Eight Sleep adds ‘outage mode’ to smart beds after AWS problems left them frozen
Thousands of users breathed a sigh of relief after Eight Sleep adds ‘outage mode’ to smart beds after AWS problems left them frozen earlier this week. The feature was introduced following a massive AWS outage that left smart mattresses overheated, tilted, and completely unresponsive for hours.
AWS outage leaves Eight Sleep users stranded
When Amazon Web Services went down on Monday, many Eight Sleep owners found themselves quite literally losing sleep. Their temperature-controlled, elevating beds — designed for optimal rest — were stuck at awkward inclines or uncomfortably warm settings. Reddit and X (formerly Twitter) quickly filled with frustrated reports, with users unable to adjust their beds through the Eight Sleep app.
Even technology journalist Victoria Song shared that her Eight Sleep Pod 4 was “stuck upright” due to the outage. It wasn’t just an inconvenience; it showed how dependent connected devices have become on cloud infrastructure.
CEO responds to customer frustrations
Eight Sleep CEO Matteo Franceschetti acknowledged the widespread issue in a post on X, apologizing to customers affected by the AWS outage.
“The AWS outage has impacted some of our users since last night, disrupting their sleep. That is not the experience we want to provide and I want to apologize for it,” Franceschetti wrote.
The company quickly got to work on a fix — one that would make its smart sleep systems more resilient during future service disruptions.
Introducing “Outage Mode”: Sleep tech that works offline
To address the issue, Eight Sleep adds ‘outage mode’ to smart beds after AWS problems left them frozen, allowing users to control their devices offline. This new feature enables communication between the Eight Sleep app and Pod devices via Bluetooth when cloud access is unavailable.
“During an outage, you’ll still be able to open the app, turn the Pod on or off, change temperature levels, and flatten the base,” said Eight Sleep co-founder Alexandra Zatarain. The update ensures users can still sleep comfortably even when the internet isn’t cooperating.
A smarter way to handle smart bed connectivity
Previously, Eight Sleep’s high-end Pod mattress toppers — which start at around $2,000 — required constant cloud connectivity to adjust settings. That setup made them vulnerable to outages like the one caused by AWS. The new outage mode marks a key step in making the company’s systems more reliable and user-friendly.
The addition also aligns with growing consumer demand for smarter, more resilient home tech that continues to function without full internet access. For many users, this update offers peace of mind — knowing that their expensive sleep system won’t turn against them during a server crash.
What this means for smart home reliability
The incident serves as a broader reminder that the convenience of cloud-connected devices comes with potential pitfalls. When major cloud providers like Amazon face disruptions, even household essentials — like beds, thermostats, and security systems — can be affected.
By rolling out outage mode, Eight Sleep is positioning itself as a brand that listens and adapts. It’s a move that could set a new standard for other smart home companies to follow.
Eight Sleep’s quick response shows its commitment to improving user experience after a stressful night for many customers. With Eight Sleep adds ‘outage mode’ to smart beds after AWS problems left them frozen, the company is giving users more control and confidence in their sleep technology — even when the cloud goes dark.
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