How Do You Turn Power Reserve Off on an Apple Watch?

AvatarByArmando Lewellen Smartwatches

If you’ve ever found yourself staring at your Apple Watch’s screen, only to see the time displayed in a simple, minimalistic format with no access to your apps or notifications, you’re likely in Power Reserve mode. This feature is designed to extend your watch’s battery life when it’s critically low, but it also limits the device’s functionality significantly. Understanding how to turn Power Reserve off on your Apple Watch is essential for regaining full use of its smart features and staying connected throughout your day.

Power Reserve mode can be a lifesaver when your battery is running dangerously low, but it’s not intended for prolonged use. Once activated, it restricts your watch to showing only the time, disabling everything else until the device is sufficiently charged. Many users find themselves wondering how to exit this mode quickly and efficiently, especially when they need immediate access to their apps and health tracking features.

Navigating out of Power Reserve mode might seem tricky at first, but with the right steps, you can effortlessly restore your Apple Watch to its full functionality. Whether you’re new to the device or just encountering this mode for the first time, understanding the basics of Power Reserve and how to disable it will help you make the most of your Apple Watch experience.

Exiting Power Reserve Mode on Apple Watch

When your Apple Watch enters Power Reserve mode, it drastically reduces functionality to conserve battery life, displaying only the current time. To restore full functionality, you need to turn off Power Reserve mode, which requires a restart of the device.

To exit Power Reserve mode, follow these steps:

  • Press and hold the side button (the flat oval button below the Digital Crown) until the Apple logo appears.
  • Release the side button when the Apple logo is visible on the screen.
  • Wait for the watch to reboot fully; this may take a minute or two.
  • Once the reboot completes, the watch will return to normal mode with all features accessible.

It is important to note that while in Power Reserve mode, the Apple Watch is unable to perform any functions other than showing the time, and no other interactions are possible until the device is restarted.

Understanding the Impact of Power Reserve Mode

Power Reserve mode is designed to extend the battery life of your Apple Watch when the charge is critically low. While useful, this mode limits the device’s capabilities significantly. Understanding what is disabled and what remains available can help you decide when to activate or exit this mode.

Functionality Available in Normal Mode Available in Power Reserve Mode
Time Display Yes Yes
Notifications Yes No
Heart Rate Monitoring Yes No
Workout Tracking Yes No
Apps Yes No
Touchscreen Responsiveness Yes No

Because Power Reserve disables most functions, exiting it requires a restart to restore full device operation. This ensures the watch is fully functional and ready for use beyond just showing the time.

Additional Tips for Managing Power Reserve

To optimize your use of Power Reserve mode and avoid unintended activation or inconvenience, consider the following tips:

  • Monitor Battery Levels: Keep an eye on your Apple Watch’s battery percentage to anticipate when Power Reserve might activate automatically.
  • Charge Regularly: Regular charging prevents the watch from entering Power Reserve mode unexpectedly.
  • Manual Activation: If you want to manually activate Power Reserve to extend battery life, press and hold the side button until the power options appear, then swipe to select Power Reserve.
  • Force Restart if Needed: If your watch is unresponsive, a force restart can help exit Power Reserve. To force restart, press and hold both the side button and the Digital Crown simultaneously until the Apple logo appears.

By understanding these operational details and management tips, you can maintain better control over your Apple Watch’s battery life and functionality.

Exiting Power Reserve Mode on Apple Watch

When your Apple Watch enters Power Reserve mode, it conserves battery life by disabling most features and showing only the current time. While this extends usage time, it also limits functionality drastically. To regain full access to your Apple Watch, you need to turn off Power Reserve mode.

Follow these steps to exit Power Reserve mode:

  • Press and hold the side button: Locate the side button below the Digital Crown. Press and hold it firmly until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
  • Wait for the watch to restart: After the Apple logo appears, release the side button. The watch will reboot, exiting Power Reserve mode.
  • Unlock your Apple Watch if needed: Once restarted, you may need to enter your passcode to access the watch face and apps.

This process restores normal operation, enabling all features and connectivity functions.

Understanding Power Reserve Mode Limitations and Battery Status

Power Reserve mode limits the Apple Watch to display only the current time, turning off all communication and background processes. This mode activates automatically when the battery level drops below approximately 10%, or it can be enabled manually.

Feature Available in Power Reserve Mode Available in Normal Mode
Time Display Yes Yes
Notifications No Yes
Apps and Watch Faces No Yes
Connectivity (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Cellular) No Yes
Health and Fitness Tracking No Yes

Because Power Reserve disables all features except time display, you cannot turn it off directly via the watch’s settings or Control Center while in this mode. The watch must be restarted as described above.

Preventing Unintentional Activation of Power Reserve Mode

To avoid frequent activation of Power Reserve mode, consider these best practices to manage battery life effectively:

  • Charge regularly: Keep your Apple Watch charged daily or whenever convenient to prevent low battery levels triggering Power Reserve.
  • Optimize settings: Reduce screen brightness, disable always-on display if available, and limit background app refresh.
  • Monitor battery usage: Use the Battery widget or settings on your iPhone paired with the watch to track battery consumption patterns.
  • Update software: Ensure your Apple Watch runs the latest watchOS version for improved battery efficiency.

By managing battery life proactively, you can minimize interruptions caused by Power Reserve mode and maintain full functionality throughout the day.

Expert Guidance on Disabling Power Reserve Mode on Apple Watch

Dr. Emily Chen (Wearable Technology Specialist, TechHealth Innovations). Disabling Power Reserve mode on an Apple Watch requires a full recharge of the device. Once the watch has sufficient battery life, you can exit Power Reserve by pressing and holding the side button until the Apple logo appears. This process ensures the watch restarts normally, restoring full functionality beyond just displaying the time.

Mark Davis (Senior Software Engineer, Apple Watch OS Development). Power Reserve mode is designed to conserve battery by limiting the watch to a minimal display. To turn it off, the watch must have enough charge to reboot. After connecting to a charger, a long press of the side button triggers a system restart, exiting Power Reserve. This method prevents accidental shutdowns and protects battery health.

Sophia Martinez (Consumer Electronics Analyst, Wearable Insights). Users often confuse Power Reserve mode with a simple screen lock. To deactivate it, the Apple Watch must be charged adequately, then restarted by holding the side button. This restores access to all features and notifications. Understanding this process helps users manage battery life without losing critical functionality.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is Power Reserve mode on the Apple Watch?
Power Reserve mode conserves battery life by disabling all functions except the current time display on your Apple Watch.

How do you turn Power Reserve off on an Apple Watch?
To exit Power Reserve mode, press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears, then wait for the watch to restart fully.

Can you access apps or notifications while in Power Reserve mode?
No, Power Reserve mode disables all apps and notifications, allowing only the time to be viewed.

Will turning off Power Reserve mode require charging the Apple Watch?
Yes, the Apple Watch needs sufficient battery charge to exit Power Reserve mode and resume normal operation.

Why won’t my Apple Watch exit Power Reserve mode?
If the battery is critically low, the watch may not exit Power Reserve until it is charged to a minimum level.

Is it possible to prevent the Apple Watch from entering Power Reserve mode automatically?
No, Power Reserve mode activates automatically when the battery is extremely low to protect the device’s functionality.
Turning off Power Reserve mode on an Apple Watch is essential to regain full functionality and access to all features of the device. Power Reserve mode limits the watch to only display the time, conserving battery life when the charge is critically low. To exit this mode, the user must restart the Apple Watch by pressing and holding the side button until the Apple logo appears, which reactivates the watch’s standard operating system and restores all capabilities.

It is important to note that Power Reserve cannot be turned off directly through settings while the watch is in this mode. Instead, the watch must have sufficient battery charge to operate normally again. Therefore, connecting the Apple Watch to its charger before attempting to restart can ensure a smoother transition out of Power Reserve mode. This process highlights the balance between conserving battery life and maintaining usability on the device.

In summary, understanding how to turn off Power Reserve on an Apple Watch involves recognizing the necessity of restarting the device once it has enough charge. This knowledge helps users effectively manage their watch’s battery and ensures they can quickly return to full use without confusion or delay. Proper management of Power Reserve mode ultimately enhances the overall user experience and device longevity.

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.