8 Apple Watch Settings Tweaks for Longer Battery Life in 2025

In 2025, the Apple Watch continues to be a cornerstone of wearable technology, but maximizing its battery life remains a priority for users. This article explores eight practical settings adjustments to extend your device’s uptime, ensuring it keeps pace with your daily demands. From display optimizations to advanced power-saving features, these tweaks are designed to help you get the most out of your Apple Watch without compromising functionality.

1. Optimize Always-On Display Settings

• Turn Off Always-On Display: Disabling this feature can save up to 30% of battery life during typical use.
• Reduce Brightness: Lower the screen brightness to 50% or less via Settings > Display & Brightness.
• Shorten Wake Duration: Set the screen wake time to 15 seconds instead of the default 70 seconds.

Setting	Default Value	Optimized Value	Battery Savings
Always-On Display	Enabled	Disabled	30%
Screen Brightness	70%	50%	15%
Wake Duration	70 seconds	15 seconds	10%

2. Enable Low Power Mode Permanently

• Activate Low Power Mode: Navigate to Settings > Battery > Low Power Mode to limit background processes.
• Customize Low Power Triggers: Set the watch to auto-enable Low Power Mode when battery drops below 40%.
• Disable Non-Essential Sensors: Heart rate monitoring and SpO2 tracking can be paused in this mode.

3. Manage Background App Refresh

• Disable Background Refresh Globally: Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and toggle it off.
• Whitelist Critical Apps: Allow only essential apps like Messages or Calendar to refresh in the background.
• Limit Location-Based Updates: Restrict apps like Weather from updating location continuously.

4. Adjust Notifications and Haptics

• Reduce Haptic Feedback Strength: Lower haptic intensity in Settings > Sound & Haptics.
• Curate Notification Priorities: Use Focus Modes to block non-urgent alerts during work or sleep.
• Disable Raise-to-Wake: Prevent accidental screen activations by turning this off in Display settings.

Feature	Battery Impact	Recommended Action
Haptic Feedback	Moderate	Reduce strength or disable
Raise-to-Wake	High	Disable
App Notifications	Variable	Limit to 5 essential apps

5. Optimize Heart Rate Monitoring

• Switch to Interval Monitoring: Set heart rate checks to every 10 minutes instead of continuous tracking.
• Disable During Sleep: Use Sleep Focus to pause heart rate sensors overnight.
• Turn Off Blood Oxygen Monitoring: Disable SpO2 readings unless medically necessary.

6. Streamline Watch Face Complexity

• Use Minimalist Watch Faces:
• Avoid Live Complications: Replace weather animations or stock tickers with static icons.
• Limit Complications to 3-4: Each active complication consumes additional power.

7. Manage Workout and GPS Settings

• Disable Auto-Workout Detection: Manually start workouts to avoid false GPS activations.
• Use Indoor Mode for Gym Sessions: Turn off GPS when exercising indoors.
• Lower GPS Accuracy: Choose "Low Resolution" for non-critical fitness tracking.

Workout Type	Default GPS	Optimized GPS	Battery Saved
Outdoor Run	High Accuracy	Low Resolution	25%
Indoor Cycle	On	Off	40%

8. Update to watchOS 12’s Adaptive Charging

• Enable Battery Health Management: Reduces wear from overcharging via Settings > Battery.
• Use Scheduled Charging: Limit charging to 80% during overnight sessions.
• Calibrate Monthly: Fully drain and recharge once a month for accurate battery reporting.

By implementing these eight strategies, 2025 Apple Watch users can reliably extend daily battery life by 40-60%. While newer models like the Apple Watch Series 11 offer improved efficiency, thoughtful settings management remains critical. Balance energy savings with functionality—disable non-essential features while preserving core health and connectivity tools. Regularly review settings as watchOS updates introduce new optimization opportunities.