Apple Releases watchOS 10.1.1 With Fix for Apple Watch Battery Drain Bug

Apple today released watchOS 10.1.1, a bug fix update for the watchOS 10 operating system that first came out in September. watchOS 10.1.1 comes two weeks after the launch of watchOS 10.1, an update that brought Double Tap and NameDrop support.

watchOS 10 Launch Feature
‌watchOS 10‌‌.1.1 can be downloaded for free through the Apple Watch app on an iPhone running iOS 17 or later by opening it up and going to General > Software Update. To install the new software, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery and it needs to be placed on a charger.

Today's update addresses an issue that is causing some Apple Watch models to drain battery more quickly than expected. Complaints about Apple Watch battery started after the launch of watchOS 10.1, and Apple confirmed in a memo over the weekend that the battery problems would be fixed in a software release.

This update provides important bug fixes and addresses an issue that could cause the battery to drain more quickly for some users.

Apple is already testing watchOS 10.2, an update that is expected to be released alongside iOS 17.2 in December.

Related Roundups: watchOS 11, watchOS 26
Related Forum: Apple Watch

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Top Rated Comments

anthogag Avatar
22 months ago
My Ultra is on 10.2.

Apple needs to bring back swiping between faces. The press-hold really-really sucks. ?
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
t0rqx Avatar
22 months ago

Oddly, I have a Watch Series 9 cellular model and haven't noticed any problematic battery drain issues. I guess I'll install the update but it doesn't seem all that pressing to me.
It never affects the newest models.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
xDKP Avatar
22 months ago
Kinda worrying they mention it like an issue starting with 10.1 when 10.0 has been smashing my battery from early betas all through to today. Massive step down from WatchOS 9
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
headlessmike Avatar
22 months ago

I don't think they would, mainly because other cheap knockoffs smartwatches use swiping gesture to change faces. I suspect they already knew this and differentiate for the sake of their "image".
The number one complaint I've heard from Apple Watch owners I know is that they accidentally change faces and don't understand why. I suspect that is the main reason for the change.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Shaggymax Avatar
22 months ago
YES! Finally! Updating Now....fingers crossed
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BatCat Avatar
22 months ago
Watch S6 here. Batt was straight to zero post charging and now update has it back to running rock solid all afternoon only used 15%. So seems like a win. Also figure will all the reindexing etc post-updates, I hope for even better performance tomorrow. Don’t stop believing.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)