Battery draining rapidly on new Apple Watch Series 8 45mm

most definitely a software issue. my watch 6 started doing this in early March 2023. I tried to explain to them that the performance literally changed overnight (which is not how batteries decline) but they refused to acknowledge that is was a software (ecosystem) issue (phone and iPad also discharging rapidly but not as big an issue as a watch that has to be removed from wrist to charge. they suggested I buy a new one since battery health was 82%. new watch 8 had the same issue. After 4 months (and several calls to service) the problem continues on the new device which has battery health of 100%. completely wiping it and setting up as new will solve the problem for a week or so but I can't continue to wipe my devices and set up as new once a week. There is clearly a problem that they are not acknowledging....

I’m done with watch. If it won’t last the whole day and Apple can’t figure out why after 6 months and two different watches (1 brand new) it’s just no longer a useful tool. After using since launch (and never experiencing anything like this) I just need to use a watch that works. Clearly there is a problem and they aren’t very interested in solving. Hard to know how widespread it is but at least it’s not just me.

The rate of battery discharge you describe seems abnormally fast and does not sound like expected behaviour. However, proper diagnosis requires a hands-on examination rather than the online world. Contact Apple Support and if possible arrange a Genius Bar appointment where you can demonstrate the problem in person.

Same problem and I had two Series 7 do the same thing and I’m on my second series 8 and it’s also doing the same thing. Apple needs to look into this problem. There’s obviously a real issue with software or a bad batch of watches.

Yes I went through a couple months of drama with battery draining and after sending in my series 7, replacing it, getting a series 8 and still having the issue I finally was advised to erase my phone to eliminate the phone giving data directing the watch to drain I’m having normal 24-35 hours of battery life however I have restored my full phone data yet. Hopefully the watch will still operate properly.

That worked for me for a bit too but the problem keeps recurring. I have now reset watch and set up as new about a half dozen times, wiped both phone and iPad yet still the problem recurs. Will be interesting to see if yours is permanently solved. Let us know…

I had the issue on my watch 6 which started suddenly after 2 years of ownership. They advised me to buy a watch 8 which had the same issue from the get go--clearly a software/ecosystem issue. Also crazy delay in response on messages on the phone. only thing that solves the issue for a bit is wiping all devices and setting up as new but the problem returns. probably something in the cloud apps. it's only apple apps that are implicated in battery use and it's all of them. started with Home (which get minimal use by me) lately it's been phone (using like 45% of usage leading to 3x daily charging despite minimal phone use) and even News (again despite essentially no use). 3 advisors have "owned" my issue with no response and screenshots to engineers with a promised call back time (which did not occur as scheduled) and I'm no closer to a solution after 6 months. I'm going to recycle both watches and stop using them. Stuck with iPhone until something better comes along. They have lost their way...

I am having the same issue too. I have restarted my phone and iwatch, unpair etc and is still doesnt last me half the day. i work at 8 so I wear my watch at 7:30 then by the time come home from work at 5:00 its already at 10%.

Same here. After last software update both Series 6 in my family draining battery in 18 hours. Before it was around 24 - one charge per day was enough. It has to be a software issue.

I finally got my Series 8 to stay charged normally however I had to un-sync my phone and start fresh. Been working fine for the last 3 weeks.

I’ll definitely let you know.

Exact same problem, battery tested fine when I had it checked. No advice for me and a new battery is the cost of replacing the watch….. a watch that is still under warranty….. absolute garbage.