How to turn on sleep apnea notifications on an Apple Watch
2 min read · 6 steps · Updated 2 October 2026
On the iPhone, open the Health app, tap Browse, Respiratory and Sleep Apnea Notifications, then Set Up. Confirm your date of birth and that you have no sleep apnea diagnosis. The watch then watches your breathing at night and notifies you if a 30-day period shows signs of sleep apnea.
With sleep apnea, breathing stops again and again during sleep. Many people have it without knowing. The watch looks for the small wrist movements that go with interrupted breathing. Apple states that the feature is not intended to diagnose or treat sleep apnea. It is a hint to see a doctor.
These steps are for recent versions of watchOS and iOS.
Step by step
Check the requirements
You need an Apple Watch Series 9 or later, Ultra 2 or later, or SE 3, with the latest watchOS, and an iPhone with the latest iOS. You must be 18 or older and must not already have a diagnosis of sleep apnea. The feature is not offered in every country.
Turn on sleep tracking
The feature needs Track Sleep with Apple Watch. If you have not set it up: how to track your sleep with an Apple Watch.
Open Health, Browse, Respiratory
Tap Sleep Apnea Notifications and then Set Up.
Answer the two questions
Confirm your date of birth and whether you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea. Tap Done at the end.
Wear the watch at night
The watch needs at least 10 nights within 30 days to make an assessment. Each night is rated as Elevated or Not Elevated for breathing disturbances.
If you get a notification
It means that breathing disturbances were raised over the period in a way that suggests moderate to severe sleep apnea. Make an appointment with your doctor. In Health, under Respiratory, you can export a PDF with the data of the last months to take with you.
Good to know
No notification does not mean that you do not have sleep apnea. The watch does not find every case. Loud snoring, pauses in breathing that a partner notices, and tiredness during the day are reasons to see a doctor anyway.
Alcohol, medicines and the position you sleep in change the nightly values. Single raised nights are normal.
The breathing disturbances of the last month, six months or year are shown in Health under Browse, Respiratory.
Related: how to measure blood oxygen on an Apple Watch.
In short: Series 9 or later, sleep tracking on, Health, Browse, Respiratory, Sleep Apnea Notifications, Set Up, wear the watch at least 10 nights in 30.
- Apple Support: Sleep apnea notifications on your Apple Watch
Rules and prices change. Check the official source before you act.