Have you ever noticed your Apple Watch battery getting low and weren‘t sure how to charge it back up? Don‘t worry – I‘ll walk you through the entire charging process step-by-step.
Whether you have the latest Series 7 or an older model, this guide has you covered with details on charging cables, power adapters, battery settings, charge times, and more. I‘ll also answer some common questions at the end.
Let‘s get charging!
Overview: Accessories You‘ll Need
Here‘s a quick look at what‘s required:
- Magnetic Apple Watch charger cable
- USB-C cable for Series 7+
- USB-A cable for Series 3-6
- Wall adapter or computer/device with USB port
- Apple Watch placed securely onto charger
I‘ll go into more details throughout this guide. First up, let‘s cover…
Step 1: When to Charge Your Apple Watch
Don‘t let your Apple Watch battery drain completely. I recommend charging it whenever the battery goes below 30%.
You‘ll know it‘s time when you see the red lightning bolt icon or if your watch enters Power Reserve Mode. In this mode, some features are disabled to save power.
Checking Battery Status
There are a few ways to monitor your battery percentage:
- Battery complication on watch face
- Swipe up for Control Center on watch
- Battery widget on iPhone
Now let‘s get set up to charge…
Step 2: Set Up Your Magnetic Charger
The key accessory for charging is the magnetic charger cable that came with your Apple Watch.
For the best performance, place this cable:
- On a flat, stable surface
- In an open, ventilated area
- Not in sustained contact with skin
The cable and watch may heat up when charging, so it‘s ideal not to wear the watch during this process.
Step 3: Connect Magnetic Cable to Power Source
You can connect your Apple Watch magnetic charger cable into:
- A wall adapter like for an iPhone/iPad
- The USB port on a computer
- The USB port on another device like a smart display
Apple supports their own power adapters as well as general USB ports. Just make sure you‘re using an official Apple charging cable designed specifically for Apple Watch.
Step 4: Align Your Apple Watch onto the Magnetic Charger
The last step is placing your Apple Watch onto the magnetic charger so that the cable clicks securely onto the charging points on the back.
You‘ll know it‘s connected properly when:
- You feel it magnetically snap into place
- You see the green lightning icon on your watch screen
And that‘s it! Now let your watch charge while you go about your day.
What to Expect While Charging
Here are some things that happen when you‘ve started charging your Apple Watch:
- Nightstand Mode: Shows charging status and time while charging
- Optimized Battery Charging (watchOS 7+): Learns your habits and waits to finish charging to 100% based on when you need max charge
- Fast Charging (Series 7+): ~45 minutes to 80%, ~75 minutes to 100% charge
Next I‘ll go into more details on Nightstand Mode and optimized charging.
Nightstand Mode
When your Apple Watch is connected to its charger with the screen active, it enters Nightstand Mode…
[insert image of watch in Nightstand mode]In Nightstand Mode, you‘ll see the current charging percentage, time, and date displayed. This also shows your set alarm time if you have one scheduled for the morning.
If the screen turns off, a quick tap will turn it back on so you can see the charging status.
Optimized Battery Charging
All Apple Watch models on watchOS 7 or newer support a feature called Optimized Battery Charging.
This feature learns your daily charging routine then waits to finish charging your watch battery to 100% until right before it expects you to use it. This reduces wear and tear that keeps batteries at max capacity for extended periods.
For example, if you typically put your watch on the charger overnight and put it on to start your day around 8 AM, Optimized Battery Charging won‘t complete charging to 100% until early morning, often around 80%.
I‘d recommend keeping this enabled for battery lifespan, except for days when you know you‘ll need the full charge ahead of a long workout or other use case. You can manually override it by going into the charging settings.
Charge Times, Fast Charging, and More
Depending on your Apple Watch model, charge times can vary greatly. Here‘s an overview:
| Model | 0-80% Charge | 0-100% Charge | Fast Charging? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Series 7 | 45 minutes | 75 minutes | Yes |
| Series 6 | 90 minutes | 120 minutes | No |
| Series 3-5 | 90 minutes | 120 minutes | No |
As you can see, the latest Series 7 models can charge much quicker thanks to fast charging support. This requires using the newer USB-C Apple Watch charging cable connected to a higher wattage power adapter, ideally in the range of 18W to 96W.
Additionally, Apple states that all Apple Watch batteries are designed to retain about 80% of original capacity after 500 full charge cycles.
A partial drain and recharge makes up a fraction of a full cycle. So Optimized Battery Charging aims to prolong lifespan by reducing cycles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Let‘s wrap up with answers to some common questions around Apple Watch charging:
Can I use a third party or portable charger?
For the best performance, it‘s highly recommended to use the official Apple Watch magnetic charging cable and an official power adapter. Lower quality or non-compatible cables come with risks.
Is there such a thing as wireless charging?
Apple has not released wireless charging capabilities or accessories for Apple Watch. The proprietary magnetic charging cable is required.
Why does my watch get hot while charging?
It‘s normal for both the charger and watch to get slightly warm during charging, but they should never reach temperatures that are uncomfortable to touch. Contact Apple Support if concerned.
My watch isn‘t charging or shows the red X – help!
First, double check cable connections and try different outlets. Also make sure there‘s no debris blocking the charger making full contact. If issues persist, you‘ll want to contact Apple Support for next steps on replacement.
What‘s the best way to prolong my battery life?
Enabling Optimized Battery Charging is highly recommended, as is avoiding full discharges. General tips also include lowering brightness, turning off unnecessary background refresh, etc when you don‘t need maximum functions.
Let me know if you have any other questions! I‘m always happy to help explain anything related to Apple Watches. Enjoy your newly charged watch!
