What is Sleep Mode on iPhones? How to Use This Popular Health App Feature
Today’s iPhones can do a lot of cool stuff, even when you’re not actively using them. Apple’s Sleep Focus mode might sound like a relatively unexciting feature on the surface, but it’s actually a powerful tool that can help you stay focused and develop and maintain healthy sleep habits.
Sleep Focus does so much more than just dimming your screen and silencing notifications (although it does these things, too). Understanding how to best use its features can improve your sleep schedule and even maximize your productivity when you’re awake!
What Does Sleep Mode Actually Do?
Sleep Focus can turn on automatically based on the schedule you set, or you can turn it on and off manually. Either way, it performs the following functions:
- Dim the Lock Screen and activate a sleep-specific Home screen to reduce visual distractions.
- Simplify the Lock Screen so only the time, date, and alarm info appear.
- Silence all incoming calls and notifications.
- You can allow exclusions for specific people’s phone calls or notifications from certain apps.
- Trigger Do Not Disturb mode to prevent interruptions.
- Turn on Wind Down functions (opening a meditation app, playing calming music, etc.).
- If you wear an Apple Watch, Sleep Focus can track your sleep stages and reinforce your sleep goals with gentle vibrations to help you wake up.
How to Use iPhone’s Sleep Mode
Sleep Focus is an integrated feature in the Health app, first introduced in iOS 14. When activated, Sleep Focus helps minimize distractions and gently wind down your body and mind.
There are some key differences between the Sleep Focus and Do Not Disturb features. Sleep Focus is more intentional — think of it as a nighttime assistant, helping you reinforce positive bedtime routines and create an environment conducive to improved sleep quality.
Turning On Sleep Focus Mode
There are only a few simple steps involved when activating Sleep Focus.
- First, you’ll need to open the Health app on your iPhone.
- Tap “Browse” and then “Sleep.”
- Select “Full Schedule and Options.”
On the following screen, you’ll find your Sleep Focus control center. Here, you can set your Sleep Schedule, access and configure Sleep Focus, and control your Wind Down shortcuts.
You also have the option to configure some Sleep Focus attributes from the Focus menu. Starting from the Home screen, this method involves opening the Settings app, then tapping “Focus” and selecting “Sleep.” The menu on the next screen allows you to customize the notifications and apps with Sleep Focus permissions. You can also sync Sleep Focus with your Apple Watch from this screen.
Setting Up Your Sleep Schedule
Creating a regular Sleep Schedule is a crucial part of using Sleep mode. Your Sleep Schedule tells your iPhone when you typically go to sleep and wake up so it can prepare your device for transitions between waking and sleeping.
Set up your Sleep Schedule by clicking on “Full Schedule and Options” within the Sleep menu. Select “Set Your First Schedule” to choose your bedtime and wake-up time and select which days the schedule should apply to. Then, set your Wind Down time, which eases you into a restful state before your bedtime.
Once you have your schedule set up, your iPhone can automatically activate Sleep Focus mode when it’s time to start your bedtime routine and turn it off when it’s time to start your day.
The Benefits of Sleep Focus on iPhone
Regularly using Sleep Mode can provide several benefits that you’ll notice throughout your day, not just when you’re waking up and falling asleep. After you press the Sleep mode button, you might notice the following beneficial effects:
- Improved Sleep Hygiene: Using Sleep mode encourages you to maintain a consistent bedtime and wake-up schedule. Going to bed and getting up at roughly the same time every day can dramatically improve the overall quality of your nightly sleep.
- Decreased Nighttime Distractions: When you silence calls and other incoming alerts, it’s easier to fight the urge to have a late-night scrolling session. Furthermore, Sleep mode can help you save power by dimming the Lock Screen.
- Increased Mindfulness: Using the Wind Down features within Sleep Focus can help you create and maintain routines of relaxation throughout your day. When you use Sleep mode on a regular basis, you can build in more time for reading, meditating, and journaling without your phone constantly distracting you.
- Health and Wellness Tracking: When you integrate an Apple Watch into your Sleep Focus, you can easily keep track of your sleep patterns as part of a holistic wellness plan.
Final Thoughts on Apple’s Sleep Focus Mode
Sleep Focus is an iPhone feature that can be easy to overlook, but it can have a surprisingly powerful impact on your day-to-day life if you leverage its features. Muting repeated calls, limiting digital distractions, and helping you build healthy routines can all help support better sleep and overall wellness. Just tap “Sleep” and see what a difference it can make!
Sleep Focus was only introduced with iOS 15 in 2021. If you’re using an older iPhone that doesn’t support the latest versions of Apple’s iOS, you can always sell your old phone to ecoATM and use your instant cash payment toward a new device!
Selling your iPhone to ecoATM is incredibly simple. Start by getting a quote for your old device — you can either use the pricing tool on our website or visit an ecoATM kiosk near you. With over 6,500 kiosks located across the country, you’re never too far from the nearest ecoATM location!
If you accept our cash offer, you can leave your iPhone at the kiosk and walk away with cash in your pocket. Or, if you prefer digital payment, we have options for PayPal and Venmo as well. With 50+ million smartphones and tablets recycled to date, ecoATM is well on our way to our goal of 100 million recycled devices.
Help us protect the environment and pad your wallet all at the same time when you sell your old iPhone to ecoATM!
