How to set up sleep apnea notifications on Apple Watch

💡 Need to know

• Got the right device? You can detect sleep apnea with an Apple Watch® Series 9 or later, an Apple Watch Ultra 2 or 3, or an Apple Watch SE 3.
• Find it in the Health app: Tap Search> Respiratoryto begin the setup process.
• Get in the habit: You'll need to wear your Apple Watch for at least 10 nights in 30 days to get a notification.
• Don't forget to see a doctor: An Apple Watch can't diagnose or treat sleep apnea, so be sure to schedule an appointment with your doctor if you get an alert.

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You've spent another Saturday sleeping in, but you still feel just as tired and foggy as if you pulled an all-nighter. Breathing disturbances might be messing with your rest without you even realizing it. With Apple Watch sleep apnea notifications, your smartwatch can keep an eye on your breathing all night and alert you to possible issues.

What you need before you start

Apple's sleep apnea checker is one of the newer Health app features worth exploring. It's meant for people aged 18 and older who haven't been diagnosed with sleep apnea.

Here's what you need to get started:

• An Apple Watch Series 9, 10, or 11; an Apple Watch Ultra 2 or 3; or an Apple Watch SE 3
• watchOS® 26
• iOS® 26
• The Track Sleep setting enabled

Turn on sleep apnea notifications

Your Apple Watch detects sleep apnea by using its accelerometer to track small wrist movements while you sleep. However, you'll need to turn on sleep apnea notifications first.

Here's how to start tracking breathing disturbances with your Apple Watch:

1. Open the Health app on your iPhone®.
2. Tap Search> Respiratory.
3. Find Sleep Apnea Notifications and tap Set Up> Next.
4. Confirm your birthday.
5. Answer whether you've been diagnosed with sleep apnea.
6. Tap Next> Done.

Understand what your notifications mean

Apple Watch doesn't track sleep apnea directly. Instead, it uses respiratory tracking to monitor breathing disturbances when you sleep.

If your Apple Watch detects sleep apnea signs over 30 days, it sends an alert to your phone. You can tap Export PDF to view a chart of your breathing disturbances in the Health app, along with an explanation of what the notification means.

Seeing this alert pop up on your phone may seem scary, but it doesn't necessarily mean you have sleep apnea. It's only a screening signal.

Always follow up with a doctor for an official diagnosis and treatment. They may use the 3% or 4% rule to diagnose sleep apnea. During a sleep study, they watch to see if your airflow drops by at least 30% for 10 seconds or more and if your blood oxygen levels fall by 3% or 4%, depending on the threshold.

For even more information, track your overall sleep patterns on Apple Watch. It lets you set sleep goals and monitor how much you actually sleep in a night. It also tracks different sleep stages, such as rapid eye movement and deep sleep. For example, if you wake up feeling tired, you could check how many hours of deep sleep you got the night before.

Fix missing or delayed Apple sleep apnea notifications

Not seeing any sleep apnea notifications? Try these troubleshooting tips:

• Give it more time: Apple will only send you a notification if it has enough data, so make sure you wear your watch for at least 10 nights in a 30-day period.
• Make sure you have a supported model: So far, Apple has only rolled this feature out for a few models, including the Apple Watch Series 9 and later, Apple Watch Ultra 2 and 3, and Apple Watch SE 3.
• Connect or re-pair your Apple Watch: Make sure your Apple Watch is properly paired by holding the watch's Side buttonand holding it near your phone. When the Apple Watch pairing screen appears, follow the on-screen prompts.
• Update your software: Use your phone to check for watchOS updates. In the Apple Watch app, tap My Watch> General> Software Updateto see if anything is pending.
• Ask a pro: Check out coverage options for your wearable devices so you can get expert help.

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FAQ

Can I get sleep apnea notifications on my Apple Watch?

Yes, the Apple Watch monitors breathing disturbances when you sleep and sends you an alert if it detects signs of sleep apnea over 30 days. The feature is currently available on Apple Watch Series 9, 10, or 11; Apple Watch Ultra 2 or 3; or Apple Watch SE 3.

Does the Apple Watch listen for snoring?

No, the Apple Watch doesn't have snore detection. Instead of recording audio, it uses the built-in accelerometer to check for small wrist movements that may be signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea.

What else can get mistaken for sleep apnea?

Restless Legs Syndrome and insomnia are two other conditions that sometimes get mistaken for sleep apnea. Only a doctor can give you an official diagnosis, so schedule an appointment if you get a sleep apnea notification from your Apple Watch.