Feeling frustrated with how quickly your Apple Watch runs out of juice? You’re not alone! While the Apple Watch offers incredible features, its battery life can sometimes be less impressive. Generally, it lasts about 18 hours, prompting many to charge it overnight. But if you find yourself reaching for the charger well before bedtime, read on. I’ve got some great tips to prolong your battery life and keep your device ticking as long as possible!
Maximize Your Apple Watch Battery Life
Don’t worry, you don’t have to be an expert to make the most out of your Apple Watch’s battery. Here are some friendly and straightforward suggestions that can help extend its battery life.
Limit Screen Wake Time
Every time you raise your wrist or tap the screen, your watch display lights up. While this is handy, keeping the wake time at its default can drain your battery quickly.
How to Adjust:
- Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
- Select “Display & Brightness” under My Watch.
- Choose “Wake Duration” and set it to 15 seconds.
Disable Wake on Wrist Raise
We all love checking our watches with just a flick of the wrist. However, turning off this feature can actually save quite a bit of power.
Steps to Turn Off:
- Launch the Watch app on your iPhone.
- Go to “Display & Brightness” under My Watch.
- Toggle off “Wake on Wrist Raise.”
Re-pair Your Devices
If your battery is burning through its charge unusually fast, there might be a hiccup in the connection between your watch and phone. Un-pairing and then re-pairing them could resolve the issue.
Process of Re-pairing:
- Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
- Tap on “All Watches” at the top-left corner.
- Hit the info button next to your Apple Watch.
- Select “Unpair Apple Watch”.
- Follow the instructions to re-pair your device.
Avoid Unnecessary Notifications
Notifications are great, but do you really need them all pinging your wrist? Trim down to essentials only to help conserve battery life.
To Manage Notifications:
- Access the Watch app on your iPhone.
- Tap “Notifications” in the My Watch tab.
- Toggle off alerts from less-used apps.
Manually End Workouts
While in workout mode, your watch uses more power to continuously monitor your heart rate. Remember to end workouts manually when you’re done to save energy.
How to End:
- Swipe right on your Workout screen.
- Select “End”.
Deactivate Background App Refresh
Even when not in active use, apps can quietly update and exchange data, eating away at battery life. This feature can be disabled for all or selected apps.
How to Adjust:
- Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
- Go to “General” under My Watch.
- Tap “Background App Refresh”.
- Turn it off completely or toggle for specific apps.
Reduce Motion Effects
Fancy animations might look cool, but they can drag on your battery. Turning them off is a good trade-off.
Steps to Disable:
- Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
- Select “Accessibility” under My Watch.
- Enable “Reduce Motion.”
Enable Power Reserve
When your battery is critically low, Power Reserve allows you to display the time only. It’s a lifesaver when you’re running out of power!
To Activate:
- On your Apple Watch, swipe up to access the Control Center.
- Tap the battery percentage icon.
- Drag the power button across the “Power Reserve” slider and tap Proceed.
Turn Off “Hey Siri”
Siri’s always listening when your watch’s display is on—which is convenient but also battery-draining. Disabling this feature can help.
How to Turn Off:
- Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
- Navigate to “Siri” in the My Watch tab.
- Turn off “Listen for ‘Hey Siri'” and “Raise to Speak”.
Remove Unused Apps
Unwanted apps aren’t just clutter—they can also drain your battery if they’re running in the background. Get rid of them for a leaner, more battery-efficient watch.
Steps to Delete Apps:
- Go to the Watch app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down to “Installed on Apple Watch”.
- Select the app to remove and toggle off “Show App on Apple Watch”.
Keep Your Software Updated
Staying updated with the latest software can solve battery glitches and improve general performance. So, always check for updates!
To Update:
- Launch the Watch app on your iPhone.
- Go to “General” in My Watch.
- Select “Software Update” and tap “Install Now” if an update is available.
Seeking Professional Help
After trying everything, is your battery still not holding up? You might be dealing with a hardware problem. Reach out to Apple Support for expert assistance and possible repairs.
FAQ
Can a software update fix battery issues on my Apple Watch?
Yes, software updates can help by addressing known bugs and improving performance, which can have a positive impact on battery life.
How Do I Connect Apple Watch to Wi-Fi Without an iPhone?
Just swipe up on your watch face, press and hold the Wi-Fi icon, select your network, enter the password, and tap ‘Join.’ Easy as pie!
Does Apple Watch Cellular Work Without an iPhone?
Absolutely! The cellular version of the Apple Watch can function without an iPhone. Just set it up to take full advantage of this feature.
Is It Worth Buying an Apple Watch Without an iPhone?
If you’re looking to reduce screen time or simply enjoy Apple’s ecosystem on your wrist, the Apple Watch is a great choice. However, it might not be the best option for Android users.
Looking for Cellular Plans for Apple Watch?
Here’s a breakdown of all the plans that are currently available in the US.
| Carrier | Cost (per month) | Additional Details |
|---|---|---|
| US Mobile | FREE with Unltd Premium Or $6.5/mo annually Or $9.5/mo Taxes & fees included! | Works with any plans. |
| Verizon | $15 + tax & fees | $7.50 credit with certain plansVerizon |
| AT&T | $10 + tax & fees | |
| T-Mobile | $12 + tax & fees | Only works with certain planswww.iphonelife.comiMore |
| Xfinity Mobile | $10 + tax & fees | Pairs well with Xfinity home internet www.iphonelife.comCoverage Critic |
| C Spire | $10 + tax & fees | Only available in select regionsWear To TrackiMore |
