watchOS 26.3 (released February 11, 2026), this always worked properly.

I’ve always used Sleep Focus only and have never used a Sleep Schedule.

In my screenshot, I merged two images together. On the left side, I circled where “Time Asleep” shows the correct sleep start time (4:08 AM). On the right side (after the update), it no longer shows the time I went to sleep.

I haven’t changed how I use the watch — the only change was the software update.

That’s the issue I’m experiencing.

Is this a software glitch on my device, or was this an intentional change made in watchOS 26.3?

Thanks again.

Paul C

Canada 🇨🇦

Thanks for your suggestion — I appreciate you taking the time to respond.

When I tried using Sleep Schedule in the past, it did not show the time I went to sleep. Instead, it showed the same date-range layout that I’m now seeing again.

That’s why I switched to using Sleep Focus only — because it displayed the exact time I fell asleep (for example, 4:08 AM).

Since updating to watchOS 26.3, even when using Sleep Focus only, it now shows the same layout as Sleep Schedule used to.

I haven’t changed how I use the watch — the only change was the software update.

I’m simply trying to have it display the exact time I fell asleep, as it did before 26.3.

Thanks again for your help. Hopefully we can figure out whether this is a setting issue or a change in the recent update.

Paul C

Canada 🇨🇦