How to set-up & use Fitbit’s microphone-powered Snore Report
The microphone-powered “Snore & Noise Detect” is now available to owners of Fitbit Sense and Versa 3 devices with a Premium subscription. Here’s how to use and set-up.
The feature monitors sounds in your environment while you sleep. This includes snoring as well as your bedroom sound level. The latter is a factor that could affect your quality of sleep.
Many people snore and it can be an annoying sleep problem. Put simply, snoring is noisy breathing during sleep. Statistics show that about 30%-50% of all people snore at some point in their lives. It is more common in men, although many women snore as well. In most cases the condition is not dangerous, but it can be an indicator of a more serious problem such as as obstructive sleep apnea. Not to mention that it effects the quality of sleep of your partner.
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Fitbit has been testing a Beta snore detecting app for Versa 2 for a while now. You can find it on this link.
The software slots users into different categories according to their sleep and snoring patterns. For example, those that sleep soundly are labeled ‘tortoise’, while the more restless types might be assigned a ‘bears’ moniker.
The newly released Snore & Noise Detection is a more sophisticated version of that. Nevertheless, if you own a Fitbit Versa 2 you may want to trial the snore detecting app. Particularly as the new software is only available to Sense and Versa 3 owners.
How to enable Snore & Noise Detecting
A microphone is something that is necessary in order for the snore function. Devices such as the newly released Charge 5 don’t have a microphone so miss out on the feature. Once the functionality is enabled, Fitbit will monitor noise information every few seconds while you sleep. This includes your snoring as well as snoring next to you and the overall noise environment.
How to switch on or off Fitbit Snore & Noise Detection
- Make sure your software is up to date
To enable snore detection make sure you are on the latest version of the Fitbit app and firmware for your Sense or Versa 3.
- Visit the “Sleep” page in the smartphone app
This is where you will spot a toggle to turn the feature on. Basically, you’ll need to go to the Today tab in the Fitbit smartphone app. Select the sleep tile. If you can’t see it you may need to swipe to find it.
- Choose the gear icon to toggle the feature
Now select the gear icon in the top right corner and Detect Snoring. You’ll see a toggle button. This gives you control over whether Snore & Noise Detection is switched on or off.
- You may be asked to confirm your selection.
- Your microphone needs to be activated in order for the feature to work
If you find you are not getting any snore data, a microphone that does not have permissions to operate could be the culprit. So you’ll need to allow the microphone to record in permissions.
- Other requirements
You should make sure the battery level on your Fitbit is above 40% before you go to sleep. You also need a Premium subscription in order for the feature to work.
You should get the first a “Snore report” the day after you’ve enabled the feature. As long as you’ve slept for at least three hours. Any less than that and you won’t get that type of data. So while Fitbit can detect naps, you will not get snoring or noise information for those.
The Snore & Noise Detect report can be found in the Fitbit app on your phone. But it’s not that easy to find, you do have to know where it sits.
You’ll notice that below the Sleep Score screen on a particular day a Snore Report is visible beside the time sleeping. But there’s no way to click on it. Fitbit has confused things a bit here.
To open the report select the sleep tile, then choose sleep log. Click on the day that you are interested in and then select the Restoration section. This is where the report can be found alongside Time Asleep and Deep & Rem Sleep. You’ll need to scroll down to the bottom of the page to see the option. Open the report by tapping on the View Snore & Noise Report icon.
You’ll find that it consists of the following:
- Sound intensity: the Fitbit on your wrist records the noise of your environment. This is done every few seconds. Noise is something that can affect the quality of your sleep.
- Snoring events: as well as snoring insights.
The report categoriezes your snoring into one of three categories depending on intensity:
- None to mild: if the amount of times you snored is below 10% of the time you slept. Most people are in this category.
- Moderate: 10-40%
- Frequent: 40% and above
As far as the noise level, it is categorized into one of five groups:
- Very quiet (below 30dBA)
- Quiet (30-50dBA)
- Moderate (50-70dBA)
- Loud (70-90dBA)
- Very loud (above 90dBA)
In extreme circumstances when the noise levels are very high, the microphone in the device on your wrist might struggle to identify snoring. So best not to play music, white noise or other sounds while you sleep.
You should also know that turning the feature on will shorten your Fitbit’s battery life. So make sure to keep your device topped up. If the device is low on battery while you sleep, some of the data might be missing. Fitbit recommends to be on the safe side, you should keep the battery level above 40% when you go to sleep.
Users have reported that they need to charge their every two days when using the Snore detect feature. That’s down from between six and seven days! So the excessive battery consumption is above 50%. Some users have decided that while it is a nice feature to have – it is not worth the battery drain. Nevertheless, it could be good to check every once in a while so you can enable the feature for a few days and then switch it off.
Fitbit adds that that Snore & Noise Detect is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical conditions. It is simply there to help you better manage your well-being.
Finally, Snore detection is something that sits behind a paywall. Which means you will need a Premium Subscription to access its functionality. If you’ve bought a new Sense or Versa 3, there should be a free 90-day Premium trial offer with your purchase. Once that’s up the price reverts to $9.99 per month.
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