For many Apple users, the Apple Watch is a beloved device that offers a multitude of features and functions. It helps us monitor our physical activity, keeps track of our heart rate, and manages our notifications seamlessly. However, one persistent complaint from users has always revolved around its battery life.
Apple claims that the Series 9 provides up to 18 hours of battery life under normal usage conditions. However, real-world scenarios often include LTE usage, physical activity tracking, and heavy notification loads, which can significantly reduce that 18-hour estimate. This leaves many users scrambling to find an outlet before the day is over. Fortunately, we’ve discovered a clever shortcut that can help you maximize the battery life of your Apple Watch, including the Ultra model with an always-on display.
The Dilemma: Always-On Display vs. Battery Life
The always-on display feature is a beloved aspect of the Apple Watch, akin to a miniature version of the iPhone‘s screen. However, it’s also one of the biggest battery drainers. Many users are faced with a difficult choice: either disable the always-on display and rely on wrist-raising gestures to check the time and notifications or endure a shortened battery life.
Disabling the always-on display can be inconvenient in various contexts, such as during work meetings or intense workout sessions. It also means giving up on one of the Apple Watch’s most anticipated features. On the other hand, keeping the always-on display enabled while maintaining the wrist-raising gesture can lead to rapid battery drain.
The Solution: A Clever Shortcut
The solution lies in reversing this dilemma. You can keep the always-on display enabled while turning off the wrist-raising gesture. This way, you can view the time and information on your Apple Watch from any angle without relying on the wrist gesture. It’s a compromise that offers a better battery life compared to having both features active.
Here’s how to set up this configuration:
From Your iPhone:
- Open the “Watch” app on your iPhone.
- Navigate to “Display & Brightness.”
- Turn on “Always-On Display.”
- Turn off “Wake on Wrist Raise.”
From Your Apple Watch:
- Open the “Settings” app on your Apple Watch.
- Go to “Display & Brightness.”
- Turn on “Always-On Display.”
- Turn off “Wake on Wrist Raise.”
Using iPhone Shortcuts for Convenience
While this setup is practical for preserving battery life when needed, you may not want it active all the time. For those situations, you can create a shortcut using the iPhone Shortcuts app to quickly toggle this setting on or off. This way, you have the flexibility to maximize battery life when necessary.
Setting up this shortcut is straightforward:
- Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone.
- Tap the “+” button in the upper right corner to create a new shortcut.
- Select “Add Action” and go to the “Apps” tab.
- Scroll down to find the Apple Watch icon, and choose “Set Activate when Raising Wrist.”
- In the operation field, select “Activate / Deactivate.”
Once the shortcut is set up, you can easily execute it whenever needed. To make it even more accessible, consider adding it as a complication on your Apple Watch screen or assigning it to the action button on your Apple Watch Ultra. With a simple press, you can gain control over your battery life, ensuring it lasts as long as you need it to.
In conclusion, this clever shortcut provides Apple Watch users with a practical solution to balance the always-on display and battery life, giving you more control and flexibility in managing your device’s power consumption.