How to Use Apple Watch Low Power Mode (Formerly Power Reserve)

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On current Apple Watch software, the battery-saving feature is called Low Power Mode; “Power Reserve” is the older name. To turn it on, press the side button, tap the battery percentage, choose Low Power Mode, then tap Turn On. You can also set it to run for one, two, or three days. Low Power Mode preserves useful watch functions, but it reduces or pauses some health measurements, notifications, display features, and background updates.

Quick path: Press the side button to open Control Center, tap the battery percentage, switch on Low Power Mode, then tap Turn On. To choose a time limit, tap Turn On For and select one, two, or three days. The same control is in Settings > Battery > Low Power Mode. Apple says Low Power Mode normally switches off when the watch is charged above 80 percent, unless you selected a timed duration.

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Power Reserve vs. Low Power Mode

If you cannot find a setting called Power Reserve, look for Low Power Mode instead. Apple’s current instructions use that name; Power Reserve appears in older watchOS documentation. The terminology and behavior have varied across watchOS generations, so old instructions may not match your watch.

Low Power Mode is a temporary battery-saving setting, not a shutdown screen that leaves only a limited function available. Your watch remains usable, though some features are disabled and others work less often or respond more slowly. See Apple’s current Low Power Mode guide for the documented behavior.

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Turn on Low Power Mode from Control Center

1. Press the side button to open Control Center.
2. Tap the battery percentage button.
3. Turn on Low Power Mode.
4. Review the information on screen, then tap Turn On. To set a duration instead, tap Turn On For and choose 1 Day, 2 Days, or 3 Days.

If the watch battery reaches 10 percent or lower, it can also offer to turn on Low Power Mode. You can accept the alert or dismiss it and enable the mode later.

Turn it on from Settings

1. Open Settings on the watch.
2. Tap Battery, then Low Power Mode.
3. Turn it on and tap Turn On, or choose Turn On For and a duration.

How to tell it is on

Look for a yellow circle icon at the top of the display. The battery percentage control, charging animation, and time shown in Nightstand mode also turn yellow. The yellow indicator signals Low Power Mode; it does not, by itself, mean the battery is defective.

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What changes in Low Power Mode?

Low Power Mode trades some immediacy and background monitoring for reduced power use. The exact experience depends in part on whether your paired iPhone is nearby.

So if notifications are delayed while your iPhone is not nearby, or a background health reading is absent, that may be an expected effect of the mode rather than a fault. If you rely on continuous background measurements or heart-health notifications, turn Low Power Mode off when you need them. Measurements or alerts missed while it was active are not necessarily recreated afterward.

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Using Low Power Mode during workouts

Low Power Mode can help conserve battery during exercise while the watch continues to measure metrics such as heart rate and pace. For supported outdoor walking, running, and hiking workouts, you can also reduce the frequency of GPS and heart-rate readings:

1. Open Settings on the watch.
2. Tap Workout.
3. Tap Fewer GPS and Heart Rate Readings.

Apple lists this option for watchOS 9.1 or later on Apple Watch Series 8 or later, Apple Watch SE (2nd generation) or later, and Apple Watch Ultra or later. It applies when Low Power Mode is active and you start an outdoor walking, running, or hiking workout in the Workout app. With fewer readings, workout alerts are off and splits, segments, and metrics such as current pace are unavailable. If you need detailed pacing or uninterrupted workout alerts, do not enable this reduced-reading option.

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Turn Low Power Mode off

1. Press the side button to open Control Center.
2. Tap the battery percentage button.
3. Turn off Low Power Mode.

You can also return to Settings > Battery > Low Power Mode. A selected duration can keep the mode active until it expires, but you can switch it off manually. It normally turns off after the watch is charged above 80 percent. Turning it off restores supported features; it does not recover health readings or notifications that were missed while those functions were paused.

Low Power Mode does not erase Activity, Health, or workout data, and it does not require a restart or reset. It changes how the watch operates temporarily.

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If you cannot find the option or the watch will not turn on

• Looking for Power Reserve? On current software, check Control Center’s battery percentage control or Settings > Battery for Low Power Mode. If the labels still differ, check the watch’s software version and model; older watchOS instructions may not match current menus.
• Seeing a low-battery symbol or a blank display? Low Power Mode cannot revive a depleted watch. Place the back of the watch against its magnetic charger and check that it aligns; look for the charging symbol and allow time for it to build charge. Apple recommends the included magnetic charger, MagSafe Duo Charger, or a compatible third-party charger. Startup time varies with the watch, charger, temperature, and battery condition. If it still will not charge or turn on, follow Apple’s charging guidance or arrange service rather than repeatedly forcing restarts.
• Yellow icon but battery seems unhealthy? Yellow indicates Low Power Mode, not battery condition. Check Settings > Battery > Battery Health for battery information.
• Battery still drains quickly? Low Power Mode reduces some power use but does not repair a worn battery or diagnose the cause. Review Battery Health, keep the watch near its paired iPhone when practical, and avoid weak wireless-signal areas. After a watchOS update, background tasks can affect battery life temporarily; Apple advises allowing several days. See Apple’s battery-drain troubleshooting guidance.

Less disruptive ways to extend battery life

If you need to preserve a particular feature, try a narrower change before enabling Low Power Mode:

• Turn off Always On at Settings > Display & Brightness > Always On.
• Keep the watch near its paired iPhone when possible. Apple says a Bluetooth connection to the iPhone is efficient; weak wireless signals can consume more power.
• Use Wi-Fi rather than cellular when the iPhone is away and Wi-Fi is available, or use Airplane Mode where wireless coverage is weak and you do not need connectivity.
• Disable background app refresh if frequent background updates are not important.
• For a supported long outdoor workout, consider Fewer GPS and Heart Rate Readings, understanding the loss of alerts and detailed metrics.
• Check Battery Health to distinguish high power use from reduced battery capacity.

Charge optimization is different from Low Power Mode. Disabling optimized charging may help when you need a fuller charge immediately, but Apple warns that turning off charge-optimization features can increase battery wear over time. Apple’s battery guidance explains the trade-off.

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