Apple Watch Users Can Stretch Battery to 38 Hours With 3 Setting Changes
Updated
Updated · Tom's Guide · Jul 10
Apple Watch Users Can Stretch Battery to 38 Hours With 3 Setting Changes
3 articles · Updated · Tom's Guide · Jul 10
Summary
Three Apple Watch settings can extend battery life without the bigger feature cuts of Low Power Mode: turn off Background App Refresh, enable Reduce Motion, and disable Optimize Charge Limit.
Low Power Mode can push a Series 11 to as much as 38 hours, but it also disables features such as the always-on display and continuous heart-rate monitoring.
Background App Refresh drains power by updating apps behind the scenes, while Reduce Motion trims nonessential interface animations that have little effect on day-to-day use.
Optimize Charge Limit stops charging at 80% to protect long-term battery health; turning it off restores that extra 20% but raises the risk of faster battery wear if left charging unattended.
Apple Watch battery life still varies widely by model—about 18 hours for the SE 3, 24 hours for the Series 11, and 42 hours for the Ultra 3—and the tips also apply to older devices.