Over the span of several years, Apple Watches have undeniably stood as exemplars within the realm of smartwatches, frequently regarded as the epitome of excellence in the field.
Contained within the confines of a diminutive framework comprising metal and glass, Apple has ingeniously integrated potent components, an OLED display, GPS functionality, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, alongside an array of diverse sensors.
Regrettably, a prevalent drawback is evident across nearly all iterations – the issue pertains to battery longevity. With the exception of the Apple Watch Ultra, the upper threshold typically hovers around 18 hours. This translates to a scenario where even a complete day of vigorous usage cannot be assured, and the notion of sustaining the device for two consecutive days sans recharging remains implausible.
The absence of authentic rapid charging capabilities on the Apple Watch serves to compound the situation. Although the Series 8 ostensibly boasts compatibility, achieving a complete charge still demands an extended span of well over an hour.
Nonetheless, the compact batteries nestled within the majority of Apple Watches can be advantageous under certain circumstances. Modifying your usage habits can wield a noteworthy impact on the longevity of your battery, thus consider adopting the subsequent suggestions to amplify its endurance.
How to extend Apple Watch battery life
Disable Always On display
Starting from the Apple Watch Series 5 and its successors (excluding the Apple Watch SE), a distinctive Retina display incorporating LTPO technology is embraced. This screen boasts a unique characteristic – it retains its luminosity without dimming. When idle, the refresh rate gracefully reduces to 1 Hz, accompanied by a dimmed screen; however, it maintains the display of pertinent details like weather updates and essential information situated on the watch face.
This particular feature is accompanied by a notable power consumption pattern. In instances where your Apple Watch seems to deplete its battery at an accelerated pace, it might be prudent to contemplate the deactivation of this option. This decision yields a tangible outcome, conserving approximately 10-20% of battery capacity throughout the course of a day.
It is worth noting that this represents the most expeditious and efficacious approach to curbing power utilization on your Apple Watch. To deactivate the Always-on-Display feature, commence by initiating the Watch app on your iPhone. Navigate to the section labeled “Display & Brightness.” Within this segment, you will readily encounter the option titled “Always On.”
Use a simpler watch face
The Apple Watch provides a diverse array of watch face selections, spanning the spectrum from the minimalistic displays featuring solely the time, to more sophisticated alternatives that amalgamate information sourced from an array of distinct applications.
Opting for a straightforward watch face that solely presents the time will yield substantial energy conservation benefits. Altering the watch face is an accessible endeavor accomplished through the Face Gallery, situated within the Watch app on your iPhone.
Moreover, for default or pre-existing saved faces, the change can be directly implemented on the watches themselves by employing a simple swiping gesture, extending from one edge of the screen to its opposite counterpart.
Uninstall unnecessary apps
Upon installing applications on your iPhone, a common occurrence is their simultaneous appearance on your Apple Watch. However, it’s likely that a significant portion of these applications may not find utility in your routine.
On your watch, a simple act of clicking the crown unveils your collection of apps. If you come across any applications you wish to exclude from your usage, execute a long press on their respective icons, followed by selecting the X icon to initiate their removal.
Within the realm of your iPhone, initiate the process by accessing the Watch app, subsequently selecting “My Watch.” Navigate to the “Installed on Apple Watch” segment, then designate any specific app of choice. Following this, proceed to deactivate the option labeled “Show App on Apple Watch.”
Turn off wrist wake-up
Apple Watches possess the ability to discern wrist motions, prompting them to awaken without necessitating direct screen interaction. However, the flawless execution of this function remains elusive, occasionally rousing the watch erroneously. Consequently, this phenomenon contributes to heightened battery utilization.
Engaging in frequent arm movements may inadvertently trigger the Apple Watch to activate frequently, thus resulting in unwarranted power consumption. To mitigate this issue, you have the option to deactivate the wrist-raising wake-up functionalities. To do so, commence by accessing the Watch app on your iPhone and navigating to the “Display & Brightness” section. Subsequently, disable both the “Wake on Wrist Raise” and “Wake on Crown Up” features.
Limit the number of notifications
Notifications represent another pivotal factor influencing the power consumption of the Apple Watch. An abundance of notifications originating from diverse applications engenders continuous background activity and prompts the screen to activate with the arrival of each new notification.
Opting to deactivate notifications emanating from applications that do not align with your preferences is indeed a prudent course of action. The Apple Watch facilitates this process by enabling you to customize notifications based not only on the app but also the specific type of notification from certain apps.
For the majority of third-party applications, the convention entails mirroring notifications directly from your iPhone. To streamline this process, you can effectively oversee and regulate notifications through the Watch app on your iPhone, under the dedicated “Notifications” segment.
Update your watch
In the event that your watch appears to be operating at an accelerated pace, it would be prudent to ascertain whether it’s operating on the most recent iteration of the watchOS operating system. Apple periodically releases software updates that encompass more than just novel features. These updates incorporate an array of enhancements within the source code, some of which can potentially have a positive impact on battery life.
To initiate the update process for your Apple Watch, access the Watch app on your iPhone. From there, proceed to the “General” section and opt for “Software Update.” Your device will initiate a scan for available updates. By default, the Apple Watch undergoes updates during the overnight hours, provided it is connected to Wi-Fi and charging simultaneously.
Enable power saving mode
Embedded within the Apple Watch is a dedicated power-saving mode that effectively suspends the majority of functions, transforming your smartwatch into a semblance akin to a conventional timepiece. This alternative configuration has the capacity to significantly prolong battery endurance by extending it by several hours.
To initiate this mode, access the Control Panel directly from the watch interface. From there, click on the battery percentage icon and subsequently activate the toggle positioned adjacent to “Low Power Mode.”
It’s important to keep in mind that when operating under Low Power Mode, the Apple Watch refrains from monitoring your physical activity and abstains from forwarding notifications.
Turn off mobile data (on LTE models)
Certain specified configurations of the Apple Watch integrate an inherent LTE cellular modem, affording you the capability to maintain connectivity even in situations where a phone is not in close proximity.
Regrettably, this feature exerts a notable toll on battery endurance, notwithstanding the fact that LTE-equipped models possess marginally larger battery capacities.
When your iPhone is within close proximity, the advisable course of action is to deactivate this functionality. Additionally, you have the option to synchronize the Airplane mode settings with your iPhone by accessing the Watch app, navigating to “General,” and then selecting “Airplane Mode.”
Don’t Forget Why You Bought Your Watch
Aiming to recharge your Apple Watch on a daily basis is recommended. Should you encounter a situation where the watch fails to endure an entire day on a complete charge, these suggestions, coupled with the possibility of a battery replacement, are poised to offer assistance.
Conversely, if you conclude the day with a substantial amount of remaining battery capacity, it’s plausible that you might be overlooking some of the most noteworthy features that your Watch has to offer. Even in scenarios where you manage to stretch the usage to encompass two days, one must ponder whether the trade-off of sacrificing functionality is truly worthwhile.
Another noteworthy aspect to consider is that the smaller variant (40mm) of the Apple Watch is equipped with a comparably smaller battery in comparison to its larger counterpart (44mm). This distinction is worth contemplating whenever you are contemplating an upgrade.