Apple Watch battery not charging fully

It sounds like this is a problem with the calculation to decide what % to display for the battery, rather than a problem with the amount of charge in the battery. Several users here report the problem is cleared by letting the watch run until it shuts down on low battery. While we don’t recommend complete discharge because it is not good for the battery if repeated, it does force the software into a reset which may clear stored battery parameters.

My personal choice and preferred first method would be to try a hard/forced reset by pressing and holding both buttons until the Apple logo appears and the watch begins to reboot. If it works this will be much faster than letting the watch run to shutdown.

Right guys here’s a big update. I’ve been onto Apple support and talked to a senior advisor and long story short they software engineers know about it and are in the process of implementing a patch soon possibly in 4.4 or 4.5 (whatever is the next update).

This is what I said to them specifically,

“This is not a specific hardware issue but more of a software issue. They battery of the Apple Watch charges to 100% most nights then suddenly charges to around 93-94% maximum some other nights. A quick restart resolves this issue 95% of the time which suggests it’s a major software flaw on your part. Search on Google for me ‘Apple Watch series 3 not charging fully’ and look at your forums. This needs to be a top priority for your engineering departmeant as it’s a major possibly damaging flaw for the Apple watches battery life.”

They then said that it’s in the works and the engineers aren’t requesting data now for the fix which means it’s basically coming out soon in the next patch so all is good.

👍

I have the same issue on my apple watch3 with latest OS.

I resolved the problem by exhausting the battery power to 0% - then charge the battery again and it can be completely charged to 100% using this method.

Will monitor to see if charge after the battery <50% will avoid such problem.

Hi

Whilst I can't say why that is happening, the following steps may help:

If you have not yet done so, update your iPhone and Apple Watch to the latest compatible software versions, starting with your iPhone:

• Update the iOS on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support
• Update your Apple Watch - Apple Support

Check that you are following Apple's charging instructions, including:

• Checking that your Apple Watch is connected to the charger, correctly aligned and touching it fully, and connected to power.
• Using original Apple or MFi-certified charging accessories.
  • If you are already doing so, try using another such cable and/or power adapter.
• Checking that all wrapping has been removed from all items, including checking carefully on the head of the charging cable.
• Checking that the charging cable and power adapter are fully inserted into the port and power socket.
• Check your battery and charge your Apple Watch - Apple Support

• If your Apple Watch won't charge or it won't turn on - Apple Support

If you are using Nightstand Mode / Bedside Mode, then, when placing your Apple Watch into that mode:

• Check that your Apple Watch is standing on its side in a fully upright position (at 90 degrees to the surface), with the buttons on top.
• If you are using a third-party accessory such as a charging stand, then it may help to remove your Apple Watch from it and to instead place your Apple Watch directly on the table.

Restart both your iPhone and your Apple Watch, turning both off together and then restarting your iPhone first:

• Restart your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support
• Restart your Apple Watch - Apple Support
• If the issue persists, next close open apps on your iPhone and then restart both devices again.

Install any available updates for apps on your iPhone.

If you have ever (not necessarily recently) previously used the Workout app and/or any third-party fitness, sleep or heart rate tracking apps on your watch, then check on your Apple Watch to see whether there is an active or paused session within any of them.

• If there is, end that activity from within the app on your Apple Watch (not your iPhone).
• If in doubt, remove any such third-party apps from your Apple Watch, at least temporarily.

Unpair and re-pair your Apple Watch:

• The Watch app on your iPhone takes a backup of your watch automatically when unpairing via the app.
  • When setting it up again, initially choose to Restore from Backup. Most data and settings will be restored, with some exceptions (eg Apple Pay cards, passcode).
  • If the issue persists, consider instead unpairing and setting it up as a new watch.
• Unpair your Apple Watch and iPhone - Apple Support
• Set up your Apple Watch - Apple Support

Some users have previously experienced battery life issues in connection with using corporate profiles and/or Exchange Calendars. If you are using an Exchange Calendar, one or more of these steps may help:

• Archive your Exchange Calendar for all items before today.
• Remove / delete all old inbox messages relating to calendar invites (accept and decline notifications).
• Create a rule in your Outlook Mail account that moves all future accept and decline replies, immediately upon receipt, into a separate mail folder that does not sync with your iPhone and Apple Watch.
• Check your Exchange Calendar for errors.

Test by changing notification settings and/or by removing watch face complications and third-party apps:

• Turn off notifications for third-party apps and test performance after re-enabling them one at a time:
  • On your iPhone, in the Watch app, go to: My Watch (tab) > Notifications.
  • See and respond to notifications
• Remove watch face complications and monitor performance as you add them back:
  • Change the watch face on your Apple Watch - Apple Support
• Remove third-party apps from the Dock and/or remove them completely from your Apple Watch and then monitor performance after adding them back, one at a time.
  • Use the Dock on your Apple Watch - Apple Support
  • Use apps on your Apple Watch - Apple Support
  • Open apps

Having tried the previous steps, if your Apple Watch still does not charge as expected, then I suggest contacting Apple Support (remote diagnostics and/or mail-in service may be available, if required), making a Genius Bar reservation or visiting an Apple Authorised Service Provider for assistance:

• US: Apple Watch Service Answer Center - Apple Support
• Elsewhere: Select your country for Apple Watch service and repair information

I too have this problem and the same 93% maximum charge overnight. I have tried charging with numerous apple charging cables and charging units with the same result. When I plug a charging cable into my MacBook Pro it will then continue charging. Seems to be a software issue relative to how the watch controls charging and prevents over charging. Since the watch will charge, just not how it should, and that it always stops charging at the same percentage (93%) I believe it to not be any of the issues Jonathan UK mentioned.

I've been having this issue for a few weeks, but one thing I've noticed is that the battery drain seems about the same. I put on the watch at 5:30 to go to work. It used to say 100%, but by about 9:00 at work, it would say 92%. Now, I put it on at 5:30 at 92% and at 9:00 it is still at 92%. It does drain through the day, and when I put it back on the charger at 10:00 PM, it is down to about 65 to 70% remaining.

I/m wondering if the problem is in the battery level reading, not the actual battery level?

As referenced in my previous reply: having tried the previous steps, if your Apple Watch still does not charge as expected, then I suggest contacting Apple Support (remote diagnostics and/or mail-in service may be available, if required), making a Genius Bar reservation or visiting an Apple Authorised Service Provider for assistance:

• US: Apple Watch Service Answer Center - Apple Support
• Elsewhere: Select your country for Apple Watch service and repair information

Was it that or a restart? Mine's been doing this for a few weeks now - a restart will 'fix' it for 2-3 days before it happens again. They ran diagnostics and took a look at it at their repair center but came back with nothing. After I got it back from them I got about 11 days in before the issue resurfaced.

Apple have now requested I re-initialize it and set it up from new (as opposed to restoring a backup) which I'll do this weekend to see if that fixes it - the next step (if that doesn't fix it) being just an outright replacement.

i fixed it by letting the watch run down completely, took about a day and a half the next charge was 100%.i think we over charge them

I’m having the same issue. Overnight travel using the extra Apple-brand watch charging cable. I plugged it into an Anker USB hub that charges my iPhone X and iPad Pro 12’ Fine. I now have it plugged into an Apple charging block plugged into an outlet directly. We shall see....

I just opened a apple case as this is the second Apple watch 3 this is happening to me on. It gets to about 90% and won't go any further. Seems they are only just starting to hear about this issue. Call if it happening to you.. the more tickets the better.

I have the same issue only charged with 93% overnight for both 38" and 42" Apple Watch 3 with latest OS with original Apple charger.

I noticed this issue since April and my Apple Watch 3 updated with latest software last month too.

Should be a Apple Watch OS software issue to me and I will try to charge one of my apple watch from 0% next time overnight to see if it helps.

Also having this issue in the past few days with my S3 watch. Been fine since it came out. Watch is updated to 4.2.2. Now when I charge it while sleeping I wake up and its never at 100%.

cirial wrote:

Also having this issue in the past few days with my S3 watch. ..

Then also follow the same instructions in my previous reply.

This problem start happening to me this week also. I have Series 3. Today its 3rd day that I don't have 100% at the morning. I have 92% - 93%. There wasn't any update. I'm running latest watchOS 4.2.3.