iOS 14 battery drain: How to fix the iPhone and Apple Watch issues after latest update, according to Apple
2 min readApple users have noticed a number of issues with their iPhones and Apple Watches since updating to iOS 14 and WatchOS 7. People are reporting excess battery drain to their paired devices under the new operating systems, and some are also saying GPS data is not being properly recorded, meaning their workouts are not being logged.
Apple is yet to come up with a patch for the issue, instead advising people to take the drastic measure of unpairing and factory resetting both devices.
How to fix battery drain on your iPhone and Apple Watch
Some users are reporting that they have fixed the problem simply by unpairing and then re-pairing their iPhone and Apple Watch. You can do this through the Watch app on your phone.
When you do this your iPhone will automatically back up all your Watch’s data to your phone.
If this works then you can avoid the more serious measure of resetting your devices.
If it does not, then it’s time to try a reset…
Note: this is only a potential solution for people who have both an iPhone and Apple Watch. If your iPhone’s battery is draining more since the update and you do not have an Apple Watch this is a separate problem, and it would be best to wait for guidance – or a a patch – from Apple before taking any measures to fix it.
How to safely back up and reset your devices
First, you will need to go to the Watch app on your iPhone and unpair the devices.
Next, go to your iClod settings and make sure the Health app is selected for back-up.
Once this is done, select iCloud Back-up and hit “Back Up Now”. This will create a safe copy of all your data, for both devices.
Now it is time for the factory reset. Head to Settings > General > Reset and click “Erase All Content and Settings”. This will take your iPhone back to its original purchase state.
Turn it back on and you should be presented with the option to restore date from your iCloud. Say yes to this and your iPhone should return to exactly how it was before.
Next, open the Watch app and re-pair your iPhone with your Apple Watch. Finally, select “Restore from Back-up” within the app, and you should be good to go.
