Is your Apple Watch battery worn and in need of replacing? Here's how to tell without taking it off your wrist (2024)

FAQs

Is your Apple Watch battery worn and in need of replacing? Here's how to tell without taking it off your wrist? ›

Go back to Settings > Battery > Battery Health. Notice there you get a MAXIMUM CAPACITY measurement. If that is over 80 percent, you should be good. Below that, then your battery is getting suspect and you're probably noticing that your Apple Watch no longer holds its charge like it once did.

How Do I Know if My Apple Watch Battery Needs Replacing? If the maximum capacity is below 80%, your battery needs replacement. Maximum capacity less than 80% is a clear indication that your battery has lost its ability to function for a long time.

If you are already familiar with optimizing the battery on your watch, you might know that display is a massive contributor to battery consumption. The longer the display is on, the faster the battery drains.

It's essential to keep an eye out for any signs of a dead battery, such as dimming or flickering backlight, second-hand moving in two-second intervals or inaccurate timekeeping. Replacing a battery is relatively easy, but leaving an old battery in your watch can be detrimental to your watch's internal components.

Apple has increased the price of most Apple Watch battery replacements, as reported by 9to5Mac. The swaps used to cost $79, but now, for Apple Watch Series 4 devices and newer, you'll have to cough up $99.

Over on the Apple discussion forum, one user reported in January 2023 that they still use an Apple Watch Series 4 that shows battery health of 92% after four-and-a-half years.

Check your battery charge

You can check your Apple Watch battery's charge level in several places: To check the battery percentage in Control Center, press the side button (for watchOS 9 or earlier, touch and hold the bottom of the screen, then swipe up). On some watch faces, you can add a battery complication.

When you raise your wrist to see your watch or tap the screen, it "wakes" the display for a short period of time. If you have the wake time set to 70 seconds, that will drain the battery quickly.

Things You Should Know. Disable features like "Always On", "Hey Siri", "Wake on Wrist Raise," and other features to save battery life. If your Apple Watch is an older model, the battery may have deteriorated due to age. Low battery life could also be due to software update issues or pairing problems.

If your iPhone no longer holds a charge, certain settings could be to blame. Screen brightness, Bluetooth®, GPS, or even your Wi-Fi connection settings can drain your battery when these features are turned on.

Is it cheaper to buy a new Apple Watch or replace the battery? ›

The Apple Watch has gone through several iterations, and newer models tend to have better battery life. If you have an older model and the battery is no longer meeting your daily needs, replacing it might be more cost-effective than upgrading to a new watch.

Use a plastic opening tool, prying against the bottom of the case to separate the battery cable connector from the watch's battery cable. Remove the battery from the watch. If the battery is visibly dented or deformed, it should be replaced. For best results, replace with a new battery whenever it is removed.

All rechargeable batteries are consumables and have a limited lifespan—eventually their capacity and performance decline. As batteries age, it can contribute to changes in Apple Watch performance.

If your Apple Watch battery doesn't last as long between charges, you can replace it yourself or get professional service for less than $100. Replacing the battery requires a plastic opening tool, a specific screwdriver set, and a clean, well-lit work area.

Open watch application on iPhone, and scroll down to sleep. Then turn on charging reminders in Sleep. Then you'll receive a reminder every day.

Here, you will find the maximum battery capacity as a percentage; if it is above 80%, you need not worry, as your Apple Watch's battery is doing okay. However, if the battery health is less than 80% — regardless of how long you've owned the watch — you should visit an Apple Store to get it replaced.