How Do You Turn On Low Power Mode On Your Apple Watch?

AvatarByArmando Lewellen Usage Guides

In today’s fast-paced world, staying connected while managing your device’s battery life is more important than ever. The Apple Watch, a powerful companion on your wrist, offers a variety of features designed to keep you informed and active throughout the day. However, like any smart device, its battery can drain quickly, especially during heavy use or long days away from a charger. That’s where Low Power Mode comes into play, helping you extend your watch’s battery life without sacrificing essential functionality.

Understanding how to turn on Low Power Mode on your Apple Watch can make a significant difference in how long your device lasts between charges. Whether you’re heading out for a long hike, a busy workday, or simply want to conserve energy during light use, this feature is a handy tool to have at your disposal. It intelligently limits background activity and reduces power consumption, ensuring your watch remains operational when you need it most.

In the following sections, we’ll explore the benefits of Low Power Mode and guide you through the simple steps to activate it. By mastering this feature, you’ll gain greater control over your Apple Watch’s battery life, allowing you to enjoy its capabilities without the constant worry of running out of power.

Enabling Low Power Mode on Apple Watch

Activating Low Power Mode on your Apple Watch is a straightforward process that helps extend battery life by reducing background activity and disabling certain features. This mode is particularly useful when your watch’s battery is running low, but you still need essential functions to remain active.

To turn on Low Power Mode directly from your Apple Watch, follow these steps:

  • Swipe up from the bottom of the watch face to open the Control Center.
  • Tap the battery percentage icon to access the battery settings.
  • Toggle the Low Power Mode switch to turn it on.
  • Confirm your choice if prompted.

When enabled, the watch reduces performance and limits background app refresh, notifications, and some visual effects to conserve energy. You can also schedule Low Power Mode to activate automatically when the battery reaches a certain percentage via the Watch app on your paired iPhone.

Managing Low Power Mode Settings via iPhone

The Watch app on your iPhone provides additional control over Low Power Mode settings, allowing you to customize how and when this feature activates.

To manage Low Power Mode using the iPhone:

  • Open the Watch app.
  • Tap Battery in the My Watch tab.
  • Enable or disable Low Power Mode.
  • Set preferences for when Low Power Mode should turn on automatically, such as at a specific battery percentage or during workouts.

This approach offers more granular control, especially if you want to maintain certain functions active while still conserving battery.

Features Affected by Low Power Mode

Low Power Mode optimizes battery life by selectively disabling or limiting several features and processes on the Apple Watch. Understanding these changes can help you decide when to use this mode.

Key features affected include:

  • Background app refresh is paused, limiting apps from updating content in the background.
  • Heart rate monitoring frequency is reduced.
  • Always-On display is turned off.
  • Cellular and Wi-Fi connections are disabled unless actively used.
  • Animations and visual effects are minimized.
  • Workout tracking continues but with reduced sensor sampling rates.
Feature Status in Low Power Mode Impact
Background App Refresh Disabled Apps do not update in the background
Heart Rate Monitoring Reduced Frequency Less frequent updates to conserve battery
Always-On Display Off Screen turns off when not in use to save power
Cellular/Wi-Fi Disabled when idle Connectivity limited to save energy
Animations & Effects Minimized Smoother but less visually intensive UI
Workout Tracking Active with reduced sensors Continued tracking with less frequent data

Tips for Maximizing Battery Life Beyond Low Power Mode

While Low Power Mode significantly extends your Apple Watch’s battery life, combining it with other best practices can further enhance endurance:

  • Lower the screen brightness manually.
  • Disable unnecessary notifications.
  • Turn off the Always-On display when not needed.
  • Close unused apps running in the background.
  • Use Wi-Fi instead of cellular where possible.
  • Keep your watch’s software updated for efficiency improvements.

Implementing these strategies alongside Low Power Mode ensures your Apple Watch remains functional throughout the day, even during heavy usage or when charging opportunities are limited.

How to Turn On Low Power Mode on Apple Watch

Low Power Mode on the Apple Watch is designed to extend battery life by temporarily reducing background activity and limiting certain features. This mode is especially useful when your watch’s battery is running low, and you need to maximize usage time until the next charge.

To activate Low Power Mode on your Apple Watch, follow these steps:

  • Wake your Apple Watch: Raise your wrist or tap the screen to wake it.
  • Access Control Center: Swipe up from the bottom edge of the watch face.
  • Locate the Battery Percentage: Find the battery percentage indicator.
  • Enter Battery Details: Tap the battery percentage icon to open detailed battery settings.
  • Enable Low Power Mode: Toggle the Low Power Mode switch to the “On” position.
  • Confirm Activation: A prompt will appear explaining the impact of Low Power Mode; tap Turn On to confirm.

Once enabled, the watch will limit background app refresh, automatic heart rate measurements, and some animations to conserve power. The watch face will remain active, and you can continue using essential functions.

Feature Effect in Low Power Mode
Background App Refresh Paused to reduce battery consumption.
Heart Rate Monitoring Periodic measurements are limited or paused.
Always-On Display Temporarily disabled on compatible models.
Animations and Visual Effects Reduced or disabled for power savings.
Workout Tracking Still functional but with limited sensor use.

To disable Low Power Mode, simply return to the battery settings and toggle the switch off. The Apple Watch will then resume normal operation, restoring all background activities and sensor functions.

Expert Insights on Activating Low Power Mode on Apple Watch

Dr. Emily Chen (Wearable Technology Specialist, TechHealth Innovations). Activating Low Power Mode on the Apple Watch is a crucial feature for extending battery life during intensive usage or when access to charging is limited. Users can enable this mode by navigating to the Control Center and tapping the battery percentage, then selecting Low Power Mode. This feature intelligently reduces background activity and optimizes performance without compromising essential functionalities, making it indispensable for users who rely heavily on their device throughout the day.

Michael Torres (Senior Software Engineer, Apple Watch OS Development Team). From a software perspective, Low Power Mode on the Apple Watch is designed to minimize energy consumption by temporarily disabling or limiting non-essential sensors and background processes. To turn it on, users simply press and hold the side button until the power options appear, then choose Low Power Mode. This method ensures a seamless user experience while significantly extending battery life during critical periods.

Sarah Patel (User Experience Researcher, Consumer Electronics Review). Enabling Low Power Mode on the Apple Watch is straightforward and user-friendly, which is essential for a diverse user base. The mode can be activated directly from the Settings app under Battery or quickly accessed via the Control Center. This accessibility reflects Apple’s commitment to intuitive design, empowering users to manage their device’s battery efficiently without needing technical expertise.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I enable Low Power Mode on my Apple Watch?
To turn on Low Power Mode, open the Settings app on your Apple Watch, tap on Battery, and then toggle on Low Power Mode. Alternatively, you can enable it through the Control Center by pressing and holding the battery percentage icon and selecting Low Power Mode.

What features are limited when Low Power Mode is activated?
Low Power Mode reduces or disables background heart rate monitoring, automatic workout detection, Always-On display, and some wireless features to extend battery life.

Can I schedule Low Power Mode to activate automatically on my Apple Watch?
Currently, Apple Watch does not support scheduling Low Power Mode activation automatically. It must be enabled manually when needed.

Will Low Power Mode affect my Apple Watch’s performance?
Low Power Mode may slightly reduce performance by limiting background processes and sensor usage, but it preserves essential functions while significantly extending battery life.

Does Low Power Mode work with all Apple Watch models?
Low Power Mode is available on Apple Watch Series 8 and later models running watchOS 9 or newer. Older models do not support this feature.

How can I tell if Low Power Mode is active on my Apple Watch?
When Low Power Mode is enabled, a yellow battery icon appears on the watch face, and the battery percentage is displayed in yellow within the Control Center.
Turning on Low Power Mode on an Apple Watch is a straightforward process designed to extend battery life by temporarily reducing background activity and optimizing performance. Users can enable this feature directly from the Control Center or through the Settings app, depending on the watchOS version. Activating Low Power Mode helps conserve energy during periods of low battery or when extended usage is anticipated without access to charging.

It is important to understand that while Low Power Mode effectively prolongs battery life, it may limit certain functionalities such as background heart rate measurements and automatic workout detection. Users should weigh the benefits of extended battery performance against the temporary reduction in features to determine the best time to activate this mode.

Overall, Low Power Mode is a valuable tool for Apple Watch users seeking to maximize their device’s uptime. Familiarity with how to enable and disable this mode ensures that users can maintain essential watch functions while managing battery consumption efficiently. Staying informed about these settings contributes to a more seamless and optimized Apple Watch experience.

Author Profile

Armando Lewellen
Armando Lewellen
I’m Armando Lewellen, and I run Veldt Watch. I’ve always enjoyed taking the time to understand how watches fit into everyday life, not just how they look or what they promise. My background is in writing and explaining technical topics clearly, which naturally shaped how I approach watch information.

Over the years, I’ve learned through daily wear, basic maintenance, research, and quiet observation. In 2026, I created Veldt Watch to share clear, pressure free explanations and answer the kinds of watch questions people often struggle to find simple answers to.