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Watch OS 8 Severe Battery Drain
- Thread starter Markieamark
- Start date
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Funny thing is, I didn't have a problem on OS8 when it was connected to my 12 Pro...but when I upgraded to the 13 Pro, that's when it all went bad. Since then I've reset both the phone and the watch with no resolution.
AW3 with OS8. Used to be about 45% by late evening, now at 17% at 5pm, so significant drain since iOS 15 and OS8.
No change at all for me, WatchOS8 AW6 to an iPhone 12 running iOS15 with AOD on. Generally have around 40% to 50% left each evening (7am to 11pm) depending on which watch face i've been using. I've used the Infograph face with 8 complications a lot recently but last couple of days switched to Meridian with 4 complications and i've got a bit more battery left at the end of the day.
One thing i've done though is set the weather on my watch to use specified locations not use GPS to determine my current location. That way if i have any weather complications or check the weather app on my watch it doesnt fire up GPS every time to do it. I was doing that when i first got my watch and changing it i noticed a big change in how long the battery lasted.
Now the only time it tends to get lower than 40% is if i've used the watch to track a long walk etc where GPS kicks in or had directions running on my watch.
One thing i've done though is set the weather on my watch to use specified locations not use GPS to determine my current location. That way if i have any weather complications or check the weather app on my watch it doesnt fire up GPS every time to do it. I was doing that when i first got my watch and changing it i noticed a big change in how long the battery lasted.
Now the only time it tends to get lower than 40% is if i've used the watch to track a long walk etc where GPS kicks in or had directions running on my watch.
Same, except mine is in battery saver mode by 5pm. I can't have that so back to my Garmin.
Since first seeing this thread, I've been watching my Series 6 on 8, iPhone 12 Pro Max on 15. I consistently see just under 2%/hour battery use if I'm not tracking an activity, e.g. running, walking.
Now that I survived the almost death of my watch (read the ordeal below as it unfolded over the last 4 days) my battery is draining by the minute. Diagnostics today at Apple show my batter health to be 87% and so they are not poised to do anything for me.
Here is what unfolded before today’s diagnostic test: I have the stainless watch 4, it’s 3 years old so the battery going bad would not be outside the realm of possibility. After the OS8 update my watch went berserk, the touch screen stopped responding and I had to do a force restart (hold both buttons 10 seconds) I’ve never had problems with it before. After this it was fine for a day, then I went swimming and the watch went even more berserk, it repeatedly dialed 911 and the touch screen wen unresponsive so I had to force it down again, then turn it completely off. After that it was odd and buggy then stopped working altogether and told me the battery was low…even though it had been charging. Then I attempted to unpair, reset to factory and at the last step of getting it paired again….I lost total control of it and it would not turn on again. I only saw the coiled wire with the green lightening icon indicating it was charging. As soon as I removed it from the charger the lightening turned red. It was not really charging. Took it to apple two days ago (Sept 29) and because it would not power on (and it was not paired to my phone remember) they could not run diagnostics. So I was resigned myself to buying a new watch. Then the next day (today) I tried again and the watch was responsive after sitting on charging puck all night. I was able to pair and set up the watch successfully and then I noticed the battery was draining by the minute!! I went back to apple store today and explained all of this and they ran diagnostics….showing my batter was perfectly healthy. 87% actually. So the only options were A) to send it in for a complete re-install of the operating system for no cost, B) Pay for repairs at $400 or C) Buy a new watch (and D) do nothing). Here’s what I think: The OS is draining people’s batteries, and it might regulate itself or not, but for the out of warranty people who have older watches like I do….Apple is perched to try and get $400 to “repair” it. To Apple’s credit, all employees agreed it was not worth spending that much for only a 90 day’s warranty on repairs. What sucks is that apple won’t replace the battery because diagnostics show it’s healthy, they will charge me an arm and a leg for repairs without even knowing what is happening…..and at the end of the day there is not real help (yet) for what is probably an OS problem that is yet to be addressed because not enough time has passed and not enough people have begun to complain.
Apple support page had one solution posted “wait” because sometimes the watches/battery issues sort themselves out over time!! Cool idea, I hope it’s true!
So waiting might be the solution…..either the watch will regulate itself or if it is deemed an OS problem, Apple will take an action. Maybe!
Here is what unfolded before today’s diagnostic test: I have the stainless watch 4, it’s 3 years old so the battery going bad would not be outside the realm of possibility. After the OS8 update my watch went berserk, the touch screen stopped responding and I had to do a force restart (hold both buttons 10 seconds) I’ve never had problems with it before. After this it was fine for a day, then I went swimming and the watch went even more berserk, it repeatedly dialed 911 and the touch screen wen unresponsive so I had to force it down again, then turn it completely off. After that it was odd and buggy then stopped working altogether and told me the battery was low…even though it had been charging. Then I attempted to unpair, reset to factory and at the last step of getting it paired again….I lost total control of it and it would not turn on again. I only saw the coiled wire with the green lightening icon indicating it was charging. As soon as I removed it from the charger the lightening turned red. It was not really charging. Took it to apple two days ago (Sept 29) and because it would not power on (and it was not paired to my phone remember) they could not run diagnostics. So I was resigned myself to buying a new watch. Then the next day (today) I tried again and the watch was responsive after sitting on charging puck all night. I was able to pair and set up the watch successfully and then I noticed the battery was draining by the minute!! I went back to apple store today and explained all of this and they ran diagnostics….showing my batter was perfectly healthy. 87% actually. So the only options were A) to send it in for a complete re-install of the operating system for no cost, B) Pay for repairs at $400 or C) Buy a new watch (and D) do nothing). Here’s what I think: The OS is draining people’s batteries, and it might regulate itself or not, but for the out of warranty people who have older watches like I do….Apple is perched to try and get $400 to “repair” it. To Apple’s credit, all employees agreed it was not worth spending that much for only a 90 day’s warranty on repairs. What sucks is that apple won’t replace the battery because diagnostics show it’s healthy, they will charge me an arm and a leg for repairs without even knowing what is happening…..and at the end of the day there is not real help (yet) for what is probably an OS problem that is yet to be addressed because not enough time has passed and not enough people have begun to complain.
Apple support page had one solution posted “wait” because sometimes the watches/battery issues sort themselves out over time!! Cool idea, I hope it’s true!
So waiting might be the solution…..either the watch will regulate itself or if it is deemed an OS problem, Apple will take an action. Maybe!
Did an 'Erase all content & Settings' on watch followed by restore from backup and battery usage is now back to normal. Watch 3 running OS8.1 PB2. Put it on at 06:00 with 100% charge and now at 13:00 it is still at 88%, so that's fine.
Also resolved the same problem on my wife's Watch 3 running OS8.
Man, I wish. I'm so frustrated at this point I just turned off the watch and took it off.
I took it as far as doing a complete reset of my 13 Pro and setup as new without restoring a backup...then setup the watch from a full reset and did not install any 3rd party apps. My battery was in the red by 3pm today.
To make it all even better, after I did the full restore and setup as new with my iPhone, which took hours, Apple News won't open at all for me. Just sits on the splash screen with the spinning wheel. This has not been a smooth week with me and Apple.
I have similar problems. My S5 went pretty much useless for 4 days but is somewhat back to normal since yesterday. But the battery still draining fast.
I decided to wait for an update that will fix it. I’m out of AppleCare so out of luck.
Sucks. I was over 1k days working out and tracking my swimming. Anyway, this is the minor issue, I just want the watch to go back to normal. Apple screwed up big time on this update.
Even after a full reset and reinstall of ios8 on W6 the battery drain is really bad. I need to charge the watch twice in a day, even without any workout or significant use of the watch. Luckily I have applecare to easily swap watches but still it’s ridiculous to even have to do this.
on Watch OS8 im not getting drain on the watch, but more so excess drain on my iPhone 13 Pro it is linked to.
I know it is the watch as I have unpaired it and im getting like 30% more battery by the end of the day on my iPhone compared to if it was paired up.
Mines a Series 4 SS 44mm. I hope the Series 7 Graphite 45mm that I have on order doesn't do the same or do we have to wait for an update.
I know it is the watch as I have unpaired it and im getting like 30% more battery by the end of the day on my iPhone compared to if it was paired up.
Mines a Series 4 SS 44mm. I hope the Series 7 Graphite 45mm that I have on order doesn't do the same or do we have to wait for an update.
I have a series 6 and am experiencing the severe battery drain. This morning I did a 74K cycling workout. When that was done the watch was at 50%. Two hours later it is down to under 20% and went in to Power Reserve. (I thought that only happened at 10%.) Last month, before OS 8, I did the same workout, plus a pool workout in the afternoon and the watch still lasted until bed time. This huge drain is not acceptable.
Yeah, I see the new wave of Apple OS’s is really bad with lots of issues across their devices. I “luckily” have Apple Care and was able to swap my watch for a new one. Of course I’d rather have Apple really care and properly QA their software. At least the swap resolved the issues with my watch, now waiting to do the same with my phone and tablet.
I just spent 45 minutes with Apple Support as my watch is still under warranty. They did a diagnostic test and said that the battery is functioning normally.
So, I guess "normal" now means that you need to charge your watch twice a day.
Nice work, Apple.
So, I guess "normal" now means that you need to charge your watch twice a day.
Nice work, Apple.
I had the exact same thing. According to test the battery was fine and who knows, maybe the issue is not the battery. I was only able to swap due to Apple Care.
What irks me is the implication that the rapid and sudden battery drain is somehow my fault because I have insufficiently optimized battery usage. Why should I sacrifice function (raise to wake, background refresh) in order to compensate for Apple’s poorly written software?
Ha! That would be laughable (and sad), basically that “service” rep is admitting product nonconformity. I would give it another try as it really depends on the willingness of the individual rep.
I may have identified one possible cause: Cycling Auto Pause
To test this I went cycling this morning and stopped for coffee. I let the workout auto pause. While having coffee I dismissed the end workout reminder which appeared twice.
When I paused the workout at 10:02 the battery was at 85%. When I resumed at 10:32 it was 79%. That's 12% an hour which would give just over 8 hours of use. I would expect that level of battery depletion if the watch were actually tracking a workout and recording GPS and heart rate data. But in this case it was doing nothing and the display was asleep. (Always On is enabled but, rise to wake is not.)
When I have some time I'll work out if battery usage is the same or less during a manual pause.
To test this I went cycling this morning and stopped for coffee. I let the workout auto pause. While having coffee I dismissed the end workout reminder which appeared twice.
When I paused the workout at 10:02 the battery was at 85%. When I resumed at 10:32 it was 79%. That's 12% an hour which would give just over 8 hours of use. I would expect that level of battery depletion if the watch were actually tracking a workout and recording GPS and heart rate data. But in this case it was doing nothing and the display was asleep. (Always On is enabled but, rise to wake is not.)
When I have some time I'll work out if battery usage is the same or less during a manual pause.