One of the big new features added initially to the Apple Watch 7 was fast charging. Here’s how to ensure you’re charging your wearable as quickly as possible.
The Apple Watch models that support fast charging (that’s the Apple Watch Series 7 or newer, and either generation of the Apple Watch Ultra) will only utilise the snappiest charging speeds when used with a certain cable and plug combination. With this guide, you’ll know you’re doing it right.
Apple decided against adding any visual cues to make whenever a Watch is fast charging obvious, but following this guide will make sure that you do it properly. In terms of how quickly you can get from 0-100%, in our review we got a full charge in an hour, and 20% (enough for a night’s sleep) in 10 minutes. if your times are a lot slower than this, you’re likely using the wrong cable, or your Apple Watch lacks the correct support.
What you’ll need:
- An Apple Watch Series 8 (this will also work with a Series 7,9 and Apple Watch Ultra 1 and 2)
- The included USB-C charging cable (it needs to be this specific one)
- A plug with a USB-C port
The Short Version
- Get your USB-C plug ready
- Attach the included USB-C cable that came with the Apple Watch
- Magnetically attach your Apple Watch
Step
1Get your USB-C plug ready
To fast charge a supported Apple Watch, you need to have a USB-C plug ready. These are no longer included with the wearable. Instead, you could use the same plug you use to charge a recent iPhone, iPad or USB-C laptop. If you don’t have one, we can recommend this Anker option.
Step
2Attach the cable that came with your Apple Watch
Once you’ve got your USB-C plug, you’ll need to get the USB-C to Apple Watch magnetic charger that’s included with the watch. You need to use this specific cable to enable faster charge speeds, as an older Apple Watch cable will charge at a slower rate. Plug the cable into the USB-C plug.
Step
3Pop on the Apple Watch
Next, just pop the Apple Watch onto the magnetic charger and it should start juicing up at the faster speeds.
Troubleshooting
This feature will only work with the Apple Watch Series 9, 8, Series 7 and Ultra 1 and 2. None of the other wearables from Apple support fast charging and will, as a result, juice up at normal speed.
No, you don’t need a fast USB-C plug to enable the fast charging as it’s done through the cable and the Watch itself. As long as it’s 5w, it should work fine.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
