On your Apple Watch, open Settings > General > Background App Refresh and turn off refresh for apps that do not need to stay current—or turn it off entirely. Apple says background refreshing can use power. One exception: complications on your active watch face can continue refreshing even when that app’s background-refresh setting is off.
Choose between selective refresh and Low Power Mode
Start by limiting Background App Refresh for apps you do not rely on for timely updates. If you need more runtime and can accept broader changes, Low Power Mode reduces or disables more features.
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| Approach | What changes | Trade-off | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selective Background App Refresh | Stops background refresh for selected apps; active-face complications may still refresh. Apple Watch User Guide | More targeted; most other watch functions remain closer to normal. | Everyday use when only some apps need less background activity. |
| Low Power Mode | Reduces background refresh and complication updates, and affects features such as Always On display and some background health measurements. Apple Support | Connectivity or notifications may be limited or delayed, and some features are reduced or unavailable. | When you need additional runtime and accept a broader reduction in features. |
Turn off Background App Refresh for selected apps
- On the watch, open Settings > General > Background App Refresh.
- Leave Background App Refresh on and switch off individual apps you do not need updating in the background, or turn off the global Background App Refresh control to disable it for all apps.
- Keep refresh enabled for apps whose background updates you rely on. Then use the watch normally and see whether battery life improves.
Apple notes that apps may refresh content after you switch away from them, and that refreshing can use power. It does not publish a universal percentage for how much a particular app consumes or how much disabling refresh will save. Your active watch-face complications are the exception to the per-app control: they may continue refreshing.
Use Low Power Mode for broader reductions
- Press the side button to open Control Center.
- Tap the battery percentage, then turn on Low Power Mode. You can also open Settings > Battery and enable it there.
Low Power Mode reduces how often apps refresh and complications update. Depending on watchOS and model, it can also turn off or reduce Always On display, background health measurements, connections, and notification frequency. Check the on-screen description for your watch’s version before enabling it for routine use.
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Know the workout trade-offs
Some compatible watches and software versions offer reduced GPS and heart-rate readings during workouts in Low Power Mode. Fewer readings can mean workout alerts, splits, segments, and current-pace metrics are unavailable. Check your model’s compatibility and the feature description before relying on it.
Check connection conditions and recent updates
- Stay near your paired iPhone when practical. Apple says Apple Watch is most efficient when connected to the iPhone over Bluetooth.
- Prefer Wi-Fi to mobile data when away from the iPhone, if available. Apple says Wi-Fi uses less battery than mobile data, while a weak signal can increase power use.
- Allow time after a watchOS update. Update-related work may continue in the background. If battery life worsened just after updating, Apple recommends waiting a few days and checking again. Apple’s battery-drain guidance was published September 18, 2026.
Check whether watchOS 27 paused a feature
On watchOS 27, Apple Watch may pause features you use infrequently and show an Extending Battery notification that names the paused feature. Open Settings from the notification or restore the feature later in Settings or the Apple Watch app on the paired iPhone. This behavior is specific to watchOS 27; people using earlier releases may not see it. Apple’s guidance describes the feature.
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Apple’s September 23, 2026 watchOS 27 update notes say updates can affect performance and battery life. Version 27.0.1 includes a fix for unexpected restarts; Apple does not describe that as a battery-drain fix.
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- Durable, woven cable with fast-charging capabilities for select Apple Watch models. Simply hold the connector near the back of the watch, where magnets cause it to snap into place automatically.
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- USB-C Cable Length: 1m or 3.2 feet
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Check battery health if settings do not help
- On the watch, open Settings > Battery > Battery Health.
- Review Maximum Capacity, which indicates capacity relative to when the battery was new.
- If the watch reports Battery Needs Service, contact Apple Support rather than treating the issue as an app-refresh setting. Apple’s Battery and Performance guidance was published August 3, 2026.
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