Many users have reported major battery drain problems after updating to watchOS 10. This can often be due to compatibility issues or bugs introduced by the new update. Here are the most common reasons why your Apple Watch battery might be draining faster than normal:
Beta Software Updates: Beta versions of watchOS are meant for testing and may introduce software bugs or poor power optimization, which can lead to faster battery drain.Background Activity: Many background tasks like data syncing, health tracking, and fetching updates continue running when you’re not directly using the device, causing battery usage to increase.Outdated Software or Bugs: If your Apple Watch has outdated watchOS or software bugs, it can result in bad power management, which means the battery ends up draining quickly. Software updates usually fix these types of issues. Read more about battery-draining software bugs here.Heavy Feature Usage: Features like the Always On display and Background App Refresh, when used heavily, can cause the battery to run down much faster than normal.Third-Party Apps: Apps from the App Store that are not optimized for the Apple Watch may cause extra power use, especially if they are outdated or have bugs.System Glitches: Sometimes, watchOS has minor problems or software errors that can cause sudden battery drain. These can often be corrected by updates or troubleshooting steps.Poor Charging Habits: Using non-Apple chargers or not allowing your device to reach a full charge regularly can hurt long-term battery health. It’s best to use Apple-certified chargers and let the watch charge fully when possible.Active Walkie-Talkie & Weather Widget: These features update information or stay connected continuously, which uses more energy and may drain the battery faster.
Try these steps to solve fast battery drain on your Apple Watch:
1. Restart Your Watch
A quick restart can refresh your Apple Watch and stop any background tasks or minor bugs that could cause fast battery usage. Restarting clears temporary files and resets certain system processes, which can help save power. Just press and hold the side button until the power slider appears. Slide to power off, then after a few seconds, hold the same button again until you see the Apple logo.
2. Close Unused Applications
If you keep apps running in the background, they can use up battery for no reason. Closing unused apps often leads to better battery performance and gives you longer usage throughout the day.
3. Download Latest Update
Outdated watchOS versions can cause battery-related issues. If you haven’t updated your Apple Watch in a while, check for the latest updates. For example, after some users noticed a battery drain in watchOS 10, Apple released version 10.0.1, which included improvements.
4. Charge Your Watch by Turning It off Overnight
This method was suggested by a user on Reddit and can help reset your Apple Watch’s battery calibration.
5. Disable Always On
If you don’t need your screen to stay on all the time, turning off the Always On display can save a lot of battery.
6. Adjust Brightness
Lowering your screen brightness helps preserve battery—especially in low-light settings.
7. Disable Background App Refresh
Turning off Background App Refresh stops apps from updating content when you’re not using them. This helps your battery last longer, since apps will only update when you open them.
8. Reduce the Number of Notifications
If your Apple Watch gets too many notifications, its screen and vibration motor are frequently activated. Reducing notifications helps preserve the battery. Here’s how:
9. Disable Haptic Alerts
Haptic Alerts vibrate your wrist for notifications and can use more battery. Turning off Haptic Alerts can help your device last longer.
10. Uninstall the Moby Face App
If you notice battery drain issues after installing the Moby Face app (or similar third-party apps), removing them might help. A Reddit user found this solution improved their battery performance. Here’s how to uninstall it:
11. Use the Apple 20W Charger
Using an Apple 20W Charger ensures your watch charges quickly and efficiently. Third-party chargers may not give the same reliable results. With Apple’s 20W charger, your watch charges faster and safely, reducing chances of excess energy loss that can hurt battery health.
12. Remove the Weather widget
Widgets keep updating in the background. The Weather widget, in particular, can use more battery as it checks updates often. Removing it can help battery life.
13. Disable Walkie-Talkie
If you don’t use the Walkie-Talkie feature often, turning it off helps save battery.
14. Unpair & Erase Your Watch
If you still have battery issues at this stage, it might be best to reset your watch completely. Here’s how to unpair and erase it:
Contact Apple Support
If your Apple Watch’s battery is still draining quickly after trying everything above, it’s a good idea to contact Apple Support. Their team can help with personalized troubleshooting advice and find any deeper issues affecting your watch.
