Turn off features you do not use every day

The fastest way to extend battery life is to disable the features that drain power the most. Always-On display keeps the screen lit constantly, which uses significant battery. Turn it off in Settings > Display & Brightness > Always-On. You will still see the time when you raise your wrist.

Background App Refresh lets apps update data even when you are not using them. Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and turn it off entirely, or disable it for individual apps. Most people do not need their watch apps refreshing in the background.

Raise to Speak for Siri activates the microphone when you lift your wrist. Turn this off in Settings > Siri. You can still summon Siri by pressing and holding the Digital Crown if you need it occasionally.

Key Takeaways

  • Turning off Always-On display, Background App Refresh, and Raise to Speak can add hours to your battery life without affecting core watch functions.
  • Lowering screen brightness and disabling Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when you do not need them saves power throughout the day.
  • Reduce notifications by muting apps you do not need alerts from, since each notification wakes the screen and uses battery.
  • Enable Low Power Mode when your battery drops below 20 percent to extend the watch until you can charge it.
  • Older watch models and heavy use of GPS or cellular drain battery faster, so your actual battery life depends on your watch model and habits.

Reduce screen brightness and notifications

Screen brightness is the second-largest battery drain on any watch. Lower it in Settings > Display & Brightness > Brightness. Most people can read the screen comfortably at 40 to 50 percent brightness in normal indoor light.

Notifications wake your screen every time an app sends an alert. Mute notifications from apps you do not need to hear from when ready. Go to Settings > Notifications and turn off notifications for email, social media, news apps, and any other non-urgent service. Keep only messages, calls, and calendar alerts active if you want to stay responsive.

Turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when you do not need them

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth both search for and maintain connections, which drains battery even when you are not actively using them. If you wear your watch mostly at home or in the office where your phone is nearby, turn off Wi-Fi in Settings > Wi-Fi. Your watch will use Bluetooth to stay connected to your phone instead, which uses less power.

Bluetooth itself drains battery, but it uses less than Wi-Fi. If you are away from your phone for long stretches, you may want to keep Bluetooth on for notifications. If you are always with your phone, turning Bluetooth off entirely and using Wi-Fi only will extend battery life further.

Enable Low Power Mode before the battery dies

Low Power Mode reduces performance and disables some features to stretch battery life. set up it in Settings > Battery > Low Power Mode. When enabled, it limits background activity, reduces screen brightness, and turns off some animations.

Turn on Low Power Mode when your battery reaches 20 percent, not when it hits 1 percent. Starting it early gives you more usable time. You can also set it to turn on automatically at 20 percent in Settings > Battery > Low Power Mode > Turn On Automatically.

Disable location services and GPS

GPS drains battery much faster than any other feature because it constantly calculates your position. If you use your watch for fitness tracking with GPS enabled, your battery will drop noticeably during and after workouts. Turn off GPS in Settings > Privacy > Location Services unless you are actively using a workout app that needs it.

Background location tracking also drains power. Go through Settings > Privacy > Location Services and disable location access for apps that do not need to know where you are — most do not.

Limit cellular connection on cellular models

If you have an Apple Watch with cellular, the cellular radio uses more battery than Bluetooth alone. You pay for this convenience with shorter battery life. If you mostly wear your watch near your phone, disable cellular in Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data and use Bluetooth instead.

Keep cellular on only if you regularly leave your phone behind and need to stay connected. Otherwise, turning it off extends your battery by several hours per day.

Understand battery drain by watch model and use

Older Apple Watch models — Series 3, Series 4, and Series 5 — have smaller batteries and drain faster than Series 6 and newer. If you own an older model, you may not be able to reach a full day of battery life no matter what you disable, especially if you use GPS or cellular frequently.

Heavy GPS use during workouts, frequent cellular calls, and constant screen-on time all drain battery faster than light use. A watch used mostly for notifications and time will last much longer than one used for hour-long GPS workouts every day. Your actual battery life depends on both your watch model and how you use it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should my Apple Watch battery last on a single charge?

Most newer Apple Watch models (Series 6 and later) last 18 hours on a single charge with typical use. Older models last 12 to 18 hours depending on the model. Heavy GPS use, cellular calls, or always-on display can reduce this to 12 hours or less. Actual battery life varies by model and your personal habits.

Does turning off Bluetooth hurt my watch?

No. Turning off Bluetooth means your watch will not receive notifications or sync with your phone unless you are on the same Wi-Fi network. If you are always near your phone, this trade-off is worth the battery savings. If you need notifications when away from your phone, keep Bluetooth on.

Will Low Power Mode slow down my watch?

Yes, Low Power Mode reduces performance and disables animations to save battery. Apps may open slightly slower and some features will not work. It is a temporary measure to extend battery life when you cannot charge soon, not a permanent setting.

Can I charge my Apple Watch while wearing it?

No. Apple Watch charges with a magnetic puck that attaches to the back of the watch. You must remove the watch from your wrist to charge it. Charging takes about one to two hours depending on the model.

Does screen brightness really make that much difference?

Yes. Lowering brightness from 100 percent to 40 percent can add 2 to 4 hours of battery life depending on how often you look at your watch. It is one of the easiest changes to make with a noticeable impact.