New ‘Bedtime’ Feature Revealed in iOS 10 May Help iPhone Users Sleep Better

Apple’s Night Shift feature changed the way iPhone users look at their screens at night, and it was continuously touted as something that would help users sleep better. The company is continuing this mission with a new feature coming to iOS 10.

Neil Hughes from AppleInsider reveals what is called the “Bedtime” feature. Apple will soon feature alarms reminding users when it’s time to wake up and when it’s time to go to bed, according to Hughes.

“Apple offers users a simplified setup process,” writes Hughes, “asking a series of questions to configure the ‘Bedtime Alarm’ and ‘Wake Alarm’ to their liking. These include what time the user would like to wake up, which days of the week the alarm should go off, and how many hours of sleep they need per night.”

While it is possible to do this on an iPhone now by setting up multiple alarms, the new Bedtime feature will have additional benefits. Hughes mentions users can change the amount of sleep they need with a graphical dial on the screen. “Once configured, users will receive a bedtime reminder the night before alarms are set to go off,” writes Hughes. “This can be customized with a prompt immediately at bedtime, or a range of times up to an hour before a user wants to be in bed.”

The new alarms will function with the Health App, and there will be a quick link in the Clock app for users who want to see their “Sleep Analysis” data, so says Hughes. He adds, “Another noteworthy feature is a customizable ‘Wake Up Sound Volume’ within the ‘Wake Alarm’ options. Here, users can customize how loud their alarm is in the morning, separately from the iOS-wide alarm volume.”

The Bedtime feature should be added to the Clock app when iOS 10 is ready, according to Hughes. The new software “is scheduled to launch as a free update for iPhone and iPad this fall. iOS 10 is currently available in beta form for developer testing, and a public beta will launch in July,” he wrote. Find out how to sign up for the beta here.

DigitalTrends points out, “Too often we forget to go to bed at a decent time, and while that might sometimes be because we’re too busy, sometimes we just lose track of time.” Both sources suggest that consistent sleep is best, rather than going to bed and waking up at different times every day.

Apple’s building on its previous feature to help people sleep. It’s common knowledge that sleep is a very important part of a person’s health. However, having a set schedule of sleep is helpful, and Apple has taken notice. Just another way that technology can also help, not hinder, our health.