Apple's battery article says watch battery life is a mix of the watch's age and how it is used, then lists what to change. Keep the watch near its iPhone, because a Bluetooth link is the most efficient. Away from the phone use Wi-Fi rather than cellular, and choose a strong signal or Airplane Mode in weak coverage. Turn on Low Power Mode from Control Center; it also turns off the Always On display, and it switches itself off when the watch charges above 80 percent.
You can turn Always On off alone in Settings, Display and Brightness. Optimized Battery Charging and Optimized Charge Limit help long-term capacity but can be switched off for a day. On watchOS 9.1 and later, an SE 2, Series 8 and later or Ultra can take fewer GPS and heart rate readings on long outdoor workouts, and playing audio through the watch speaker drains faster than AirPods. After an update, expect a day or two of indexing before life settles.
Differential
Likely causes of “Apple Watch battery drains too quickly”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
The watch is far from its iPhone
What separates it Battery falls faster when the phone is left behind and the watch hunts for Wi-Fi or cellular
How to confirm Keep the pair in Bluetooth range, as Apple advises, or use a strong Wi-Fi network
- 2
Cellular or a weak signal
What separates it GPS + Cellular models drain quickly in poor coverage
How to confirm Use Wi-Fi where you can and Airplane Mode when there is no signal
- 3
The Always On display and bright watch faces
What separates it Life is shorter than the tech spec on a busy face
How to confirm Turn Always On off in Settings, Display and Brightness, or use Low Power Mode
- 4
Long outdoor workouts and music from the watch speaker
What separates it A run or hike burns much of the day's battery
How to confirm Turn on Fewer GPS and Heart Rate Readings and play audio through AirPods
- 5
A recent update still indexing
What separates it The drain starts right after a watchOS update and eases in a day or two
How to confirm Charge fully, keep it on the phone and re-check after two days
- 6
A worn battery
What separates it Battery health has fallen and the watch dies well inside its rated life
How to confirm Check Settings, Battery, Battery Health and book service if capacity is low
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The model number on the case back and the watchOS version
- Battery percentage at the start and after a typical day, and what you did in between
- Whether it is a GPS or GPS + Cellular model and how it connects: iPhone, Wi-Fi or cellular
- The Battery Health figure in Settings and whether the case ever runs hot
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedKeep the pair in range
ReversibleKeep the iPhone within Bluetooth range so the watch is not searching for Wi-Fi or cellular.
Turn on Low Power Mode
ReversiblePress the side button, tap the battery percentage and switch Low Power Mode on for a test day.
Turn Always On off
ReversibleIn Settings, Display and Brightness, scroll to Always On and turn it off if you want to keep other features on.
Trim workout drain
ReversibleIn Settings, Workout, turn on Fewer GPS and Heart Rate Readings, and play audio through AirPods.
Test a day without optimization
ReversibleTurn off Optimized Battery Charging for one day only if you need every hour, as Apple describes.
Check battery health
ReversibleCheck battery health, by opening Settings, Battery, Battery Health and noting the maximum capacity, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Book service if it is worn
ReversibleIf the watch cannot last a day with Low Power Mode on and health is low, book battery service.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Models this page covers
- Apple lists these model numbers: Ultra 49mm A2622, A2684 or A2859; Ultra 2 49mm A2986 or A2987; Series 10 42mm A2997 or A2998 and 46mm A2999 or A3000 (GPS), A3001 to A3003 and A3206 (cellular); Series 9 41mm A2978 and 45mm A2980 (GPS); Series 8 41mm A2770 and 45mm A2771 (GPS); Series 7 41mm A2473 and 45mm A2474 (GPS); SE 2 40mm A2722 and 44mm A2723 (GPS); Series 6 40mm A2291 and 44mm A2292 (GPS). Cellular models carry different numbers, listed on Apple's Identify your Apple Watch page.
- Rated battery by model
- Apple's tech specs: Ultra 2 up to 36 hours and 72 in Low Power Mode with about 80 percent in an hour; Ultra up to 36 hours; Series 10 up to 18 hours and 36 in Low Power Mode with about 80 percent in 30 minutes; Series 9 up to 18 hours and 36 in Low Power Mode; Series 8, 7 and 6 up to 18 hours; SE 2 up to 18 hours.
- Rated life is not measured life
- Apple's 18 hours assumes 300 time checks, 90 notifications, 15 minutes of app use and a 60-minute workout with music over Bluetooth on the Series 10; the SE 2 rating assumes 45 minutes of app use. Heavier use shortens it.
- Model number instead of a part number
- No part number is involved for you. Apple identifies a watch by the model number engraved on the case back, for example A2999 for a Series 10 46mm, and the serial number in Settings, General, About.
- Tools and supplies
- The Apple Magnetic Fast Charging cable that came with the watch, a lint-free microfiber cloth, a soft brush, your iPhone with its Apple Account password, and a pen and paper to note the model number engraved on the case back. No screwdriver is needed and the watch should not be opened.
- Repair cost
- Settings changes cost nothing. Apple's out-of-warranty battery service is $99 for Series 4 and later, per 9to5Mac and iFixit, and AppleCare+ covers the battery free below 80 percent capacity. iFixit lists batteries from about $20 to $37 and about $45 for the Ultra. Launch-day repair fees MacRumors reported were $499 for an Ultra and $299 to $399 for a Series 8.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit the Apple Watch Ultra 2, Apple Watch Ultra.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If Battery Health is low and the watch will not last a day, book Apple's battery service, about $99 out of warranty
- !If the case is hot, bulging or shuts down at 40 percent, stop using it and go to Apple
- !If the drain started only after an update, keep the watch on the charger and phone for two days and re-check before service
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Where the manufacturer's article stops. Repair figures come from Apple's published $99 battery service as reported by 9to5Mac and iFixit, and MacRumors' launch-day repair fees; Apple can revise them, so the current figure is confirmed when you book service.
Keep it near the iPhone, Wi-Fi over cellular, Low Power Mode, Always On, Optimized Charging, fewer GPS readings.
Up to 36 hours and 72 hours in Low Power Mode.
Up to 18 hours and 36 hours in Low Power Mode.
Up to 18 hours.
The Apple Watch line and its generations.
Exact questions
Common questions
Does Low Power Mode turn off Always On?+
Yes. Apple says Low Power Mode disables the Always On display. You can turn Always On off on its own in Settings.
Why does cellular drain faster than Wi-Fi?+
Apple says Wi-Fi uses less battery than cellular networks, and both use less in places with strong signal.
Should I turn Optimized Battery Charging off?+
Only for a day when you need the most hours. Apple says Optimized Charge Limit can increase wear on the battery if it is turned off.
Does music from the watch speaker cost battery?+
Apple says playing audio through the built-in speaker drains the battery more quickly, so use AirPods or another Bluetooth device.
Why is battery worse after an update?+
Apple says life can be lower for a short time after an update while the watch reindexes. Check again after a day or two.
Which models can reduce GPS readings?+
Apple ties Fewer GPS and Heart Rate Readings to watchOS 9.1 and later on the SE 2, Series 8 and later and the Ultra and later.
How much does battery service cost?+
Apple has charged $99 for battery service on Series 4 and later out of warranty, and AppleCare+ covers it when capacity is below 80 percent, per 9to5Mac.