If you’re like most Garmin smartwatch users, you rely on your device to track a variety of data points, including your steps taken, heart rate, and sleep. But what if your Garmin isn’t tracking your sleep? Don’t worry – you’re not alone.
In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of the reasons why your device might not be tracking your sleep and provide some tips on how to fix the issue. Stay tuned! Check also: Garmin Not Tracking Your Steps Accurately
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Why Isn’t My Garmin Tracking My Sleep?

There are many possible reasons why your Garmin tracking device may not be able to track your sleep pattern. One common reason is that you may simply not be wearing the device while you’re asleep.
In order for the Garmin device to pick up on your sleep patterns, it must be able to consistently capture data throughout the night. Another possible reason is that your Garmin device may not be tracking movement accurately because of changes in your sleeping environment. I will write the other reasons in details, keep reading.
Related post: How accurate is a smartwatch step counter? – In Depth Analysis
Why Garmin watches are not tracking sleep?
There are a few reasons why your Garmin watch might not be accurately tracking your sleep. Now I will discuss them all with an explanation. The reasons for not tracking your sleep are:
- Synchronization Error
- OHR Sensor is disabled
- Activity Tracker setting is not set properly
- Incorrect Date of Birth and Time Zone
- Battery Saver is turned ON
- Incorrect Sleeping Position
- Pending Update is required
Check also: How Does Garmin Measure Stress?
Now we will go through the details about the particular cause.
Synchronization Error
If you’re not seeing accurate sleep data in your app, it’s likely because your app and smartwatch are not properly synchronized. This is a common reason for inaccurate sleep data.

OHR Sensor is disabled
OHR, or optical heart rate, is a key feature of many modern fitness trackers and smartwatches. This technology uses light to measure the changes in blood flow that occur during each heartbeat, giving you information about your heart rate and the intensity of your physical activity.
However, if your optical heart rate sensor is disabled or otherwise not functioning properly, your watch may not be able to read sleep data correctly. Because OHR is so important for accurately tracking sleep metrics like deep and light sleep cycles and REM phases.
Check also: How to Change, Install & Edit Garmin Watch Face
Activity tracker setting is not set properly
One of the main features of many activity tracking apps is the ability to track sleep patterns. However, if you don’t set your watch as your main activity tracker, your app might not track your sleep data correctly.
The reason for this is that most apps use a number of different sensors to track sleep, including the accelerometer, heart rate monitor, and GPS. If your watch is not set as your main activity tracker, then it’s likely that one or more of these sensors will not be active, which can result in inaccurate sleep data.
Incorrect Date of Birth and Time Zone
If you find that your watch is not tracking your sleep correctly, one of the first things you should check is your date of birth. If the date of birth is incorrect, it can throw off the sleep tracking. This is because the watch uses the date of birth to calculate the amount of time you spend in each stage of sleep.
As a result, if the date of birth is incorrect, it will lead to an inaccurate sleep measurement. Another reason why your watch might not be tracking your sleep correctly is if you have not set the correct time zone. The watch needs to be set to the correct time zone in order for the sleep tracking to be accurate. Otherwise, it will track your sleep based on the wrong time zone, which can lead to inaccuracies.
Check also: How Can You Text From a Smartwatch?
Battery Saver is turned ON
To ensure that your watch is capturing accurate data while you sleep, it is important to make sure that all of its sensors are properly configured. One key factor to consider is whether your battery saver mode is turned on or off.
Some watches automatically turn this setting on when idle for a certain amount of time, which may interfere with your watch’s ability to collect data. Therefore, it is crucial to check and make sure that your battery saver mode has not been triggered.
Incorrect Sleeping Position
Though you might not think it, the way you sleep can actually affect the data your watch collects about your sleep patterns. If you sleep on your arm, for example, you may compress the area just underneath your watch, which can lead to inaccurate readings.
In addition, if you toss and turn during the night, your watch may not be able to get a clear reading of your sleep patterns. As a result, it’s important to be aware of your sleeping position and movements in order to get the most accurate information from your watch.
Pending Update is required
If you find that your smartwatch is not tracking your sleeping data, check to see if there is a pending update. Old software can sometimes have the issue.
Check also: Is Garmin Better Than Fitbit? Why and Why Not?
Garmin Sleep Tracking Accuracy
You should know Garmin’s Smartwatch sleep tracking accuracy before you configure your smartwatch to track your sleep accurately. The matrix shows that Garmin Watch predicts deep, light, and REM sleep stages at roughly the same 69% accuracy rate. Wake is slightly more accurate at 73%.
However, this does not account for the fact that some people move around a lot in their sleep, which can affect the accuracy of the tracker. In addition, the watch may not be able to track all of theSleep Stages accurately if you do not wear it to bed every night. Despite these potential limitations, the Garmin Smartwatch is still one of the most accurate sleep trackers on the market.
How to fix: Sleep tracking is not working on Garmin
1. Synchronize your watch and App
To fix this, make sure your app and smartwatch are both turned on and connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Then, open the app and go to the Settings menu. From there, select “Sync with smartwatch.” Once you’ve done this, your app and smartwatch should be properly synchronized and you should see accurate sleep data in your app.
2. Check Watch and App settings
If you want to get the most accurate information about your sleeping habits, then it’s important to take some basic steps to ensure that your watch and app settings are configured correctly. First, in your watch, make sure that your battery saver mode is disabled, so that all readings will be recorded consistently. You should also check that the Date of Birth is set properly and that your optical heart rate sensor is enabled.
Second, in your app, make sure that it’s updated to the latest version and that you have selected your smartwatch as your preferred activity tracker for night when setting up sleep tracking. By taking these simple steps, you can be sure to get the most accurate information possible about the quality of your sleep and any trends over time. So if you’re looking to get a more detailed picture of how you’re sleeping at night, be sure to double-check those watch and app settings!
3. Sleep in the proper position
Sleeping in the proper position is essential for ensuring good sleep quality and adequate rest. In particular, sleeping on your arm can cause discomfort and pain that may disrupt your sleep cycle and negatively impact your overall health.

Additionally, if you are wearing a smartwatch while sleeping, laying on your arm can result in an improper readout of your sleep data by the watch. This is because placing excessive pressure on the watch might compress the skin underneath it, causing an inaccurate measurement of your heart rate or other vital signs. Therefore, it is important to always orient yourself properly throughout the night in order to get the most out of your precious hours of sleep. Doing so will help ensure that you wake up feeling refreshed and energized each day!
4. Restart your smarwatch
Finally, If you have noticed that your Garmin Vivo smartwatch is not tracking your sleep as accurately as it should, there may be a simple solution. Restarting your device can sometimes clear up any issues related to sleep tracking and ensure that your watch is able to give you an accurate representation of your sleep patterns.
This is a fairly simple step to take, and it can help ensure that you are getting the most out of your smartwatch. So whether you are dealing with accuracy issues or just want to make sure that all of your data is being recorded properly, simply restarting your smartwatch can be an effective way to troubleshoot any problems and ensure that you are getting the most from this important tool.
How to solve Garmin Vivoactive not tracking sleep
If you are having trouble with sleep tracking on your Garmin Vivoactive, you may be wondering how to resolve the issue. Many users claim that a simple soft reset is often all that is needed to get the device working properly again.
To perform a soft reset, simply press and hold the power button until your watch turns off completely. Once it is powered down, release the button and then hold it down again to turn the device back on. It should now be fully functional and ready to track your sleep patterns again as normal. So if you are struggling with sleep tracking on your Garmin Vivoactive, try a soft reset first; it just might do the trick!
Video Solution if your Garmin is not tracking your sleep
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