watchOS 7 adds long-awaited sleep tracking features
Apple is adding a raft of new sleep tracking features to the Apple Watch with watchOS 7, including an all-new “Sleep Mode” and detailed sleep charts that show every morning how much you’ve slept, using Apple Watch’s built-in technology to monitor sleeping patens and the quality of sleep.
Sleep tracking is one of the main new features arriving with watchOS 7, alongside sharable watch faces, a new automatic handwashing detection feature that will automatically detect handwashing motions and sounds, additional workout types including dance, and more.
Apple says with watchOS 7, set to be officially released later this year, users can create a schedule and a bedtime routine so you can meet your weekly sleep goals, with a new Wind Down feature helping you establish a bedtime routine with shortcuts that help you relax, like opening a meditation app and dimming your lights.
To ensure sufficient charge throughout the night, Apple says that if your battery is below 30 percent near bedtime, you’ll get a reminder to charge. If you charge after waking up, you’ll get an iPhone notification when you’re at 100 percent.
On iPhone, you can manage your sleep schedule, view sleep trends over time, and see how consistently you’re meeting your sleep goals in the Health app, with a chart showing a detailed breakdown of how you’ve slept, with Apple Watch’s accelerometer working to notice the subtle movements associated with breathing and differentiate between sleeping and waking states throughout the night.