Apple Watch users often experience a significant decrease in battery life, with many noticing that their devices barely last until lunchtime. While Apple may attribute battery issues to natural wear and tear, the underlying cause of fast battery drainage is more complex. A combination of software, hardware, and user settings contribute to the accelerated depletion of battery power, but there are ways to fix it.
Understanding the Root Cause
Although Apple claims that battery performance naturally diminishes over time, the rapid battery drain experienced by many Apple Watch owners goes beyond simple wear and tear. The key culprit is the growing demand on the device’s battery from continuous background activities, unoptimized software updates, and an overall system that favors new features over battery efficiency.
Every year, Apple introduces new functions like blood oxygen monitoring, continuous heart rate tracking, and the always-on display feature. While these advancements offer impressive capabilities, they also place a heavy load on the battery. The issue isn’t necessarily a faulty battery, but rather how software and hardware interact, draining your watch’s power more quickly.
Why Apple Is Slow to Address the Problem
Apple has little incentive to offer a long-lasting battery solution for its devices. In fact, the shorter battery life encourages users to upgrade their Apple Watches more frequently. Though Apple occasionally releases battery-saving updates, these often come with compromises, such as disabling key features. As a result, if you’re waiting for a miraculous fix in the next update, it’s best not to hold your breath.
Steps You Can Take to Extend Battery Life
Turn Off Background App Refresh
Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and disable it for apps that don’t need constant updates. This will prevent unnecessary background processes from draining your battery.
Limit the Always-On Display
If you own an Apple Watch Series 5 or later, you can save power by turning off the always-on display. Navigate to Settings > Display & Brightness > Always On and switch it off.
Manage Notifications
Every alert and vibration consumes battery life. Open the Watch app on your iPhone, go to Notifications, and turn off notifications for non-essential apps.
Recalibrate the Battery
To recalibrate your watch’s battery, allow it to drain completely, then recharge it to 100% without interruption. Doing this once a month can help improve battery performance. Keep an eye on the health of your battery to assess if a replacement is necessary.
Update Wisely
WatchOS updates can sometimes lead to battery drain issues. If a new update significantly impacts battery life, wait for Apple to release a patch before installing it.
Disable Power-Hungry Features
Features like blood oxygen monitoring, handwashing detection, and Hey Siri are valuable, but not always essential. If you don’t rely on them daily, consider turning them off in Settings to save battery life.
By taking these proactive steps, you can mitigate the rapid battery drain on your Apple Watch and ensure it lasts through the day without frequent recharging.