Can you replace the battery on an Apple Watch?
I have an original Apple Watch. It holds a charge for about a day. My girlfriend just got a new Gen 3 and her battery is amazing. 4 times better. Can I replace the original battery for a better new one?
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Hi
The battery cannot be replaced by the user. Your Apple Watch may require battery service, which is available on a chargeable basis from Apple:
Apple Watch Service Pricing - Apple Support
Battery life varies depending on use and other factors. Examples are detailed here:
Apple's tips for maximising battery life and battery lifespan on Apple Watch are detailed here:
Batteries - Maximizing Performance - Apple
If your Apple Watch is experiencing significantly shorter battery life than Apple's examples suggest that you should expect, then it may require service. Before contacting Apple, it may help to follow these steps, which have previously resolved battery life issues for other users, including after software updates, when usage has not otherwise changed (check after each):
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
Install any available updates for apps on your iPhone.
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.
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 activity within any of them.
- If there is, then end that session from within the app on your watch (not your iPhone).
- If in doubt, remove any such third-party apps from your Apple Watch.
Unpair and re-pair your Apple Watch again:
- 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:
- 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.
Having tried the previous steps, if you remain concerned that battery life is shorter than it should be, 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: