How to get watch out of low power mode

In watchOS 9, Apple has added a new Low Power Mode for Apple Watch Series 4 and later that is designed to extend the battery life of your device beyond the usual "up to 18 hours" of life on a single charge in normal use that Apple advertises. Keep reading to learn how the function works and how to enable it.

How to get watch out of low power mode

For some years now, many Apple Watch fans have been clamoring for a new model that offers significantly more battery life than "up to 18 hours," which is the life that Apple has advertised ever since the first Apple Watch model was launched.

In 2022, Apple finally answered those calls with Apple Watch Ultra, which offers up to 36 hours of battery life on a single charge in normal use.

Truthfully though, the ‌Apple Watch Ultra‌ is a fairly niche device with many more features (and a significantly higher price tag) than the average user is going to need, but the good news is that with ‌watchOS 9‌, Apple also introduced a new Low Power Mode for Apple Watch Series 4 and later models that can eke out more life from these more commonly used devices.

The new Low Power Mode is separate from the Apple Watch's existing Power Reserve mode that only displays the clock when enabled. It's also important to know that the new Low Power Mode works by disabling or affecting a number of specific features on Apple Watch that we've detailed below. Make sure you carefully read the list so that you know what is not functional when the mode is turned on. The steps for enabling Low Power Mode in general use and for workouts can be found below.

Features Turned Off by Low Power Mode

  • Always On display
  • Heart rate notifications for irregular rhythm, high heart rate, and low heart rate
  • Background heart rate measurements
  • Background blood oxygen measurements
  • Start workout reminder

Features Turned Off When iPhone Isn't Nearby

  • Wi-Fi and cellular connections
  • Incoming phone calls and notifications

Features Affected by Low Power Mode

  • Making a phone call can take longer
  • Background app refresh happens less frequently
  • Complications update less frequently
  • Siri can take longer to process a request
  • Some animations and scrolling might appear less smooth

Note that Fall Detection continues to work in Low Power Mode.

How to Enable Low Power Mode on Apple Watch

When your Apple Watch's battery percentage drops to 10%, a Low Power Mode alert will ask if you want to turn on the feature. Note that Low Power Mode turns off automatically when an Apple Watch is charged to 80%, unless users manually turn it on for a set number of days. Bear in mind that you can have Low Power Mode turn on automatically when you begin a workout, with metrics such as heart rate and pace still measured.

Here's how to turn the feature on manually on an Apple Watch Series 4 or later running ‌watchOS 9‌ or later.

  1. Swipe up on the watch face of your Apple Watch to bring up Control Center.
  2. Tap the battery percentage button.
    How to get watch out of low power mode

  3. Tap the switch next to Low Power Mode.
  4. After reading the on-screen prompt, scroll to the bottom and select from the following: Turn On, Turn On For..., and Dismiss.
    How to get watch out of low power mode

  5. If you tapped Turn On For..., select On for 1 Day, On for 2 Days, or On for 3 Days on the second screen.

When your Apple Watch is in Low Power Mode, a yellow circle icon appears at the top of the screen. Also, the battery percentage button in Control Center, the charging animation, and the time in Nightstand mode all turn yellow.

How to Enable Low Power Mode for Workouts

You can also set your Apple Watch to automatically enter Low Power Mode whenever you start a workout, which is particularly useful if you plan to work out for a long time without it draining battery. Note that when you use the Workout app in Low Power Mode, metrics such as heart rate and pace are still measured.

  1. Launch the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
  2. Scroll down, then tap Workout.
  3. Tap the switch next to Low Power Mode to enable the automation.

How to get watch out of low power mode

Note that when Low Power Mode is enabled without your iPhone nearby, and you open an app that requires a data connection, Wi-Fi or cellular connectivity will resume so that the app can function properly, which can cause "significant battery consumption," according to Apple. Also, bear in mind that missed phone calls and notifications are retrieved periodically whenever your Apple Watch is in Low Power Mode.

Apple Watch Ultra: How to Get Up to 60 Hours of Battery Life

Tuesday November 1, 2022 5:45 am PDT by Tim Hardwick

Apple Watch Ultra models recently gained new low-power settings that can extend battery life up to 60 hours on a single charge, or what Apple calls "multi-day adventure battery life." This article explains how it works and how to set it up. When Apple introduced the ‌Apple Watch Ultra‌ in September, one of the touted features was that it boasts the best battery life of any Apple Watch,...

How to Use Heart Rate Zone Tracking on Apple Watch

Friday September 23, 2022 2:10 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick

With the debut of watchOS 9, Apple introduced new workout features that aim to take your personal fitness to the next level. One of these new features is heart rate zones. This article explains what they are for and how to use them. Apple has leaned further into fitness with the release of each new version of watchOS, and the latest version, watchOS 9, adds more metrics to your wrist than...

How to Enable Lockdown Mode for Heightened Security on iPhone and iPad

Friday October 28, 2022 12:32 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick

With the release of iOS 16 and iPadOS 16, Apple introduced Lockdown Mode, offering users an "extreme" level of security. This article explains who Lockdown Mode is for, what it does, and how to enable it. In iOS 16 and iPadOS 16, Apple brought iPhone and iPad users Lockdown Mode, an optional new security feature that's designed to protect users who may be at risk of highly targeted...

How to Control Your Apple Watch With Your iPhone

Tuesday October 4, 2022 1:14 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick

In iOS 16, Apple introduced a new Apple Watch Mirroring feature that lets you see and control your Apple Watch screen from your paired iPhone. Apple Watch Mirroring is designed to make the watch experience more accessible for people with physical and motor disabilities, but it can be useful to anyone. Keep reading to learn how to use it. With Apple Watch Mirroring in iOS 16, Apple utilizes...

How to Control Your iPhone With Your Apple Watch

Tuesday November 1, 2022 4:21 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick

In watchOS 9, Apple includes a feature that allows you to control your iPhone with your Apple Watch. Keep reading to learn how it works. With the release of iOS 16 and watchOS 9, Apple introduced new accessibility features including the ability to control your Apple Watch with your iPhone, and vice versa. Both features are designed to make the Apple Watch and iPhone experience more...

Apple Watch Ultra: How to Activate Night Mode

Friday September 23, 2022 2:38 am PDT by Tim Hardwick

Apple Watch Ultra comes with a built-in Night Mode that puts a red filter on the display. Keep reading to learn how to use it. To optimize for evening conditions, Apple Watch Ultra features a Night Mode that turns the interface red and removes retina-altering blue light from the display to ease strain on your eyes in the dark. On other Apple Watch models, if you look at your watch or...

How to Disable Fitness+ Audio Workouts on Apple Watch

Wednesday October 26, 2022 3:07 am PDT by Tim Hardwick

Time to Walk and Time to Run are two features for Apple Fitness+ subscribers that offer audio stories from influential people that Apple Watch users can listen to with AirPods or other wireless headphones while walking or running. Got no time for Fitness+ Audio Workouts? Here's how to get rid of them. In the Workout app on Apple Watch, Fitness+ subscribers automatically receive Audio Workout ...

How to Add Running Form Metrics to Your Apple Watch Workout Display

Wednesday September 28, 2022 9:17 am PDT by Tim Hardwick

With the debut of watchOS 9, Apple introduced new workout features that aim to take your personal fitness to the next level. For example, you can now display running form metrics to your Apple Watch display during running workouts. This article explains what the new metrics are and how you can enable them. Apple has leaned further into fitness with the release of each new version of watchOS, ...

Walmart Reveals Black Friday Plans With Week-Long Sales Starting Today

Retailers have been waiting longer and longer to reveal their specific plans for the week of Black Friday, now that the shopping event begins as early as October and most companies focus on "early Black Friday" deals first. Today, we've finally got more information from Walmart and all the official Black Friday discounts you can expect to shop this week. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner ...

All the Apple Black Friday Deals You Can Get Right Now

Last week was jam-packed with early Black Friday deals, and now that the shopping holiday is right around the corner, we're going back through all of the best sales you might have missed over the past week and updating as prices change and new deals arrive. As with all holiday shopping, there's no guarantee that better prices won't come around later in the season, but if you want to shop early,...

Best Buy Reveals Black Friday Plans With Sitewide Sales Available Now

Following in the footsteps of Target and Walmart, Best Buy this week detailed its plans for the Black Friday shopping holiday and its schedule looks a lot like other retailers. In terms of sales, Best Buy has the expected list of TVs, appliances, video games, computers, streaming devices, and more. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a...

Best Black Friday AirPods Deals Available Now

Although we've been tracking Black Friday deals for a few weeks now, the shopping holiday is officially kicking off this week and we're highlighting the best sales for each of Apple's product lines. In this article, you'll find the best Black Friday sales on AirPods 2, AirPods 3, AirPods Pro, AirPods Pro 2, and AirPods Max. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors....

iOS 16.2 for iPhone Expected to Launch in December With These 8 New Features

Wednesday November 16, 2022 8:32 am PST by Joe Rossignol

Apple plans to release iOS 16.2 in December, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and a report about the update enabling 5G support in India. The update remains in beta testing for now, with many new features and changes already uncovered. iOS 16.2 introduces a number of new features, including Apple's new whiteboard app Freeform, two new Lock Screen widgets for Sleep and Medications, the...

Apple Executive Phil Schiller Deactivates Twitter Account

Sunday November 20, 2022 8:55 am PST by Sami Fathi

Apple's Phil Schiller, responsible for Apple events and the App Store, has deactivated his Twitter account following recent developments on the platform. Schiller often used his account to promote new Apple products, services, software, and initiatives and interact with customers. As noted on Twitter by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, however, Schiller's account no longer exists. The account had...

These U.S. States Will Let You Add Your Driver's License to Your iPhone

Tuesday November 22, 2022 1:42 pm PST by Joe Rossignol

Earlier this year, Apple launched a feature allowing residents of participating U.S. states to add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age. As we wait for IDs in the Wallet app to expand to additional U.S. states, here is everything you need to know about how the feature ...

How do I turn low power mode off?

If you have an android device, click here!.
Open "Settings.".
Scroll down and tap "Battery.".
If Low Power Mode is enabled, move the slider to the left to turn it off. The image below has the slider turned to the right, which means low power mode is enabled..

How do I get my Apple Watch back to normal mode?

Double-tap with 2 fingers. Or open the Watch app on your iPhone, tap Accessibility and turn off Zoom.

Why is my Apple Watch on low power mode?

When your Apple Watch battery goes down to 10%, a Low Power Mode alert asks if you want to turn the feature on. Low Power Mode turns off automatically when your battery is charged to 80%, unless you chose to turn it on for a number of days.