The fastest way to extend your Apple Watch battery is to turn on Low Power Mode, which cuts background activity and slows some features

Low Power Mode is built into every Apple Watch and cuts battery drain by roughly half in most situations. When you turn it on, your watch stops refreshing apps in the background, slows down the always-on display, and disables some sensors. You can turn it on manually whenever the battery drops to a level that worries you, or set it to turn on automatically when your battery reaches 20 percent.

To enable Low Power Mode, swipe up from the bottom of your watch face to open Control Center, then tap the battery icon. You'll see a toggle for Low Power Mode—tap it to turn it on. Your watch will show a red battery icon at the top of the screen while it's active.

Low Power Mode does slow down some functions. Siri takes longer to respond, apps refresh less often, and the always-on display may dim. For most people, these trade-offs are worth the extra hours of battery life, especially if you're away from a charger.

Key Takeaways

  • Low Power Mode cuts battery drain roughly in half and can be turned on manually or set to set up automatically at 20 percent battery.
  • Turning off background app refresh, location services, and always-on display saves significant battery without affecting core watch functions.
  • Keeping your watch software up to date and avoiding extreme temperatures helps the battery perform at its rated capacity.
  • If your watch drains faster than normal even with these changes, the battery itself may be aging and a service appointment may be needed.

Turn off background app refresh to stop apps from draining power when you're not using them

Apps on your Apple Watch can refresh their data in the background even when you're not looking at them. This keeps information like weather, news, and fitness data current, but it also drains the battery. Turning off background app refresh for apps you don't need to update constantly is one of the most effective ways to extend battery life.

Go to Settings on your watch, scroll down to Apps, then tap Background App Refresh. You'll see a list of every app installed on your watch. Toggle off the apps you don't need to refresh in the background—for example, you might turn off background refresh for news apps or games, but keep it on for fitness and health apps if you use them regularly.

You can also manage this from the Watch app on your iPhone. Open the Watch app, go to General, then Background App Refresh, and toggle off individual apps from there. The iPhone method is often faster if you have many apps to adjust.

Disable the always-on display to save battery without losing access to the time

The always-on Retina display on newer Apple Watch models is convenient—you can glance at the time without raising your wrist—but it's also one of the biggest battery drains. If you turn it off, your watch will only light up when you raise your wrist or tap the screen, which uses far less power.

To turn off the always-on display, go to Settings on your watch, tap Display & Brightness, then toggle off Always-On. Your watch will still show the time and complications when you raise your wrist, so you won't lose functionality—you'll just need to actively look at it rather than having it visible all the time.

If you want to keep the always-on display but reduce its brightness, you can lower the brightness level in the same Display & Brightness menu. A dimmer screen uses less power while still letting you see the time at a glance.

Turn off location services and Bluetooth when you don't need them

Your Apple Watch uses GPS, Bluetooth, and cellular (if you have a cellular model) to stay connected. Each of these radios drains the battery. If you're indoors and don't need real-time location data, turning off these features can extend battery life significantly.

For GPS: Go to Settings, tap Privacy, then Location Services, and toggle it off. Your watch will no longer track your exact position, but it will still work with your iPhone's location when they're paired.

For Bluetooth: Swipe up to open Control Center and tap the Bluetooth icon to toggle it off. Your watch will still connect to your iPhone when you're near it, but it won't search for other Bluetooth devices.

For cellular (if applicable): Go to Settings, tap Cellular, and toggle off Cellular Data. You'll still be able to use your watch when paired with your iPhone, but it won't connect to the cellular network on its own.

Keep your watch software up to date and avoid extreme temperatures

Apple releases software updates for watchOS that often include battery improvements. Keeping your watch updated ensures you have the latest optimizations. To check for updates, go to Settings on your watch, tap General, then Software Update. Your watch will check for new versions and install them if available (usually overnight while charging).

Temperature also affects battery performance. Lithium batteries, which power your Apple Watch, drain faster in cold weather and can be damaged by extreme heat. If you're in a very cold environment, keep your watch close to your body. If you're in extreme heat, remove the watch and let it cool down before using it again. Avoid leaving your watch in direct sunlight or in a hot car for extended periods.

Over time, the battery itself degrades. Most Apple Watch batteries retain about 80 percent of their original capacity after two years of normal use. If your watch drains much faster than it used to, even with Low Power Mode and these settings adjusted, the battery may need to be replaced by Apple.

Reduce notifications and vibrations to cut down on power use

Every time your watch vibrates or lights up to show a notification, it uses power. If you receive dozens of notifications throughout the day, they add up. Turning off notifications for apps you don't need to check when ready can help extend battery life.

Go to Settings on your watch, tap Notifications, then scroll through the list of apps. For each app, you can toggle notifications off entirely, or tap the app name to choose whether you want alerts, badges, or sounds. Disabling vibration for less important notifications also saves power—go to Settings, tap Sounds & Haptics, and toggle off Haptic Alerts if you prefer.

You can also manage notifications from the Watch app on your iPhone, which is often faster if you have many apps to adjust. Open the Watch app, go to Notifications, and toggle off apps you don't need to hear from on your wrist.

Close apps running in the background and restart your watch if battery drain seems unusual

Apps that stay open in the background can drain battery, especially if they're running processes you don't need. To close an app, open it, then press and hold the side button until you see the power menu, then swipe left on the app. Alternatively, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to see recently used apps, then swipe left on any app to close it.

If your watch is draining battery much faster than normal even after trying these steps, a restart often helps. Hold down the side button until the power-off slider appears, then drag it to turn off your watch. Wait a few seconds, then hold the side button again to turn it back on. This clears temporary processes that might be using extra power.

If battery drain remains unusually fast after a restart and all these settings are adjusted, the battery itself may be failing. Contact Apple Support or visit an Apple Store to have the battery tested and potentially replaced.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Low Power Mode affect fitness tracking?

Low Power Mode slows down some features but doesn't disable fitness tracking entirely. Your watch will still record workouts and count steps, though some advanced metrics may update less frequently. If you're in the middle of a workout when you turn on Low Power Mode, the workout will continue to record normally.

Will my Apple Watch still get notifications if I turn off background app refresh?

Yes. Background app refresh controls whether apps update their data when you're not using them. Turning it off won't stop notifications from arriving—you'll still get alerts, calls, and messages. You'll just need to open the app to see the most recent data when you do check it.

Can I charge my Apple Watch overnight without damaging the battery?

Yes, it's safe to leave your watch charging overnight. Apple Watch batteries are designed to stop charging once they reach 100 percent, so leaving it plugged in won't overcharge or damage the battery. However, keeping the battery between 20 and 80 percent most of the time can help it last longer over many years.

What should I do if my watch battery drains in a few hours?

First, restart your watch by holding the side button until the power-off slider appears, then turn it back on. If that doesn't help, check Settings to see which apps are using the most battery (Settings > Battery). If one app is draining power unusually fast, try uninstalling and reinstalling it. If the problem persists, the battery may be failing and you should contact Apple Support.

Does turning off Bluetooth really save that much battery?

It depends on how often your watch searches for Bluetooth connections. If you're indoors and your iPhone is nearby, turning off Bluetooth saves a noticeable amount of battery—sometimes 10 to 15 percent over a full day. If you're outdoors or away from your phone, the savings are smaller because your watch isn't actively searching.