Should you still be snoring with CPAP? What it means and what to do

You usually shouldn't still be snoring once you're on CPAP. When the pressure is right and the mask seals, CPAP holds the airway open, and the AASM says it reduces or eliminates snoring. If you or your partner still hear snoring, it's a sign something needs a look, most often a mask leak, mouth breathing, a pressure that no longer fits, or a change in your weight or sleep position. Your sleep team can usually sort it out.

Should you still snore with CPAP?

Snoring on CPAP isn't expected. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) says CPAP keeps the airway open as you sleep and reduces or eliminates the sound of snoring. A 2016 review in the Journal of Thoracic Disease says that by preventing airway collapse and vibration, CPAP eliminates snoring. NHLBI lists less or no snoring among the benefits people may notice soon after starting.

Sleep Foundation goes further: when CPAP settings are adequate, it says, snoring should be completely resolved. So steady snoring on CPAP usually means the airway isn't getting enough support for some reason. That matters because the same gap can let breathing pauses through as well. If you're also sleepy during the day, mention that too.

A soft noise now and then, such as the odd snort as you roll over, is different from the steady snoring you had before treatment. If you're not sure, ask your bed partner, and check what your machine reports.

Why do people snore while using CPAP?

Snoring while using CPAP usually comes from one of a handful of causes, and several can overlap. Sleep Foundation says snoring can continue if your pressure isn't high enough to treat your sleep apnea, which can be due to a mask leak, weight gain or changes in medicines. Mouth breathing, nasal congestion, sleep position and alcohol can all play a part.

Sources: Sleep Foundation, AASM and a 2016 review in the Journal of Thoracic Disease.

Could your CPAP pressure be too low?

CPAP pressure that's too low is one of the main reasons for snoring on CPAP. Sleep Foundation explains that the starting pressure is set during a titration study as the lowest level that controls breathing problems and snoring. If pressure is too low, there isn't enough force to stop the airway collapsing, so obstructive pauses and snoring can continue.

Don't raise the pressure yourself. Sleep Foundation says CPAP settings are prescribed by a physician and shouldn't be changed unless you're told to, and that pressure set too high can be uncomfortable and disrupt sleep. The AASM says your sleep doctor may suggest a second titration study or an auto-adjusting machine, which sets the pressure automatically and stores data for the doctor to review. Our guide to what happens at a sleep study explains how titration works.

Could your mask be leaking?

A leaking mask is a very common cause of snoring on CPAP. Sleep Foundation says if the mask doesn't seal completely, you won't get enough air pressure to keep your breathing passages open. The silicone in most masks breaks down over time and stops sealing well, so replacing parts on schedule matters. Loose connections in the machine or tubing can leak too.

The AASM says a mask that's too small won't seal and lets air leak from the edges, sometimes into your eyes, while a mask that's too big needs over-tight straps. Facial hair can also stop a mask sealing, Sleep Foundation notes. Ask for a supervised refit with your supplier or respiratory therapist, and look at your machine's leak readings if it reports them. Our guide to getting used to CPAP has more on mask types and fit.

Is mouth breathing the problem?

Mouth breathing is often the problem when you snore on a nasal mask or nasal pillows. Sleep Foundation says these masks need you to breathe through your nose with your mouth closed, and that an open mouth lets pressurized air escape, lowering the pressure and causing dry mouth. Waking with a very dry mouth is a strong clue.

The usual fixes are a full-face mask, which covers both nose and mouth, or a chin strap to keep the mouth closed. The 2016 Journal of Thoracic Disease review says a chin strap may help and that people with nasal congestion may benefit from a full-face mask. Our guides to dry mouth with CPAP and chin straps for snoring go into the options.

What about sleep position, weight and alcohol?

Sleep position, weight and alcohol can each bring snoring back on CPAP. Sleep Foundation says side and stomach sleepers may find the mask hits the pillow and shifts, breaking the seal, and that a different mask type may suit your position better. The AASM notes that in some people, breathing is interrupted mainly when they sleep on their back, and a doctor may suggest positional therapy alongside other treatment. Our article on positional sleep apnea explains this.

Weight matters because it can change the pressure you need. Sleep Foundation lists weight gain among the body changes that can alter your CPAP settings, and the 2016 review found body mass index is one of the strongest predictors of CPAP pressure. If you've gained or lost weight since your titration, tell your sleep team. Our article on sleep apnea and weight gain covers the link.

Alcohol relaxes the throat. Sleep Foundation says your usual pressure may not be high enough to keep the airway open if you drink before bed, and suggests letting your doctor or pharmacist know about any benzodiazepine use.

Can mouth tape help with snoring on CPAP?

Mouth tape has been tested alongside CPAP in one randomized trial, and the results for mouth breathers were encouraging. The 2025 trial in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine included 62 people with obstructive sleep apnea who breathed through their mouths on CPAP: 36 men and 26 women with an average age of 57.7. Each person used tape for 30 days and went without it for 30 days, in random order. With mouth tape:

• average CPAP use rose by 51.8 minutes a day
• the odds of good CPAP adherence were 4.5 times higher
• people reached at least 4 hours of CPAP use on 17.6% more days
• daytime sleepiness, snoring ratings and mouth and throat dryness also improved

The caveats matter. The tape was used alongside CPAP, not in place of it, and the trial reported adverse effects with tape. It's one trial of 62 people. The wider research is thin, and a 2025 systematic review in PLOS One found that 4 of the 10 studies it included discussed a serious risk of asphyxiation if the mouth is sealed while the nose is blocked.

Mouth tape doesn't treat sleep apnea and never replaces CPAP. If you'd like to try it with CPAP, talk to your sleep doctor first, make sure you can breathe comfortably through your nose, and check you can remove the tape easily. We don't recommend mouth tape for children. Our article on mouth tape and CPAP covers the trial and the alternatives in more detail.

What should you do if you're snoring on CPAP?

If you're snoring on CPAP, start with the simple checks, then bring in your sleep team. Sleep Foundation suggests confirming your settings match your prescription, checking the mask fit and seal, and replacing worn parts. Use the humidifier, which the AASM says reduces dry nose and throat, and treat congestion where you can.

Then call your sleep team, especially if the snoring keeps up for more than a few nights, you feel sleepy again, or your weight, medicines or health have changed. The AASM says to contact your sleep doctor as soon as possible about problems with the mask, straps, pressure or air temperature, and not to make changes to treatment without talking to them. They can review your machine's data, refit your mask, check for nasal problems or arrange a new titration.

It helps to bring some notes to that conversation. Write down when the snoring started, whether it happens every night or only some nights, which position you were in if your partner noticed, whether you'd had a drink, how old your mask cushion is, and whether you wake with a dry mouth. If your machine shows nightly use or leak information, bring that too. NHLBI says your provider may check your machine's data to see whether the pressure settings are reducing or eliminating apnea events, so those numbers are useful.

Please don't stop CPAP because you're still snoring. The snoring is a clue that something needs adjusting, and the fix is often simple. Our overview of sleep apnea treatment options explains how CPAP fits with other treatments.

This article is general information, not medical advice.

Read next

• Getting used to CPAP: tips for your first weeks
• Dry mouth with CPAP: why it happens and how to fix it
• Mouth tape and CPAP: what to know about mouth leaks, chin straps and full-face masks

* This content is for informational and educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or health condition. Talk to a qualified healthcare provider about your health.