Turn on Low Power Mode to cut battery drain in half

Low Power Mode is the single fastest way to extend your Apple Watch battery. When you turn it on, your watch reduces performance and background activity to use roughly half the power it normally would. You can turn it on manually whenever you need it, or set it to turn on automatically when the battery hits a certain percentage.

To enable Low Power Mode, swipe up from the bottom of your watch face to open Control Center, then tap the battery icon. The icon will turn red when Low Power Mode is active. Your watch will still tell time, receive notifications, and let you make calls, but some features like the always-on display and background app refresh will pause. Most people find they can get through a full day and into the next morning with Low Power Mode on.

You can also set Low Power Mode to turn on automatically. Open the Watch app on your iPhone, go to Battery, and toggle on "Low Power Mode." Then tap "Turn On At" and choose a battery percentage—most people pick 20 or 30 percent so the watch switches over before it gets critically low.

Key Takeaways

  • Low Power Mode cuts battery drain roughly in half and is the fastest single change you can make.
  • Turning off the always-on display, background app refresh, and raise to speak saves significant power without affecting core functions like time and notifications.
  • Keeping your watch face straightforward, disabling location services for apps that don't need it, and reducing brightness all contribute to longer battery life.
  • Older watch models and those with cellular service drain battery faster, so check your model and plan if battery life has suddenly dropped.

Disable the always-on display and raise to speak

The always-on display—the feature that keeps your watch face visible even when your wrist is down—uses continuous power. If you turn it off, your watch will only light up when you raise your wrist or tap the screen, which happens far less often. To disable it, open the Watch app on your iPhone, tap Display & Brightness, and toggle off "Always On."

The "raise to speak" feature, which activates Siri when you lift your wrist and speak, also drains battery because your watch is constantly listening. Turn it off in the Watch app under Siri. You can still use Siri by pressing and holding the Digital Crown, so you lose nothing essential.

Together, these two changes can add several hours to your battery life, especially if you check your watch frequently. The tradeoff is that you have to raise your wrist or tap to see the time instead of glancing down and seeing it when ready.

Turn off background app refresh and location services

Apps running in the background consume power even when you are not using them. Open the Watch app on your iPhone, go to General, then Background App Refresh, and toggle it off entirely. If you want to keep it on for specific apps—like a fitness app you use daily—you can toggle it off globally and then turn it back on for individual apps by scrolling down the list.

Location services also drain battery because your watch uses GPS or Bluetooth to pinpoint your location. Most apps do not need constant location data. Go to the Watch app, tap Privacy, then Location Services, and turn it off for apps that do not require it. Navigation and fitness apps that track routes will ask for permission when you open them, so you can grant access on demand instead of letting them run constantly.

Simplify your watch face and reduce brightness

Complex watch faces with many complications—the small widgets that show weather, calendar events, stock prices, and other live data—refresh constantly and drain battery faster. Switch to a simpler face with fewer complications, or remove the ones you check least often. You can always add them back if you find you miss them.

Brightness also matters. Open the Watch app on your iPhone, go to Display & Brightness, and lower the brightness setting. Your watch will still be readable in most indoor and outdoor light, and the reduction in power use is noticeable over a full day. If you find it too dim, you can raise it back up—there is no penalty for adjusting it.

Check for battery drain from cellular service or older models

If your Apple Watch has cellular service, it uses more power than a GPS-only model because it maintains a connection to your carrier even when your iPhone is not nearby. If you rarely use cellular features, you can turn off cellular in the Watch app under Cellular and rely on your iPhone or Wi-Fi instead. This is one of the largest single power draws on newer models.

Older Apple Watch models—Series 3, Series 4, and Series 5—also have shorter battery life than newer ones because their processors and batteries are less efficient. If your watch is several years old and battery life has always been short, that is normal wear. If battery life has suddenly dropped, your battery may be degrading and you may need to consider a replacement.

Keep your watch updated and restart it if battery drains unusually fast

Apple releases watchOS updates that often include battery improvements. Open the Watch app on your iPhone, go to General, then Software Update, and install any available updates. Keeping your watch current ensures you have the latest power-saving features.

If your battery drains much faster than it used to—losing 20 percent or more in an hour of normal use—restart your watch. Press and hold the side button until you see the power-off slider, then drag it to turn off the watch. Wait 10 seconds, then press and hold the side button again until the Apple logo appears. A restart often fixes temporary software issues that cause excessive battery drain.

If the problem continues after a restart and a watchOS update, one app may be running constantly in the background. Check the Battery section of the Watch app on your iPhone to see which apps are using the most power, and consider removing or disabling the ones you do not use regularly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Low Power Mode slow down my watch?

Low Power Mode reduces performance slightly—apps may take a moment longer to open and animations will be less smooth—but for everyday tasks like checking the time, reading messages, and making calls, you will not notice a meaningful difference. The battery savings far outweigh the minor slowdown.

Can I use my Apple Watch for workouts if Low Power Mode is on?

Yes, but some features will be limited. GPS tracking and heart rate monitoring will work, but the always-on display will be off and some real-time data may not update as frequently. For serious training where you need live metrics, turn off Low Power Mode during the workout and turn it back on afterward.

Why does my watch battery drain faster in cold weather?

Batteries lose efficiency in cold temperatures because chemical reactions inside them slow down. Your watch will drain faster in winter or if you wear it outside in freezing weather. This is temporary—battery performance returns to normal when the watch warms up. If it happens indoors, your battery may be aging and losing capacity.

Does turning off Wi-Fi save battery?

Turning off Wi-Fi saves a small amount of power, but the difference is minor compared to disabling the always-on display or background app refresh. If you are already using Low Power Mode and have disabled the major power drains, you can turn off Wi-Fi for an extra hour or two, but it is not a priority.

What should I do if my watch battery will not hold a charge anymore?

Apple Watch batteries degrade over time and typically last two to three years before they stop holding a full charge. If your watch is older than two years and drains completely within a few hours even with Low Power Mode on, the battery has likely degraded. Contact Apple Support or visit an Apple Store to discuss battery replacement options.