What features are affected by the new watchOS 9 power saving mode? watchOS 9 has received a new power saving mode for Apple Watch Series 4 and newer models, which is designed to extend battery life by turning off or limiting certain features and sensors, such as the always-on display and background heart rate monitoring.
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In a new support document posted today, Apple detailed specific features that are disabled or affected when power saving mode is enabled:
Power saving mode disables these features
- Always On Display (always on display)
- Heart rate notifications for irregular rhythm, high and low heart rate
- Background heart rate measurements
- Background blood oxygen measurements
- Reminder to start training
Power saving mode disables these features when your iPhone is not around
- Wi-Fi and Cellular
- Incoming phone calls and notifications
Power saving mode affects these features
- Making a call may take longer
- Background app refresh is less frequent
- Extensions are updated less often
- Siri may take longer to process commands
- Some animations and scrolling may look less smooth
For security purposes, Apple says fall detection continues to work in power saving mode.
To turn on power saving mode, swipe up on the watch face to open Control Center, press the battery percentage button, and turn on power saving mode.
When the Apple Watch’s battery percentage drops to 10%, you’ll be prompted to turn on power saving mode. Power Saving Mode automatically turns off when Apple Watch reaches 80% charge unless users manually turn it on for a set number of days.
Apple says users can automatically turn on power-saving mode when starting a workout, while still measuring metrics like heart rate and pace.
Apple notes that when Power Saving Mode is turned on without your iPhone nearby and you open an app that requires a data connection, Wi-Fi or cellular coverage will resume in order for the app to function properly, which can result in “significant battery consumption” .
watchOS 9 was released today as a free software update for Apple Watch Series 4 and later. The new Power Saving Mode works separately from the existing Apple Watch Eco Mode, which only shows the current time when turned on.
