Charging Issue after updating to WatchOS 8.3

Has anyone else had issues trying to charge their watch after the update? My watch will charge for 5 minutes and will stop charging while still being in the charger.

Apple Watch Series 6

Posted on Dec 16, 2021 8:43 AM

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Posted on Jan 27, 2022 7:04 AM

It looks like watchOS 8.4 was just released, and the bug fix summary shows: " watchOS 8.4 includes bug fixes and important security updates, including: Some chargers may not work as expected."


So while we never saw anything official about this published by Apple until now, we know they really did introduce a problem in watchOS 8.3.


Hope this fixes it for everybody!

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Jan 27, 2022 7:04 AM in response to MzPoodle2u

It looks like watchOS 8.4 was just released, and the bug fix summary shows: " watchOS 8.4 includes bug fixes and important security updates, including: Some chargers may not work as expected."


So while we never saw anything official about this published by Apple until now, we know they really did introduce a problem in watchOS 8.3.


Hope this fixes it for everybody!

Dec 22, 2021 9:21 AM in response to MzPoodle2u

Update (sort of): I contacted Apple and sent my watch off for a fix due to non-charging aspect. It was returned stating, “No issue.” Thanks Apple… for nothing. The only way to charge the watch is to use the original Apple Watch charger plugged directly into an outlet (unfortunately), as any off brand charger will not work and if the charger is plugged into a multi-USB tower, it doesn’t produce enough “power” to charge. As others have stated - this happened after the watchOS 8.3 update… so something within that configuration changed the charging abilities. Hopefully, they release a patch soon that undoes what they broke!

Dec 16, 2021 9:59 AM in response to MzPoodle2u

The first (and simplest) thing to try if something isn’t working right is to restart your Apple Watch. If necessary (device not responding), try a forced restart. Both methods can be found here:

How to restart your Apple Watch - Apple Support


If the battery drains too fast after an update, see all the replies to:

Battery Drain since watchos 7.4 - Apple Community

WatchOS 7.5 battery drain - Apple Community

FWIW, in some cases, unpairing the watch, completely erasing it, then pairing and restoring the backup will resolve the battery draining issue after an update. (Simply unpairing and pairing again may not work.)

Unpair and erase your Apple Watch - Apple Support

Also, some people have found that simply waiting a few days after an update resolves the battery draining problem.


Dec 22, 2021 8:32 AM in response to MzPoodle2u

Also having the same problem. WatchOS 8.3 on an Apple Watch Series 7. Third party charger that was working fine until one of the recent updates. I've already tried both a restart and a forced restart.


I don't have access to another charging cable at present, and I'm not going through the hassle of buying another charger for $30+, unpairing and repairing, hours on the phone, or ritualistic dancing around my watch, without some honest explanation of why it's necessary and guaranteed to work. This seems like a pervasive problem that is not specific to my device. If so, then it's one that Apple caused, and one that Apple needs to fix.

Jan 14, 2022 3:25 PM in response to Georgyboy3

15.2.1 is available for iPhone.

When I phoned Apple Support in December last year after the problem we are still having they would not continue until I told them the software build I had on Watch and iPhone.

I told them Watch build in the order they asked. I said 8.3 They asked what the phone build was on. Sad thing is that the Watch would not update if the phone was on the latest at the time 15.2 build.

Beware the latest 15.2.1 that is available for iPhones. They are for ever now clearing previous bugs but creating more different bugs.

The 8.3.1 for the Watch could be the same.

Hope not but whom knows lately after the last months events shown on this forum

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Charging Issue after updating to WatchOS 8.3

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