How to record yourself sleeping at home

Updated October 31, 2026

To record yourself sleeping, put your iPhone next to your bed, start a sleep recorder app, and listen to the saved clips in the morning. An app is more practical than a voice memo because you don’t have to listen through hours of silence. Record several nights, since one night may not capture anything.

Coming soon to the App Store

Step by step with SleepBoo

Plug in your iPhone and leave it next to the bed
Start tracking when you lie down
Tap “I woke up” in the morning
Listen to the snoring, coughing, and talking clips and see what time they happened

How many nights to record

Sounds vary from night to night. According to the Sleep Foundation, regular sleep talkers may need four or more nights of recording to capture an episode. Recording on different days also helps you compare, for example, a work night with a weekend night.

Keep your recordings private

SleepBoo’s recordings stay only on your iPhone
If you share a room, tell the other person you’re recording, because their voice or snoring may be picked up
If you take clips to an appointment, choose only the ones you need

What the recordings can’t tell you

A recording captures sound, not a diagnosis. If you hear breathing pauses, gasping, or choking, or you feel very sleepy during the day, see a doctor.

Frequently asked questions

Can I just use a voice memo?

You can, but you’d have to go through hours of audio. A sleep recorder saves the moments with sound and their times.

Does it record video?

No. SleepBoo records audio only.

Sources

SleepBoo is a wellness app and does not replace medical advice.