An Apple Watch that used to last all day and now needs charging by mid-afternoon is a common complaint, especially after a watchOS update or once the watch is a couple of years old. The good news is that most fast drain comes from settings and apps, not a faulty battery, and you can usually win back hours without giving up the features you actually use. This guide shows you how to find what’s draining your watch and fix it.
What You’ll Need
- Your Apple Watch and the iPhone it’s paired with
- The official Apple Watch charger
- About 15 minutes, plus a day or two of normal use to judge the results
Step 1: Give It a Few Days After an Update
If the drain started straight after updating watchOS, wait a day or two before changing lots of settings. After a major update the watch often re-indexes data and finishes background tasks, which can use more battery than usual for a short time. If battery life hasn’t settled after that, carry on with the steps below.
Step 2: Restart the Watch
A restart clears stuck processes that can keep the watch working in the background. Press and hold the side button until you see the power option, turn the watch off, wait, then press and hold the side button again to turn it on. Restarting the paired iPhone at the same time can help too.
Step 3: Use Low Power Mode When You Need It
Low Power Mode turns off some features, such as the Always On display, to stretch the battery much further. To turn it on, press the side button to open Control Center, tap the battery percentage, then tap Low Power Mode. You can turn it on for a set time if you only need it for the rest of the day. Your watch may also suggest it when the battery drops to 10% or lower.
Step 4: Turn Off Always On (If You Don’t Need It)
On models that support it, the Always On display keeps the time and your watch face visible when your wrist is down. It’s convenient, but it’s one of the bigger battery users. On the watch, open Settings > Display & Brightness > Always On and turn it off. The screen will still wake when you raise your wrist or tap it. Lowering the brightness in the same menu helps a little too.
Step 5: Limit Background App Refresh
Apps refreshing in the background keep the watch busy even when you’re not using it. On the watch, go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh. You can turn it off completely, or scroll down and turn it off just for apps that don’t need up-to-date information. Apps with complications on your current watch face will keep refreshing, so keep only the complications you actually look at.
Step 6: Cut Down Notifications and Apps
Every notification lights the screen and taps your wrist. In the Watch app on your iPhone, open Notifications and turn off mirroring for apps you don’t need on your wrist. While you’re there, remove watch apps you never use. Fewer apps means less background activity.
Step 7: Check Your Workouts and Health Features
GPS workouts, continuous heart-rate tracking during exercise, and streaming music over mobile data are the heaviest battery users on any smartwatch. If your drain happens on workout days, that’s probably why. Leaving your iPhone with you during runs lets the watch use the phone’s connection, and downloading music to the watch avoids streaming.
Step 8: Check Battery Health
Batteries wear down over time. On the watch, open Settings > Battery > Battery Health to see its maximum capacity compared with when it was new. If capacity is well down and you still get poor battery life after the steps above, a battery service may be the answer. Apple and Apple Authorised Service Providers can check and replace it.
Common Problems and Fixes
The battery drains overnight while not being worn
Check that the watch isn’t stuck trying to sync, by restarting both the watch and iPhone. If it’s set up for sleep tracking, some drain overnight is normal.
The battery drains fast and the watch gets warm
Something is running constantly. Restart the watch, check for apps that are stuck, and install any watchOS update. If it keeps happening, unpair and re-pair the watch, which creates a backup on your iPhone first.
The watch keeps disconnecting from the iPhone
Constant reconnecting uses extra battery. See our guide to fixing a smartwatch that won’t pair or keeps disconnecting.
Both the watch and iPhone drain quickly
If your phone is struggling too, our guide to fixing iPhone battery drain covers the phone side.
Safety and Data Tips
- Use the official charger or a certified one. Cheap unbranded chargers may not charge safely.
- Stop using the watch and contact Apple if the case looks swollen, the screen is lifting, or it gets very hot.
- Don’t open the watch yourself. The seals keep it water resistant and the battery should only be replaced by a trained technician.
- Keep your iPhone backed up, because unpairing or replacing a watch relies on the backup stored on the phone.
FAQ
How long should an Apple Watch battery last?
It depends on the model and how you use it, but most are designed to last a full day of normal use. Heavy GPS workouts, streaming and the Always On display shorten that.
Does Low Power Mode turn off health tracking?
Low Power Mode turns off or limits some features, such as the Always On display and some background measurements, to save power. Check Apple’s guide for exactly what changes on your model.
Is it bad to charge my Apple Watch every night?
No. Apple Watch is designed for daily charging and manages its own charging to reduce battery wear.
For Apple’s official advice, see Extend the battery life on Apple Watch and Use Low Power Mode on your Apple Watch.
Steps and menu labels may change as apps update. Last updated: November 2026.