Sleep apnoea notifications on your Apple Watch

The Sleep Apnoea Notifications Feature can look for breathing disturbances while you're sleeping and notify you if they show consistent signs of moderate to severe sleep apnoea.

About sleep apnoea and breathing disturbances

Sleep apnoea is a respiratory condition where you experience repeated disruptions in your breathing while you sleep. These breathing disturbances are fairly common, and people typically experience a few disturbances a night. Your alcohol intake, upper respiratory illnesses and even some medications can lead to elevated breathing disturbances. When you wear your Apple Watch to bed, it uses the accelerometer to look for breathing disturbances while you sleep. These are categorised as "Elevated" or "Not Elevated". Over a 30-day evaluation period, if you consistently experience "Elevated" breathing disturbances, you receive a notification, letting you know it identified signs of sleep apnoea. If you have not been diagnosed with sleep apnoea, you should talk to your doctor.

Here’s what you’ll need

• An Apple Watch Series 9 or later or Apple Watch Ultra 2, with the latest version of watchOS.

• Update your iPhone to the latest version of iOS.

• Sleep must be set up with Track Sleep with Apple Watch turned on.

• You must wear your Apple Watch to sleep for a minimum of 10 nights over a 30-day period. Your data will be analysed every 30 days.

• Sleep apnoea notifications are intended for use by people 18 years or older who have not been diagnosed with sleep apnoea.

Turn on sleep apnoea notifications

1. On your iPhone, open the Health app.

2. Tap Browse, then tap Respiratory.

3. Under Sleep Apnoea Notifications, tap Set Up, then tap Next.

4. Confirm your Date of Birth and if you've ever been diagnosed with sleep apnoea, then tap Continue.

5. Tap Next, then tap Done.

View your sleep apnoea notifications or breathing disturbances

1. On your iPhone, open the Health app.

2. Tap Browse, then tap Respiratory.

3. Tap either Sleep Apnoea Notifications or Breathing Disturbances.

   

You can view your breathing disturbances for the past month, 6 months or year.

If you receive a notification, you can also share a detailed report with your healthcare provider. To share a PDF, scroll down and tap Export PDF.

Things you should know

• The Sleep Apnoea Notifications Feature is not intended to diagnose, treat or aid in the management of sleep apnoea.

• Not all people with sleep apnoea receive a notification.

• If you believe you have sleep apnoea, talk to your doctor.