How to use Bedtime on iPhone and iPad to track your sleep

Written By Nidhi Reviewed By How-to iPad iPhone 7 Min Read

Sound sleep is essential for physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing. Besides, improper sleep cycles can lead to obesity and cardiovascular diseases in the long term. Hence, the Sleep Schedule feature in iOS 14 (called Bedtime in iOS 13 and 12) is quite essential.

The Bedtime app helps you achieve your sleeping goals efficiently. Undoubtedly, this has been popular among many iPhone users. However, if you are new to it, this post explains how to set up and use Bedtime for sleep tracking on iPhone. Let’s get started!

How does Bedtime work on iPhone?

We often compromise on a steady sleep cycle for work, family, friends, movies, etc. The Bedtime feature is dedicated to improving your sleep.

After you set a bedtime and wake-up time, the Clock app will remind you to go to bed and wake you up when it’s time. But that’s not all!

You can even track your sleep. While not as accurate as some third-party sleep tracking apps, it still does a decent job.

Note: Earlier, Bedtime was in the Clock app on both the iPhone and iPad. But with iOS 14, it is now in the Health app. However, since the Health app is not present on the iPad, you will find this option in the Clock app on the latest iPadOS 14.

Setup Bedtime on iPhone in iOS 14 or later

  1. Open the Health app → tap Browse.
  2. Hit Sleep.
  3. Tap Get StartedNext.

    Tap on Sleep in Browse Tab and Tap on Get Started then Tap on Next in Health App on iPhone
  4. Under sleep goal, it shows 8 hours by default. You can change it by tapping the or + buttons.
  5. Now, tap Next.

    Set up Sleep Goal by Tapping on Plus or Minus icon and then Tap on Next on iPhone
  6. Set your schedule.
    By default, all days are selected.
    • Deselect the days you do not want the alarm to ring.
    • Next, choose the sleeping and wake-up time.
    • Drag the ends of the rotator to change the time.

      Set your Bedtime and Wake up Schedule in Health App on iPhone
  7. Scroll to the bottom and change default options like Sound, Snooze, etc. Once done, tap Add.
    Check Alarm Option and Tap on Add on iPhone
  8. Review your settings and tap Next.
  9. Choose to Enable Sleep Mode or not.
  10. Read the description for Wind Down and choose to enable it or not.

    Review Settings Tap on Next and Choose Enable Sleep Mode or Not then Select Option to Enable Wind Down or Not on iPhone
  11. Optional: Set up Wind Down Shortcuts by tapping Set Up Shortcuts → select the desired shortcut (I like to listen to Spotify before falling asleep).

    Tap on Shortcut and then Tap on Next on iPhone
  12. Tap Next.
    Tap on Shortcut and then Tap on Next on iPhone
    After this, the lockscreen will have a ‘Shortcuts’ button. When you tap it, you can choose the desired shortcut and go there directly. This eliminates the need to open the Home screen and see app badges or notifications – things that would invite you to check them and disturb your sleep.

    Siri Shortcut on Bedtime iPhone Lock Screen
  13. Finally, review the settings and tap Done.

    Tap on Done to Setup Bedtime on iPhone

You have successfully set up the Bedtime schedule.

How to turn on or off Bedtime on iPhone

  1. Open the Health app → BrowseSleep.
  2. Tap the card that says Full Schedule & Options.

    Tap on Sleep in Browse Tab and then tap on Full Schedule & Option on iPhone
  3. Toggle off Sleep Schedule.
    Follow the same steps to turn it back on.

    Turn Off Bedtime on iPhone

How to change the time or days for Bedtime alarms

  1. Open the Health app → BrowseSleep.
  2. Tap Full Schedule & Options card.
  3. Tap Edit.
  4. Under Days Active, tap to select or deselect the days.

    Customize Bedtime Days in Health app on iPhone
  5. Under Bedtime and Wake Up, drag the ends to reconfigure the bed time and wake-up time.
  6. Tap Done to save the new changes.

    Ccustomize Bedtime and Wake up Time in Health App on iPhone

Customize Bedtime alarm on iPhone

In iOS 14 or later, options are simplified. Everything is under proper tabs. All you have to do is carefully read the option name, the text below it, and make changes as desired.

Here’s some guidance on how to customize the Sleep Schedule on iPhone.

  1. Go to the Health app → tap BrowseSleep.
  2. Tap the card for Full Schedule & Options.
    We already saw how to change time, days or enable and disable Sleep Schedule in the above section.
  3. Now, scroll down to Additional Details.

    Tap on Sleep on Browse tab in Health app Tap on Full Schedule & Options and then Tap on Additional Details
  4. Tap Sleep Goal to change it.
  5. Next, tap Wind Down to set it as desired.
  6. Tap Wind Down Shortcuts to add another shortcut or remove the existing one.
  7. Tap Options.
    All toggles here are enabled. These default settings are perfect for most. But you can read the text below each option and disable them if needed.

    Tap on Option to Customize Bedtime Alarm Settings on iPhone

Check your sleep history from the Health app

  1. Open the Health app and tap Browse.
  2. Next, tap Sleep.
  3. The first graph here shows your sleep data. Tap W (week) or M (month) to view the desired graphs.
  4. Tap Show More Sleep Data to dive deep.
    Here you can see the average time in bed, average time asleep, etc.

    Tap on Sleep in Browse tab in Health app to Check Sleep History on iPhone

Notes:

  • To manually enter sleep data, tap Add Data from the top right.
  • If you use your iPhone when you’re supposed to be in bed, you won’t get credit for that time. Or, if you snooze the Wake alarm, the time you stay in bed updates to match.

Remember, Bedtime tracks the time you spend in bed, not how much or how well! Additionally, it reminds you to sleep but does not help you fall asleep. But you can always use third-party sleep-inducing apps.

I hope our thorough guide on using Bedtime on iPhone helped you. Have more queries? Share in the comments below.

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By Nidhi
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A tech-aficionado whose superpower lies in blabbering interminably about new technologies. After 4+ years and 4500+ content pieces that helped diverse companies grow, I followed my passion and made iGeeks Media my home. When not gushing over technology, you will find me immersed in a fictional world, either reading or creating one.
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