Sleep tracking is the big headline feature on the Nest Hub 2nd gen smart display from Google so you’d think it would be easy to set up. Unfortunately not, so here’s how to set up Sleep Sensing on the Nest Hub 2.
It’s really odd that the initial setup process doesn’t even mention Sleep Sensing and you can’t even just use the Nest Hub 2’s display to get it sorted either. Even worse is if you ask the Google Assistant “Set up Sleep Sensing” it just gives you a brief explanation of what it is.
You’ll need to use both the Google Home app (available for iOS and Android) as well as the Nest Hub 2 while making sure you’ve got the device next to your bed. Here are the steps you need to follow.
- Open the Google Home app
- Tap on your Nest Hub 2
- Tap the cog wheel at the top
- Tap Sleep Sensing
- Tap Set up Sleep Sensing
- Now read and accept the various agreements related to Sleep Sensing
- Next, add the times you intend to go to bed and wake up
- Now follow the instructions on the Nest Hub 2 to calibrate your ‘sleep spot’
If you ever need to recalibrate the sleep spot follow these steps on the Nest Hub 2:
- Swipe up from the bottom of the screen
- Tap the cog wheel on the right
- Tap Sleep Sensing
- Tap Recalibrate
You’ll also need to switch something on in the main settings of the app so you can do things like ask the Google Assistant how you slept.
- Open the Google Home app
- Tap your profile icon at the top
- Tap Assistant Settings
- Tap Personalization
- Turn on Personal Results
That’s relatively simple when you have the steps in front of you, but you also have control over various things. If you follow steps 1-4 above you’ll find various settings such as ‘Deactivate sound event tracking’, which will stop the microphones from listening to your coughing and snoring.
To get recommendations on improving your sleep, you’ll need to switch this on under ‘Personalized sleep suggestions’.
You also need to give Google Fit access if you want the sleep data to be available on your phone. For this, click on ‘Assistant access to Fit’ and turn the toggles on for sleep and/or respiration data.
Even with all of this on, it’s not obvious how to delete your sleep data. You can say “Hey Google, delete my sleep data” or use the Sleep Sense icon for up to two hours after you got up.
