[Updated] Apple Watch battery drain after watchOS 10 update affecting some (workarounds inside); charging issues also reported

Here’s the crux of the article in video form:

New updates are being added at the bottom of this story…….

Original story (published on September 27, 2023) follows:

Fresh reports suggest that Apple Watch users have started experiencing severe battery drain after installing the watchOS 10 update. There are also reports of some watch owners experiencing various charging issues.

Apple recently released the watchOS 10 update, which brings a fresh look to virtually every app. Along with this, the OS update also introduces enhanced capabilities for cycling workouts and hiking and new ways to navigate.

However, it seems that the recent update has introduced some glitches as well.

In a not-so-pleasant turn of events, Apple Watch users (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9) have found themselves grappling with a severe battery drain issue post the watchOS 10 update.

The battery reportedly fails to last even for a day with minimal usage. In addition, the battery drains significantly overnight, and that too when it’s not in use.

For some, the battery drains as much as 84% within four hours. Astonishingly, this happens even when the watch is just on their wrist.

The sudden dip in battery life is leaving users with a sense of unease, as they have to charge the gadget multiple times a day. Apparently, prior to this update, battery levels never went below 30 or 40 percent.

Not even clearing the app cache, power cycling their device, and recharging it multiple times throughout the week does the trick.

@Apple @AppleSupport can you stop making updates to your devices that kill the battery? Just updated my Apple Watch SE and it’s not lasting me 9 hours when it would last at least a day.
Source

Those who have already installed the update are now advising others to refrain from doing so until a bug fix is released.

If anyone has downloaded this update yet do not. Has completely killed my watches battery. Incredible Apple can fail this badly
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Some people have observed that the latest update to watchOS 10.0.1 resolves the problem to some extent. However, they claim that the performance is still not the same as it was before watchOS 10.

Also, there are others who claim that the upgrade to the v10.0.1 patch did nothing to improve the battery life.

It appears that a systemwide location services bug is affecting every app or complication that is trying to pull out the location data. Notably, these will get stuck in a feedback loop and drain the battery.

For the time being, it’s recommended that you disable map or weather complications that are pulling location data until it’s fixed by Apple.

Also, you can try unpairing and repairing your Apple Watch for a potential fix.

Numerous Apple Watch owners (1,2,3,4,5,6) are also encountering difficulties while trying to charge it after the watchOS 10 update.

There are instances where the smartwatch charges slowly or won’t charge at all. They claim that a hard reset helped resolve the problem initially.

However, after completing the first charge cycle, the issue popped up again. Notably, this is happening even when using the original Apple charger.

Anyone else having issues with their Apple Watch not charging or poorly charging since upgrading to WatchOS 10?
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Some allege that the devices do not fully charge, as Apple has limited their charging to 80%. To charge them to 100 percent, one just needs to tap on the battery indicator and select the ‘charge to 100%’ option.

In addition to this, users have also noticed that their device ends up losing charge even when it is connected to the charging brick.

A few also claim their devices fail to charge and turn on even after charging them for more than five hours. They assert that the circle surrounding the lightning bolt icon is missing when charging.

My Apple Watch don’t charge. It has a green lighting bolt but no circle around it. It’s been charging for 5 hours and doesn’t power on.
Source

And sadly, they cannot charge the watch even after changing various plugs and outlets.

Be sure that we will keep tabs on these issues and notify you about the latest developments.

12:02 pm (IST): Fresh reports (1, 2, 3) suggest that the battery drain issue persists even after watchOS 10.0.1 update.

03:39 pm (IST): According to a user, the issue may have started with iOS 17.0.1 as this got rectified for him after updating his phone to iOS 17.0.2.

I updated my iPhone to iOS 17.0.2, which seems to have rectified the issue.

This highlights that the issue is not the watchOS 10.0.1 but the iOS 17.0.1 which must have had a specific continuous profile relay open to the Apple watch, causing it to drain rapidly.
(Source)

02:12 pm (IST): For those facing the battery drain issue, there is another workaround shared by a user. In addition to disabling notifications, they advise disconnecting the watch from the iPhone and Bluetooth, charging it to 100% on its own, and then reconnecting it.

I did this test on my watch yesterday and has worked for me

I remove it from my iPhone, did all the disconnections including the Bluetooth out.

I put it on the charger alone without anything else charging

let it get to 100%. Then I connected it again and the battery remain normal.

i normally wake up at 4:50 am to workout. It has been 5 hours (10:27 am central time) and it is at 82%

Source

04:25 pm (IST): Some users (1,2) are saying that either removing the weather app or replacing it with another from the watch face also improves the battery life.

04:01 pm (IST): Some users (1,2) have also confirmed that the battery drain issue got fixed for them with WatchOS 10.0.1 update.

06:56 pm (IST): Several Apple Watch users are reporting that they are facing battery drain issue even after installing the watchOS 10.0.1 update. So, it seems that Apple hasn’t yet addressed this problem.

05:23 pm (IST): As per recent reports, several Apple Watch users are experiencing an abnormal battery drain even after installing the latest watchOS 10.1 update.

Some are also encountering difficulties charging their watches due to overheating problems. The problem seems to be affecting a range of different Apple Watch models.

Note: You can also check out more such stories in the Apple Section of our website.

Featured image source: Apple Watch.

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