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Apple Watch Battery Draining suddenly after Software Update

My iPhone updated to IOS 17.4.1 last night and all of a sudden my Apple Watch is losing charge today after barely 4hours. I haven’t used it any differently to usual, haven’t actually updated the watch at all but am at a loss on what to do now. I’d love to roll back the IOS update if that’s possible and the culprit but surely Apple has some accountability to sort out the consequences of their software updates? All and any help is appreciated

Apple Watch Series 7, watchOS 10

Posted on Apr 11, 2024 7:26 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Apr 12, 2024 3:41 AM

Same issue. Watch was 100% at 7am, completely dead by 11.30am. Was chatting to Apple support to no avail. I explained it was only occurring after the update. Was told there was nothing wrong and asked was I suggesting there was a correlation between the update and the issue.

214 replies

Jun 20, 2024 5:52 AM in response to VanNutter

Jeff Donald, I do really appreaciate that you are trying to help us here, but if the previous person just wrote that unpairing and force restart didn’t help, what are you constantly pasting your answer again and again? I am always full of hope when a new answer appears here, because I personally tried EVERYTHING, also apple support multiple times. My case is even escalated to the engineers, so they have agreed I as a simple user have tried my everything…

they said they are working on it, but still no new update unfortunatelly.

For the user who says might sell their series 8 and buy new one: these software issues come usually from our phones, so the problem didn’t solve for me for ex. with new watches, I have ordered 2 SE (2023) and a Series 9, all brand new, just to confirm this problem to the support as well

Jun 20, 2024 6:17 AM in response to krisztina209

You making the assumption that if the symptoms are similar the cause must be the same and that’s a false assumption.


I go to the Dr with a shoulder pain, my Dr. runs tests and determines its arthritis. Another man goes to the doctor with same symptoms and he gets diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff.


Until you run the test for the most common cause, you don’t know if it’s the update or the iPhone and/or watch have syncing issues, processor loop issues, bad 3rd party software, complication issues or what exactly.


My experience as a former Apple Store manager qualifies me to write the above. I’ve helped and solved hundreds, if not thousands, of customer’s issue with the simple process above.

Jun 20, 2024 11:54 AM in response to Satchmo

Apple engineering may get involved in specific cases where remote diagnostics or in store diagnostics has identified specific anomalies. Sometimes it’s a hardware issue. I hesitate to be specific because this thread could go nuts. Some parts can be manufactured and be defective. It would be naive to think otherwise. I’ve had defective car batteries and maybe you have too. The best way to diagnose it is not on the internet in a public forum, but call Apple Support and have remote diagnostics done. Apple Stores can do it too. But it’s also naive to think that every issue is the Watch OS you just installed. Just too many variables to come to that conclusion without further diagnosis.


Occasionally, the issue caused by a setting being modified during an update. For example, the user previously had Always On disabled to extended battery capacity, but the upgrade has enabled the setting and battery capacity is lower. The owner doesn’t recognize the change in the screen performance, but does notice the reduced battery capacity. Experienced users who visit the communities everyday learn from the posts they reply to and run through the fixes.


Many experienced community members keep notes, links from prior discussions etc. This helps them diagnose the issue and provide helpful replies that actually can resolve the issue. Members of the community are quick to jump to conclusions and pile on hopping Apple must resolve the issue and that can’t happen in most cases. Technology requires human intervention at times and some things just require patience to resolve the issue.


Yet, my basic premise remains that the vast majority will resolve the issue if they just follow what I post and have a little patience. Thinking that a tiny Apple Watch, with a tiny battery and tiny processor can process the huge amount of data that may be required is also pretty naive.



Jun 19, 2024 12:38 PM in response to ianboy240

Sounds like either an update issue with one of the apps you have installed and/or maybe a sync issue on data from iCloud and/or iPhone.


Please unpair your Apple Watch from your iPhone and force restart both devices once unpaired.


Unpair and erase your Apple Watch - Apple Support


Force restart Apple Watch - Apple Support


Force restart iPhone - Apple Support


Once both devices have restarted from the forced restart, please pair them again.


Set up and pair your Apple Watch with iPhone - Apple Support


Battery performance generally returns to normal in 24 to 72 hours. Apple Watch has a lot of background activity and syncing to perform. Apple Watch generally updates at night while it’s on a charger. Apple Watch may delay certain activities if Watch is not on WiFi and connected to charger.


I generally do a forced restart of the Apple Watch 24 hours after an update or pairing. This stops any software issues that pairing and updating may have caused.


Certain settings previously changed or modified to extended battery capacity may have reset. Please check all your settings to insure they are as you intend them to be.


Jun 20, 2024 4:53 AM in response to ianboy240

Sounds like either an update issue with one of the apps you have installed and/or maybe a sync issue on data from iCloud and/or iPhone.


Please unpair your Apple Watch from your iPhone and force restart both devices once unpaired.


Unpair and erase your Apple Watch - Apple Support


Force restart Apple Watch - Apple Support


Force restart iPhone - Apple Support


Once both devices have restarted from the forced restart, please pair them again.


Set up and pair your Apple Watch with iPhone - Apple Support


Battery performance generally returns to normal in 24 to 72 hours. Apple Watch has a lot of background activity and syncing to perform. Apple Watch generally updates at night while it’s on a charger. Apple Watch may delay certain activities if Watch is not on WiFi and connected to charger.


I generally do a forced restart of the Apple Watch 24 hours after an update or pairing. This stops any software issues that pairing and updating may have caused.


Certain settings previously changed or modified to extended battery capacity may have reset. Please check all your settings to insure they are as you intend them to be.



Jun 29, 2024 6:09 AM in response to franny116

What is required is a forced restart of your Apple Watch. A forced restart is more than just turning your Watch off and on. Observe the battery usage for the next 24 to 72 hours. If there is no improvement you’ll need to unpair the Watch from your iPhone, force restart the Watch and the iPhone and lastly pair the two devices. Battery usage will return to normal in 24 to 72 hours.


Force restart Apple Watch - Apple Support


Force restart iPhone - Apple Support


Unpair and erase your Apple Watch - Apple Support

Apr 13, 2024 6:03 AM in response to VanNutter

As a few have also said, I managed to fix this. This is what I did…


  1. Open the Watch App on your iPhone. Go to General, Software update and toggle off Automatic Updates
  2. In the same Watch App on your iPhone, go to General, Storage and then delete the 10.4 file
  3. Reboot the iPhone and the watch
  4. Put the watch on its charger and then unlock it. You may need to wait until your watch battery is over 50%
  5. On the Watch, open the Settings app and go to General, Software Update. Scroll down and kick off the download.
  6. Now just leave your watch on the charger for an hour or so. My watch was updated when I went back to it.
  7. Toggle Automatic Updates back on in your Watch app


Good luck 🙂


Jun 20, 2024 7:15 AM in response to Jeff Donald


Jeff Donald wrote:

I’ve helped and solved hundreds, if not thousands, of customer’s issue with the simple process above.


  1. The way the forum is designed, "above" is not easy to locate.
  2. If one store manager has found it necessary to do this thousands of times, then thousands of Apple support agents must have done it millions of times. Why should it become necessary?
  3. Where does one look to find Apple's statement recommending your simple solution to a problem afflicting quite a few Watch owners?


Apple Watch Battery Draining suddenly after Software Update

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