10 Fixes For Samsung Galaxy Watch Not Recording Sleep

Samsung Galaxy Watches offers many features to enhance daily life, including fitness tracking, health monitoring, and seamless smartphone integration. However, some users encounter a notable issue: the device’s failure to accurately track sleep.

Despite the watch’s advanced capabilities in other areas, such as workout tracking and heart rate monitoring, this specific problem persists for many. This guide identifies common challenges users report, explores possible causes for this Samsung Galaxy Watch not recording sleep issues, and provides effective solutions to address them.

How does the Samsung Galaxy Watch track your sleep?

The Samsung Galaxy Watch uses sensors and algorithms to monitor sleep patterns. It tracks your movement through an accelerometer and analyzes your heart rate variability using a heart rate sensor to determine sleep stages, including light, deep, and REM sleep. The watch’s software processes this data to provide insights into sleep duration, quality, and consistency.

By wearing the watch overnight, it gathers and compiles this information, presenting it in the Samsung Health app, where you can view detailed reports and trends over time. This technology aims to help users better understand their sleep habits and make informed decisions to improve their sleep health.

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What exactly is the problem, and what are its causes?

Many users of the Samsung Galaxy Watch have reported a specific issue where the watch fails to track or record sleep data accurately. This problem manifests as missing records for nights of sleep or incorrect data showing significantly disturbed or minimal sleep when the user’s actual sleep experience is different.

Here are some possible causes of this problem with your watch:

• Software glitches: Bugs in new updates or inherent software issues that disrupt sleep-tracking algorithms.
• Sensor malfunctions: Faulty or blocked sensors that fail to read heart rate or movement data during sleep correctly.
• Improper fit: If the watch is too loose or tight, it might not be in the correct position to monitor physiological signals effectively.
• Outdated firmware: Running on older firmware versions can lead to compatibility issues with newer versions of the Samsung Health app, affecting how data is processed and displayed.
• Interference from other devices: Sometimes, other electronic devices nearby can interfere with the signal transmission of the watch, leading to inaccurate readings.
• Physical barriers: The buildup of dirt or sweat on the sensors can obstruct the accurate reading of body signs necessary for sleep tracking.

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How to fix Samsung Galaxy Watch not recording sleep issue?

Experiencing issues with your Samsung Galaxy Watch not recording sleep accurately can be frustrating. Fortunately, you can potentially take several troubleshooting steps to resolve this problem. Here’s how you can get started:

1. Cleaning the sensor area

Keeping the sensor area clean is essential to ensure that your Samsung Galaxy Watch’s sensors are reading accurately. Dirt, grease, and sweat can interfere with sensor functionality, so regularly wipe the back of your watch with a microfiber or lint-free cloth.

For more stubborn residues, a small amount of water or rubbing alcohol can help clean the area. Avoid harsh cleaning agents like hand sanitizers, soap, or abrasive materials, which could damage the sensors.

2. Ensure proper fit for accurate tracking

The fit of your watch is crucial for precise sleep tracking. Ensure the watch is worn comfortably against your skin, about an inch above your wrist bone, to maintain optimal contact with the sensors. If you often move in your sleep, consider switching to a flexible fabric band at night to minimize gaps between your skin and the watch.

Additionally, wearing the watch on the inside of your wrist or arm can improve sensor accuracy, especially if you have tattoos or dense body hair.

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3. Restart your watch

Restarting your Samsung Galaxy Watch can resolve potential glitches that might have occurred due to recent updates to the device or the Samsung Health app. This simple step can often clear minor software issues that are affecting functionality. Here’s how to do it:

1. Press the Power Key and Home Key simultaneously on your Galaxy Watch until the power menu is displayed.
   

   

2. Tap the “Power icon” on the screen to turn off the watch.
   

   

3. Once the watch has completely powered down, to turn it on, press and hold the Power button again until you see Samsung logo appear.
   

   

Images sourced from WorldofTech

4. Ensure app permissions for sensor data

For Samsung Health to function properly and track your sleep accurately, it must have full access to the device’s sensors. This access allows the app to monitor your movements and physiological signals, crucial for sleep analysis. Here are the steps to enable sensor permissions:

1. Swipe up to bring the Apps and open the Settings on your watch.
   

   

2. Scroll down and select “Privacy.”
   

   

3. Tap on “Permission Manager.”
   

   

4. Scroll and tap on “Sensors.”
   

   

5. Find and select “Samsung Health” in the list.
   

   

6. Tap the option for “Allow” to ensure Samsung Health can always access sensor data.
   

   

Images sourced from HP Bagus

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5. Check Samsung Health settings

Certain features within the Samsung Health app should be enabled to get the most out of your sleep tracking. This includes monitoring blood oxygen levels and detecting snoring, which helps the app to more accurately determine your sleep stages based on physiological changes during sleep. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Swipe down from your watch face and tap on the Settings icon.
   

   

2. Scroll to and tap the Samsung Health app.
   

   

3. Select “Heart rate.”
   

   

4. Set it to “Measure continuously.”
   

   

5. Get back to the previous menu and scroll down. Tap the toggle next to “Blood oxygen during sleep.” This setting helps measure sleep quality more accurately by monitoring blood oxygen levels.
   

   

Images sourced from Got to Get it Done

6. Enable Sleep Mode

Enabling Sleep Mode, Bedtime, or Goodnight Mode on your Galaxy Watch can significantly enhance sleep recording. This mode minimizes disruptions during your sleep by turning off wake-up gestures and reducing notification alerts, thereby allowing for a more stable measurement period. Follow these steps to enable Sleep Mode:

1. Access the app drawer by swiping up on the watch face. Select the Settings app from the list of applications.
   

   

2. Scroll down and tap on “Modes.”
   

   

3. Choose “Sleep” from the available options.
   

   

4. Activate Sleep mode immediately by selecting “Turn on,” or set a schedule to activate automatically at your preferred sleep time.
   

   

Images sourced from WebPro Education

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7. Clear Samsung Health cache

Clearing the cache for the Samsung Health app can help fix issues related to outdated or corrupt temporary data that might be hindering sleep recording. Here’s how to clear the cache:

1. Swipe up from the bottom of your watch face to access the app drawer and tap on the Settings app.
   

   

2. Scroll down and select “Apps.”
   

   

3. Choose the “App list.”
   

   

4. Scroll down and tap on Samsung Health app. 
   

   

5. Select the option to clear the cache.

Images sourced from WebPro Education

Repeat the process for the Samsung Health app to ensure all associated caches are cleared.

8. Update the Samsung Health app and Watch software

Keeping your apps and watch firmware up to date is crucial for ensuring all features work correctly, including sleep recording. Here’s how to update both your Samsung Health app and the watch’s operating system:

↪ Updating the app

1. Access the app drawer by swiping up on the watch face and tap on the “Google Play Store” icon.

   

2. Scroll down and select “Manage apps.“
   

   

3. Tap “Update all” to ensure all apps, including Samsung Health, are up-to-date.
   

   

   Restart your watch after the updates to apply any changes.

↪ Updating the Watch software

1. Again, swipe up to access the app drawer and tap on Settings.
   

   

2. Scroll down and open “Software Update.”
   

   

3. Here, select  Install Now.”
   

   

4. Ensure your watch is connected to Wi-Fi, has the location turned on, and is connected to the charger. Wait for the update to download and install, which might include a status like “Processing the update package…“
   

   

5. Once updated is complete, tap “OK.”
   

   

Restart your watch after installing the app and system updates to refresh the system and apply the new configurations effectively.

Images sourced from Fix369

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9. Factory Reset your watch

If you’ve tried other fixes and your Samsung Galaxy Watch still isn’t recording sleep, a factory reset might help. This process will erase all data on your watch, including settings, apps, and personal data, so it’s important to back up your information first. Here are two ways to reset your Samsung Galaxy Watch:

↪ Reset your watch from Settings

1. Swipe up from the bottom of the watch face to open the app drawer. Tap on the Settings to open it.

   

2. Scroll down and select “General.”
   

   

3. Tap on “Reset.”
   

   

4. Read the instructions and then tap “Reset” again to confirm.
   

   

Images sourced from: WebPro Education

↪ Reset via Recovery mode (Reboot mode)

If you’ve forgotten your screen lock PIN and need to reset your watch, you can perform a recovery reset. Please note that after the reset, you’ll need to log in using the same Samsung account that’s currently configured on the watch. Here are steps to reset your watch through recovery mode:

1. Turn off your watch by pressing and holding the Home key (Power key) and the Back key simultaneously until you see “Rebooting” at the bottom of the screen.
   

   

2. As soon as the “Rebooting” message appears, press the Home key repeatedly until the Reboot mode menu appears on the screen.
   

   

3. Use the Home key to cycle through the options until “Recovery” is highlighted.
   

   

4. Press and hold the Home key to begin the recovery process. Older models will automatically start the recovery.
   

   

5. After initiating recovery, a menu on Galaxy watches running Wear OS (such as Watch4, Watch5, and Watch6) will appear. Swipe down to select “Wipe data/factory reset,” then swipe right.
   

   

6. Swipe down again to choose “Factory data reset,” and swipe right to execute the reset.
   

   

7. Once the reset is completed, swipe right to reboot the watch.
   

   

Images sourced from: WorldofTech

After the reset, set up your watch again and check if sleep recording is working. This step often resolves underlying issues by restoring the watch to its original settings.

10. Seeking Further Assistance

If the factory reset also does not resolve the issue, the next step would be to contact Samsung Support or visit a Samsung help center for professional assistance. They can provide further diagnostics and identify hardware issues affecting the sleep tracking functionality.

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Maximizing the sleep recording feature on your Samsung Galaxy Watch

Using the sleep recording feature effectively on your Samsung Galaxy Watch can provide valuable insights into your sleep patterns and help you adjust for better sleep health. Here are some tips on how to optimize the use of this feature:

• Proper wear: Ensure the watch is snug against your skin, about an inch above the wrist bone, for optimal sensor contact.
• Battery management: Keep the watch charged to prevent it from turning off at night.
• Software updates: Regularly update your watch to improve sleep tracking accuracy.
• Use sleep features: Activate ” Do Not Disturb” mode and enable blood oxygen monitoring and snore detection for detailed sleep insights.
• Analyze sleep data: Regularly review your sleep data in the Samsung Health app to understand your sleep patterns and make necessary adjustments.
• Consistent sleep schedule: Maintain a regular sleep routine to enhance the reliability of your sleep data.

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Final thoughts

Tackling sleep recording issues with your Samsung Galaxy Watch can be straightforward with the proper steps. You can try several troubleshooting methods, including updating software, cleaning the sensor area, and adjusting how you wear the watch.

Regular maintenance, like software updates and keeping the watch clean, will help prevent many problems. If issues persist after trying these solutions, a factory reset might be necessary, and for ongoing problems, contacting Samsung Support is recommended.