Brand new watch se2 battery drains fast

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JL1970 Author

Level 1

8 points

Brand new watch se2 battery drains fast

I replaced my watch 4 in sept 22 when the new se2 came out. The only reason I upgraded was due to the 4 battery draining fast. I am having the exact same issues with the new se 2. I have spent two months with apple support and just picked up my third brand new replacement after the second had same issue. All three had the same battery drain issues. Will last about 6 hours max. Apple support sent to engineers and downloaded tools but found nothing wrong. Pairing to iPhone 12 and both devices software is current. I tried all the tricks to extend battery but there must be something with the phone. I set up as new watch pair to me, but it seems to retain my profile info and watch face. Hoping someone else had similar issue with good outcome. Have tried resetting, unpairing with no luck. Thx in and ace for any help.

Apple Watch SE

Posted on Mar 3, 2023 10:17 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

LD150

Level 10

91,211 points

Mar 3, 2023 11:20 AM in response to JL1970

I will omit the unpair/re-pair procedures because of the previous troubkeshooting.

I agree it could be an incompatibility in the software in the Watch and the iPhone with the latest OS reeases. What I would do is

Unpair and erase the Watch
Backup the iphone
Restore iphone to factory settings
Set up the iphone manually as NEW without restoring the backup. Install only your essential email accounts, no extra software, no social media
Pair the Watch to the iphone
Run them both like that for 24 hours and see how long the battery lasts.

Only when that test is over can you repeat the first three actions then set up the phone but restoring the backup this time.

If the Watch lasts much longer the first time than the second time then you proved it is iphone software (often security software from App Store)

Resources: (Allow a couple of hours)

Unpair and erase your Apple Watch – Apple Support (UK)

How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to factory settings - Apple Support

Set up your Apple Watch – Apple Support (UK)

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Answer 2

JL1970 Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 6, 2023 5:50 AM in response to LD150

I appreciate all your suggestions. At this time I do believe there must be something in my existing phone causing the watch battery rapid drain.

I may need to take the step to wipe my phone and NOT restore from backup. This will be time consuming and a pain to go restore every app, messages?, phone voicemails. Is there an article you can share on how to make this new “profile” setup process less painful?

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Answer 3

JL1970 Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 3, 2023 12:07 PM in response to JL1970

Thank you. I will reset my phone and try for 24 hours and tracks battery life as you suggest.

I will then reset phone but restore from back and track watch battery.

my question is if I we determine the restore confines to drain battery fast, how do I what app or software may be causing it? You say it may be Apple security app? Can you specify so that I know what app I may need to delete.

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Answer 4

LD150

Level 10

91,211 points

Mar 3, 2023 2:22 PM in response to JL1970

I would delete or "offload" anything you have not needed in the last month.

(Settings, General, iphone storage)

Make sure you delete any VPN or VPN based ad-blocker. Uninstall them then remove all profiles (iPhone Settings, General VPN & Device Management)

Antivirus is not necessary either, the NordVPN or Avast type rubbish. iPhones are already secure, and more secure without any of it

The above applies even if there was no apparent problem.

But wait til you did the full wipe test.

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Answer 5

JL1970 Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 5, 2023 1:29 PM in response to LD150

Your suggestion worked, however I am still having problems with my restored backup.

I did as you suggested by restring my phone with no backup. The watch lasted 18+hours.

then restored my phone to previous backup and deleted all unnecessary apps and repaired with watch.

same issues with watch; gets hot when charging, not charge to 100%, lasts only 5 hours, etc.

I know it’s a problem with phone but not sure what else I can do. Do I reset my phone again and just fresh start with no backup? This will be pain for me with everything starting fresh and no backup. Ideas?

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Answer 6

LD150

Level 10

91,211 points

Mar 5, 2023 1:38 PM in response to JL1970

"...Do I reset my phone again and just fresh start with no backup?..."

Unless you can isolate the problem then yes.

You can export unsync'd photos and documents to iCloud Drive or similar.'

Nites, Calendar, Contacts, Reminders etc should all be in the same cloud account as before.

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Answer 7

LD150

Level 10

91,211 points

Mar 6, 2023 7:27 AM in response to JL1970

If messages are turned on in iCloud Settings then they should come back along with emails, contacts etc if the correct accountrs are added to Settings, Mail.

Voicemails I can't help you with.

Apps and settings, yes start again.

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Answer 8

JL1970 Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 10, 2023 1:29 PM in response to LD150

LD150-I want to thank you for solving my issue. My frustrations date back 5 months with the "fast battery drain" issue. I did as you suggested, wiped my iPhone 12 (ios 16.3.1) and set up phone as a new device (did not restore). I then added only necessary apps, and my icloud account. I have been adding other apps slowly (social media, news, etc) to see if any were an issue. after four days of this I have been sitting at 60% remaining battery after 16-18 hours! If anyone is concerned about a wipe and setting up phone as new, it really was not bad. This battery drain issue is very common, and I wasted hours of my time, and apple tech support. Should have done this months ago. Thx

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