How To Fix Apple Watch 6 Stops Charging After A Few Minutes
Apple Watch stops charging issue
Is your brand new Apple Watch Series 6 not charging properly? Does it stop charging after a few minutes or is it charging very slowly? This isn’t normal, but you’re not the only one affected. We’re experiencing this problem on our own devices running watchOS 7.1 and have been also mailed by a series of readers complaining about the not charging bug occurring on new and old models like the Apple Watch Series 5, 4 and even 3.
Apple Watch Stops Charging Pattern
The AW charging problem occurs close after you connect your device to the MagSafe puck. The smartwatch unexpectedly stops charging. You’ll only notice it when you get back a while later to pick it up from the charger only to notice that the remaining battery percentage grew by only a small amount. You might think that the Apple Watch is charging slowly, when in fact it’s charging for just a few minutes before it stops and doesn’t charge at all anymore.
Is Optimized Battery Charging To Blame?
Some might think that the Apple Watch stops charging because the Optimized Charging feature kicks-in, which by the way is a new addition in watchOS 7. However, this can only be the case if the Watch stops at charging when the 80% battery charge is reached.
Tip: To filter out this feature that aims to prevent battery ageing, you can manually disable it from your wrist. Click the Digital Crown and browse for Settings -> General -> Battery -> Battery Health -> Optimized Battery Charging (Turn Off). More details are available here.
How To Fix Apple Watch Not Charging
At the time of writing we couldn’t fully fix this problem, but here are a few troubleshooting tips that will have you to temporarily solve it:
1. Disconnect and Reconnect Charger
A quick fix for this issue is to disconnect your Apple Watch from the MagSafe puck, wait a couple of seconds and reconnect it. This usually, resumes the charging and the process should continue successfully until the battery is fully charged.
However, in some cases they Watch might stop charging again. You’ll have to babysit it and proceed to the next step when finished.
2. Force Restart Apple Watch
The second option is to reboot the wrist-worn device and check if the slow charging issues reoccur during the next charging cycle. The easiest way to do it is by simultaneously pressing and holding the Digital Crown and the Side Button until the Apple Logo is displayed on the screen. The Watch will restart and hopefully charging will occur without any other problems.
3. Try A Different Charger
Another good tip is to try to charge your Apple Watch with a different MagSafe puck and notice if stops again. If it does, the problem is clearly watchOS 7 related.
4. Install Software Update
At the time of writing, the most recent software version is watchOS 7.1. Apple should fix the not charging bug in an upcoming release. We will update this article as soon as a new version is available. You can check it yourself from your wrist by browsing for Settings -> General -> Software Update.
5. Restore Apple Watch
There’s nothing much else that you can do, instead of erasing your Apple Watch and restoring it from a backup. This way you will force a fresh install and hopefully clear the bug out.
- Grab the companion iPhone and open the Watch app.
- In the My Watch tab, tap on All Watches.
- Tap the orange ‘i’ icon next to your watch’s name.
- Use the Unpair Apple Watch option to erase your watch.
Fact: A full copy of the data on your device will be saved on your iPhone. - Next up, use the Watch app to re-pair your Watch to your iPhone.
- Select the Restore from Backup option and select the most recent backup available. Be patient until the process is completed and configure your watch when ready.
Are you also experiencing the Apple Watch not charging, slow charging, stops charging or however you might want to call it issue? Did any of the tips provided above help out? Do you know a better fix? Don’t hesitate to share your feedback in the comments section available below.
Related: The Watch isn’t the only Apple device having problems with MagSafe. The new iPhone 12 lineup is also experiencing shortcomings with inductive charging. iPhone 12 models are either not charging at all or are stuck on the MagSafe charging animation.
Unpair and re-pairing steps solved the issue. Thanks a lot for the tips.
You’re welcome. Glad it helped!
I was having the same problem with charging stopping after 5 mins. I realized that when I turn off the bluetooth option on my phone my watch stays charging now. It’s not the best solution but it helps get a full charge and I don’t really need bluetooth on while I am sleeping anyways.
Thanks for the contribution Shana. That’s and interesting find. I will update it in the main content of the article. Let’s see if it helps others too.
I tried this and it didnt work for me sadly
Have you tried to force restart Apple Watch with the MagSafe puck connected to it?
No I was wrong. This didn’t help. It worked the first time but has since not worked to help the charging issues.
Thanks for getting back Shana. Can you provide more details about this issue? Does it happen every time you charge the Apple Watch, or just occasionally? Are you using the original Apple Watch charger or a third-party product?
It seems that the recent update for the I Watch has caused an issue with stop and start charging. Whilst googleing the problem its all around December mostly where the issues are being raised.
Yes, thanks for highlighting this. We’re also seeing an increased number of reports about this problem. Don’t hesitate to provide a followup if you identify a pattern for the Apple Watch charging issue.
Same here, also tried different pugs. Might be software-related.
Thanks for confirming. Have you tried to unpair (reset Apple Watch) and re-pair (Restore from backup)?
I’m having the charging issue on my Apple Watch series 4 with WatchOS 8.3 installed. It’s starts to charge for about 5-10 minutes then it just stops. Any headway on tips on the fix? Thanks!
Thanks for the feedback Tim. Are you using genuine Apple charger or third-party solution? Try to unpair watch and repair (restore from backup). Does it help?
Hi, Tim! I am experiencing exactly the same issue as you described – with the same model and OS verison. It started a week after the update. Unfortunately, nothing helps so far – nor the unpairing, nor the other steps.
Thanks for confirming this issue Alex. It seems that a software update is required to fix this issue. Apple should be already working on it as we’ve reported the problem and many others did the same.
I didn’t start having charging problems on my Series 7 watch until I installed an aftermarket stainless watchband. I removed the watchband the the bare watch still didn’t charge. I was using an Apple charger (not a MagSafe). It started charging again after I plugged it in directly to my Macbook Pro 16″. I returned my apple charger to Amazo and bought another brand. It worked for a couple of days then stoppd charging again. I just re-set my watch and it appears to be charging again. NOT ACCEPTABLE!!! COME ON APPLE!!
Thanks for the detailed feedback Teek. Yes, this Apple Watch charging issue is quite annoying and difficult to pinpoint. Thanks for confirming the plug into MacBook option and the reset feature.
Don’t hesitate to report back if the problem re-occurs.
Basically the same issues as people reported here. I didn’t notice it as early as some because the latest OS update wasn’t installing because I didn’t have it on the charger at night. Once the update installed I noticed the problem. I’ve tried all of these solutions. … different Apple chargers, on/off, unpair and factory reset, using airplane mode. Noting works except taking it off the charger and putting it back on every 10 minutes.
Thanks for the feedback Keith. Yes, this is annoying. Apple will have to fix this in an upcoming software update.
I’m having the same issues as everyone else on my watch ser4 I have tried hard restart repairing nothing worked except babysitting it very annoying
Thanks for the feedback Blake. Yes, this is a very annoying bug. Have you tried to bring Apple Watch in AirPlane Mode while charging? Some, have reported that turning off iPhone might also help. These, fixes aren’t ideal, but they’ll at least allow your watch to charge…
I’m having the same issues as everyone else on my watch series 4 . I have tried hard restart 500 times. After unparing it works for one day . everyday i have to spend 20 minutes to unpair and pair the watch with my iphone to get the full charge .
This is crazy and incredibly frustrating. Let’s hope Apple will issue a fix as soon as possible.
Well I don’t know what changed but I put my watch in the charger a little while ago and it’s almost charged and I have had to take it off the charger once. Fixed maybe? We will see.
Thanks for the feedback. Keep us updated please. Let us know if the issue returns.
My watch seems to only do it with my aftermarket wireless charger. I have tried every suggestion and it still charges for a few minutes and stops. It seemed to coincide with the newest update so for some reason my watch will only charge with the apple charger
Thank for the feedback Meighan.
I have found a solution that works perfectly for me, not sure it will work for you :
1.First of all unpair your Device and reboot it
2.Put your watch on the charger and then pair it again with your iphone
3.When done, just turn off the bluetooth when charging
PS: the Bluetooth must be turned off, i know it’s not ideal but it’s still better than checking the watch every minute ….
Thanks for sharing it. We will update it in the main content of the article. It might help others.
I’m also facing the same issues on my watch series 4. After I updated to 8.3 version, my watch is stop charging after few minutes. I tried unpair, reset and restart on my watch, but still not work for me. Hope Apple can solve this issue as fast as possible, it make me very hard to charge my watch now.
Thanks for sharing tim! I’m sure that they’re working on it because this is a widespread and annoying bug.
Same issue on series 6 since last update, charges for about 5 mins and stops, nothing has worked so far
Thanks for confirming. This issue is widespread indeed. I’m surprised that apple hasn’t issues an watchOS 8.3.1 update to fix it.
Planned obsolescence. Apple is not this incompetent!
watchOS 8.4 has been released with a fix for the Apple Watch charging issues. Please update and let us know if it helps!
I had no problem before. but after 8.4 update i can’t charge my watch on 3rd party chargers. My watch is Apple watch 7 series. I hope apple fixes this problem quickly.
This has also happened to me. I have a 7 series, and after the last software update (8.4) I cannot use 3rd party chargers. Very frustrating, as I have them in various locations (car, desk, nightstand, work bag). Now the only charger that works is the one that came with the watch. I have several small USB “disks” that have been nice because there’s no cord. But now they don’t work…hoping this is a bug that will be fixed, and not a permanent issue with the watch.
I have 6 apple watches in my home. One watch, the SE cellular version, had the same problem as everyone noted above and I didn’t realize it. I guess the battery got to low and now it won’t charge at all and is totally dead. One watch is a series 3 and is fine. The Series 2, the other series SE cellular and the 2 that are series 6 are all having problems.
My problem is that 4 genuine apple chargers, and the 1 aftermarket all stopped totally working within a few days of each other, after the most recent update. Basically, put watch on charger and nothing happens.
I pulled the original charger out of the box 2 days ago (from the series 6 box) and it works fine on all the devices. We keep trying the other chargers, but right now only 1 works. Do the watch chargers have a limited life span, since they were all put into service within a few weeks of each other?
It is so frustrating that 4 people have to share one charging cable. I am concerned that they will all die before the next update and I will be out all those watches. The younger kids don’t have regular phones, so the cellular watch is there only way for us to contact them, and the battery has never lasted all day.
After spending hours on the phone with Apple, we found the solution to our problem by accident while trouble shooting with them last night.
Place watch on charger. While watch is on the non working charger, unplug charger, wait a few seconds, plug charger back in. The charger started working again. All of the chargers now work, which include the 2 aftermarket and the 3 genuine Apple chargers.
We had unplugged all the chargers, tried them in different plugs in our home, tried them in other locations, swapped different wall adapters with the watch cords. The Apple representative was just as surprised as we were that it worked. (We had been removing the watch from the chargers each time before unplugging and plugging it back in to the wall ). All watches and chargers are now working again.
I hope this information helps someone else. The dead SE cellular watch is out of warranty by 2 months, so now I’m out of that money too. If you are near the end of your warranty, call now and see what they can do.
It worked!!! Thank you so much!
You’re welcome. Glad we could help!