WatchOS 8.3 Update Causing 3rd Party Wireless Charger to Drain Battery

This is definitely not just a Belkin issue. I am having the exact same issues with both of my new BlueBolt chargers.

Erratic watch behaviour (changing between screens). Starts charging then stops within 10 seconds. Ranges between 2% and 6% charged. Apple charger works fine.

My watch is running 8.3 but my chargers are new, so I don’t know if they worked with lower version of Apple software.

Very frustrating.

My blue bolt charger - same problem. It’s not the charger though. I’m son had Apple Watch SE - no problem on blue bolt charger. As soon as I put the Apple Watch 7 on charger it begins to charge, then stops after less than a minute. I thought it was the watch 7 at first. Was almost going to return it. But the 7 Watch charges fine with the supplied charger from Apple. Come on Apple - fix this issue !!!!

Blue bolt just sent me this info since I contacted them. ::

Please be advised that Apple Watch Series 7 is not compatible with our BoltHOME Charger. Thus your watch will not charge properly with our product.

Unfortunately, we do not allow returns due to incompatibility issues.

COME ON APPLE 🍎 ADD BLUE BOLT CHARGERS SO WE CAN USE OUR CHARGES FOR THE APPLE WATCH 7

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Blue Bolt just emailed me this info :

Please be advised that Apple Watch Series 7 is not compatible with our BoltHOME Charger. Thus your watch will not charge properly with our product.

Unfortunately, we do not allow returns due to incompatibility issues.

Please be advised that Apple Watch Series 7 is not compatible with our BoltHOME Charger. Thus your watch will not charge properly with our product.

Unfortunately, we do not allow returns due to incompatibility issues.

As I've posted several times in this thread the reason Blue Bolt told you this is they are not a part of the mFi certification program, they do not use chipsets in their devices that are mFi certified and they have no direct access to the codes within the chipsets so they steal them from companies that are mFi certified. The problem is if Apple during an update has to change the codes they have no means to update theirs short of stealing some new ones for newly made device and they could then swap out with you if they wish. But they have no incentive to do so.

Apple cannot "ADD BLUE BOLT", they need to apply to the mFi program (as over 200 companies have done) and comply with the terms, one of which would be to use programmable mFi approved chipsets. But this would increase their costs. Until they do that there is nothing that Apple can do.

So does Apple 🍎 or other companies have nice looking chargers similar to Blue bolt that wirelessly charge iPhone, watch7, & earbuds ? If you know of any, can u send me / us a link , Please. What’s crazy is that the blue bolt WORKS for the SE Apple Watch

It is probably the Fast Charging on the Watch 7 that is causing the issue. I use an older Mophie 3-in-1 charger for mine, I bought a fried a newer model Mophie for Christmas and it works. My coffee friend uses a Griffin. Make sure while looking for one that it is mFi certified and if you want to fast charge on your 7 that is is also PD compatible.

I have been having some of the same issues since the update. This has been happening on a Series 7, 6, and 4. The only common denominator that I can see if the charger (Zeera Wireless 5 in 1) and the power brick (a generic 20 watt).

Does anyone happen to know if Apple is in the process of addressing this issue or if they acknowledge that there is an issue?

Forget it. Apple screw-ed all the 3rd party chargers. All of us that we have the stands 3-in-1 or 2-1 lost the apple watch part. Apple should have warned about that. Now thousands of stands are good to be in the trash bins. And already 2 updates since the big change and it seems that it is Game-over.

and for the MFI, deggie: seriously your advise is to contact the manufacturer and ask him nicely to adhere to MFI programs when we are now on the 7th generation of watches?? This is the right way???

Sorry but you are incorrect about all 3-in-1 stands not working. My Mophie is working just fine. The Belkin I gave a friend for Christmas is working. In fact with watchOS 8.4 all of the MFi certified ones should be working. Non-certified ones are using knockoff chipsets that cannot be updated and stolen codes. This causes problems if Apple does an update. So contact the manufacturer and see what they will do for you.

Honestly, it’s a mixed bag. After the fix, my watch charged on my husband’s cheap 3rd party stand, but not mine. I tossed it and got a new one on amazon that was marked “updated 2022” in the description, and it works great.

Works fine on my Mophie. You might want to check Belkin's site.