Philips Respironics · Auto CPAP (APAP)
Philips DreamStation 2 Auto CPAP Advanced
The DreamStation 2 Auto CPAP Advanced is a compact auto-adjusting CPAP with a built-in heated humidifier, a color touchscreen, Ramp Plus, adjustable Flex pressure relief and support for 12 or 15 mm heated tubing. The same family includes the DreamStation 2 CPAP Advanced (fixed pressure) and the non-Advanced DreamStation 2 CPAP and Auto CPAP, which have fewer comfort controls. It was not part of the June 2021 foam recall, and many people received one as the replacement for a recalled DreamStation.
Specifications
| Noise | 27 dB(A) sound pressure level (uncertainty 2 dB) per ISO 4871 |
|---|---|
| Power | 100 to 240 VAC, 50/60 Hz; 80 W power supply needed for humidification; optional 12 VDC via Philips DC cord |
| Weight | 2.29 lb (1040 g) with empty water tank, without power supply |
| Display | Color touchscreen plus a single therapy button (Advanced models) |
| Data card | SD card slot behind the water tank (data on the card is encrypted) |
| Dimensions | 10.78 x 6.24 x 3.34 in (273.8 x 158.5 x 84.8 mm) |
| Humidifier | Integrated heated humidifier, 325 ml (11 oz) water tank; optional 12 or 15 mm heated tubing |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth to the DreamMapper app; cellular modem on units marked for it; SD card |
| Pressure range | 4 to 20 cm H2O, in 0.5 cm H2O steps |
Key features
- Auto CPAP and CPAP modes (Auto CPAP Advanced); fixed CPAP only on the CPAP Advanced
- Ramp Plus: you choose a starting pressure of 4 to 10 cm H2O for 15, 30 or 45 minutes, and the machine can raise pressure early if it detects events
- Flex exhale pressure relief, levels Off, 1, 2 and 3, if your provider enables it
- Humidity and heated tube temperature each adjustable from Off to 5 while therapy runs
- Mask fit check and a last session summary with usage hours, AHI (if enabled) and mask fit
- Works with 12, 15 or 22 mm standard tubing and 12 or 15 mm heated tubing
- Airplane mode and an FAA compliance letter in the manual
- Optional Bluetooth pulse oximeter pairing (Nonin) on the Advanced model
Strengths and trade-offs
Strengths
- Humidifier is built in, so there is no separate humidifier module to buy or attach
- Humidifier and machine are one unit of about 2.3 lb (empty tank, without power supply) and 10.8 x 6.2 x 3.3 in
- Ramp Plus lets you pick your own comfortable starting pressure instead of a fixed ramp
- The Advanced version lets you change humidity, tube temperature and Flex yourself from the touchscreen
- Supports 12 mm heated tubing, which is lighter than 15 mm heated tubing
- OSCAR has been able to read DreamStation 2 SD card data since version 1.4.0 (June 2022)
Trade-offs
- Not sold new in the US while the 2024 consent decree restrictions remain in place
- FDA safety communication of November 28, 2023 about overheating means you need to watch for burning smells, smoke or unusual sounds
- The water tank holds 325 ml, so high humidity settings or big mask leaks can empty it before morning
- Detailed data in Philips software is clinician-only; DreamMapper shows summary and compliance data
- The non-Advanced models have fewer patient controls (for example humidity Off, Low, Medium, High instead of 1 to 5)
- The heater plate and water stay hot, so you must wait about 15 minutes before removing the tank
Comfort settings you can change
These are in the patient menu. Your prescribed pressure and therapy mode are set by your clinician and are not covered here.
Ramp Plus
Holds a lower starting pressure while you fall asleep, then moves to your prescribed pressure. It can raise pressure earlier if it detects breathing events.
How to change it: During therapy, tap the Ramp Plus icon and use the minus and plus buttons to pick a start pressure from 4 to 10 cm H2O, then tap confirm or wait 3 seconds. Ramp time (15, 30 or 45 minutes) is under Settings, Comfort settings, if your provider enabled it.
Humidity
Sets how much the heater plate warms the water. Higher numbers add more moisture.
How to change it: During therapy, tap the humidity icon until the level you want shows (Off or 1 to 5). It saves for tonight and future nights. Also under Settings, Comfort settings. Only shows if your provider enabled humidification.
Heated tube temperature
Warms the heated tube to cut down on condensation (rainout) in the hose and mask.
How to change it: With a heated tube connected, tap the heated tube icon during therapy until you reach Off or 1 to 5. Also under Settings, Comfort settings.
Flex
Lowers pressure slightly as you breathe out so exhaling feels easier. Level 1 gives a little relief, 2 and 3 give more.
How to change it: With therapy off, tap Settings, then Flex, and choose Off, 1, 2 or 3. It only appears if your provider enabled Flex.
Mask fit check
Runs a short test to tell you whether your mask leak is low enough for the machine to work well.
How to change it: With therapy off, tap Good fit or Adjust fit on the Last Session screen, put on your mask and tap Start.
Auto On and Auto Off
Starts airflow when you breathe into the mask and stops it after you take the mask off.
How to change it: These are turned on by your home care provider on the DreamStation 2. If you want them, ask your provider.
Airplane mode
Turns off the wireless radios. It switches itself back off after three days.
How to change it: With therapy off, tap Settings, then Device settings, then Airplane Mode.
Cleaning and care
Daily: water tank and air seal
Let the heater plate and water cool for about 15 minutes first. Pour out leftover water, then hand wash the lid, tank base and tank seal in warm water with mild dish soap (about 1 teaspoon per gallon) using a soft brush, rinse each part for a minute and let them air dry. Refill with distilled water only before use.
Philips also says to wipe the humidifier air inlet and outlet seal daily with a damp, soapy, lint-free cloth.
Weekly: disinfect the tank
Once a week the tank parts can go in the top rack of a dishwasher instead of hand washing. Philips also gives a weekly home disinfection step: after cleaning, soak the lid, base and seal in 70% isopropyl alcohol for 5 minutes, rinse for at least a minute and air dry.
Weekly: device exterior and heater plate
Unplug everything first. Wipe the outside, the heater plate and the inlet seal with a lint-free cloth that is damp but not dripping with mild soapy water, then wipe again with plain water to remove soap. Let it dry completely before plugging in.
Weekly: tubing
Wash the tubing and any adapters in warm soapy water, swishing gently for a minute so the inside gets clean, rinse well and hang to dry fully before use. Philips says to replace the tubing every 6 months.
Filters
Rinse the grey reusable filter at least every two weeks by running warm tap water through the white middle part, shake it out and let it dry completely. Replace it every six months. Replace the blue ultra-fine filter after 30 nights or sooner if it looks dirty, and never rinse it.
No ozone cleaners
The DreamStation 2 manual warns that ozone-based cleaning and disinfection products are not approved or recommended and may affect the device's safety and performance, and damage from them is not covered by the warranty. The FDA also warns against ozone and UV light CPAP cleaners.
Replacement parts
- Tubing
- 12, 15 or 22 mm standard tubing, or 12 mm (HT12) or 15 mm (HT15) DreamStation 2 heated tubing, all 6 ft. Philips says to replace tubing every 6 months.
- Filters
- Grey reusable pollen filter (rinse every two weeks, replace every six months) and blue disposable ultra-fine filter (replace after 30 nights). Use Philips filters only.
- Water chamber
- DreamStation 2 humidifier water tank, 325 ml. Philips lists the tank's expected service life as one year, and the humidifier air inlet and outlet seal as one year.
- Replacement notes
- Philips can still sell masks, accessories, consumables and replacement parts in the US under the consent decree. The expected service life of the device itself is five years.
Troubleshooting
You smell burning, see smoke, or the machine looks or sounds different
Unplug it and do not use it. That is the FDA's November 2023 advice for the DreamStation 2. Call your home care provider and Philips, and talk to your prescribing clinician about how to keep treating your sleep apnea in the meantime.
Water was spilled into the machine
Unplug it and stop using it. Both the manual and the FDA say to discontinue use if water gets into the enclosure, and contact your provider.
Nothing happens when you plug it in
Check the wall outlet, then every connection: cord into power supply, supply into the bottom of the machine. On DC power, check the DC cord, battery adapter and the DC cord's fuse. If it still will not power on, return the device and power supply to your provider.
Air feels much warmer than usual
Rinse or replace the filters, move the machine out of direct sunlight and away from heaters, and make sure bedding or curtains are not blocking airflow around it. If it continues, contact your provider.
Water runs out before morning
Fill to the maximum line at bedtime, refit your mask to cut leaks, and consider a lower humidity or tube setting. Dry or cool rooms use more water.
Whistling or leak sound from the machine itself
Check that the air inlet and filters are clear and seated, the tank and tube are fully connected, and the water tank lid seal is present and properly seated.
Display is erratic
Unplug it and plug it back in. If it continues, move it away from phones, cordless phones, computers, TVs and hair dryers. Call your provider if it still acts up.
Burned fingers when removing the tank
Stop therapy and wait about 15 minutes for the heater plate and water to cool before sliding the tank out.
Mask fit shows Adjust fit
Readjust or reseat your mask, then rerun the mask fit check from the Last Session screen. A persistent big leak may mean you need a different mask size or style, which your supplier can help with.
Travel and power
Philips includes an FAA compliance letter in the manual stating that the DreamStation 2 CPAP Advanced and Auto CPAP Advanced meet RTCA DO-160 section 21, Category M requirements under 14 CFR 382, so they can be used on board without further testing by the airline; the manual suggests bringing the manual through security, and the bottom of the device carries a medical equipment symbol. It runs on 100 to 240 VAC, 50/60 Hz, so abroad you usually only need a plug adapter or a different cord. A Philips DC power cord lets you run it from a stationary RV, boat or 12 VDC battery with the Philips battery adapter cable; do not use it from a vehicle battery while the engine is running. If you use a battery pack, the machine shows a notice that humidification is not supported on battery. Carry it in the cabin, not checked bags, and empty the water tank before travel. Turn on Airplane mode on the plane if asked to switch off wireless devices.
Your sleep data
The DreamStation 2 sends summary data to the free DreamMapper app over Bluetooth, and units with a cellular modem upload therapy data to Philips' provider software automatically at times your provider sets. On the machine, the Last Session screen and, if enabled, View Reports show usage, mask fit, AHI and 90% pressure over 1 to 365 days. The SD card behind the water tank records data for your provider, and that data is encrypted. OSCAR's lead developer announced that OSCAR 1.4.0 (June 17, 2022) added DreamStation 2 support and can read this encrypted SD card data, and OSCAR's Philips loader lists DreamStation 2 CPAP, Advanced CPAP and Auto CPAP Advanced models. OSCAR is for your own review; any change to your pressure based on what you see should go through your prescribing clinician.
Supplies that can help
Distilled water is what most CPAP humidifier chambers are meant to be filled with, because it leaves little or no mineral scale behind.
The air inlet filter keeps dust and lint out of the machine and your airway; it is a cheap part that needs regular replacement.
Tubing with a built-in heating wire that keeps humidified air warm all the way to the mask, which is the main fix for rainout (water droplets …
The removable water tank of a CPAP humidifier; it wears and needs replacing, especially if it cracks, clouds or leaks.
A cord or converter that runs a CPAP from a 12 V or 24 V DC source, such as a car outlet, RV or deep cycle …
A padded bag that protects the machine, mask, tubing and power supply in transit.
A long, flexible brush sized to reach the full length of CPAP tubing so you can scrub the inside, not just soak it.
Plain, mild dish soap is the cleaning agent most CPAP makers and the FDA point to for masks, tubing and humidifier chambers.
Retailer links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no cost to you.
Frequently asked questions
Is the DreamStation 2 part of the Philips recall?
No. The June 14, 2021 foam recall covered the original DreamStation, DreamStation Go, System One and other models, not the DreamStation 2, and many patients got a DreamStation 2 as their replacement. The FDA did issue a separate safety communication on November 28, 2023 asking people to watch DreamStation 2 machines for overheating, and said it did not believe that problem was related to the foam.
What should I do about the DreamStation 2 overheating warning?
Follow the manual: keep it on a firm, flat surface away from carpet and fabric, keep it clean, empty the tank, and let the heater plate cool about 15 minutes before removing the tank. Unplug it and stop using it if you smell burning or smoke, hear unusual sounds, see changes in how it looks or works, or spill water into it. The FDA said that if you are not seeing these problems, it did not recommend stopping use.
Can I still buy a new DreamStation 2 in the US?
Not new from Philips at this time. Philips says it stopped selling new CPAP and BiPAP devices in the US in 2021 and, under the consent decree entered April 9, 2024, will not resume until the decree's requirements are met. Philips can still service existing machines and sell masks, accessories and replacement parts.
What is the difference between the DreamStation 2 Auto CPAP and the Auto CPAP Advanced?
Going by the two user manuals, the Advanced model has a color touchscreen where you can set humidity and heated tube temperature from Off to 5, Flex from Off to 3, and Ramp Plus start pressure from 4 to 10 cm H2O in 1 cm steps. The non-Advanced model offers humidity Off, Low, Medium or High and Ramp Plus steps of Low (4), Medium (6), High (8) and Max (10) cm H2O. Both share the same built-in humidifier and 4 to 20 cm H2O range.
Does OSCAR work with the DreamStation 2?
Yes. OSCAR 1.4.0, released June 17, 2022, added DreamStation 2 support and can read the encrypted data on its SD card. Take the card out only with therapy off, and put it back before your next session so the night is recorded.
Which tubing can I use with the DreamStation 2?
The manual lists 12, 15 or 22 mm standard tubing and 12 mm or 15 mm DreamStation 2 heated tubing, each 6 ft long. Tubing is marked 12, 15, HT12 or HT15 on the cuff, and 22 mm has no mark. If you use 12 mm tubing you need the supplied mask adapter, and 12 mm performance tubing also needs a device adapter.
Sources
- documents.philips.com
- documents.philips.com
- documents.philips.com
- fda.gov
- usa.philips.com
- fda.gov
- fda.gov
- cpaptalk.com
- gitlab.com
Last reviewed October 11, 2026. How we research · Report an error