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Able to reliably replicate a source of battery drain [iOS Connect app]

i've been able to do this a few times now so i think this may help Garmin track one of the battery drain issues down:

if i am in the Garmin Connect app on iOS and leave it on one of the settings pages for my watch (in today's case: Run Activity/Data Fields), there is significant battery drain even if i have gone on to do other things. i can only guess that the watch and app are constantly syncing to make sure that any changes i am making get updated.

i saw 4% drop in 3 hours with this sort of thing. once i back out of that settings page, it appears battery usage is back to normal (roughly 6%/day for the watch face i'm currently using).

0 parentoft over 2 years ago

I’ll give it a go too. Reporting back tomorrow morning.

0 parentoft over 2 years ago in reply to parentoft

So, now it is 12 hours later and I have checked my Watch. No problem here. Usage 1% during this time with Connect App running (On IOS 16.0.2)

0 derek87 over 2 years ago in reply to parentoft

Thanks for trying. So you left it in one or the watch configuration screens and just went home and did something else in your phone?

0 parentoft over 2 years ago in reply to derek87

Yes, The Garmin Connect app is still open here at the end of the day and after my 1:30 hour run. Down with 3 pct in total from yesterday eveing to now (21 hours later).

I even used External HRM heartrate monitor, light turning auto-turn on for 8 seconds when rotating wrist.

Would be cool to see if others are having yours or mine experience with battery-drops.

0 derek87 over 2 years ago in reply to parentoft

good info. too bad it's not replicable. i've only had these sporadic drops a few occasions and i'm pretty sure its when i've left my phone on a particular settings page because normally, even with a 1hz watch face, my burn rate is about 5-6% (depends on face) for smart watch mode. i consistently use about 3%/hour for All Satellites.

overall, i'm super pleased with the battery life.

since i wrote the original post (22 hours ago according to the forum), i have used 4% using Big and Easy.

0 Cuba1hr over 2 years ago

I noticed battery drain for the first time on version 12.23 and android. MTB as an activity, Quatro as watchface. I installed SC8 watchface yesterday, but did not use it, changed immediately to Quatro. When I turned off and on the watch after the drain today - the watchface was SC8 again. BTW, I always turn on airplane mode after the activity so I don't sync it all the time.

0 S.M.R. over 2 years ago in reply to parentoft

1% over 12 Hours? Wow! I average around 0.6% per hour on average excluding activities.

Is that using the watch at all during that time or just with its standing around but connected to the phone.

0 parentoft over 2 years ago in reply to S.M.R.

I earlier had a week with some hiking. Started with 100% - Hiking mode-registration (GPS mode only)

First day : 4 hours
Second day: 3:45 hours, a run: 45 mins
Third day: 4 hours
fourth day: 4 hours
Fift day: 2,5 hours and 2 hours run.
Sixt day: 1 hour Swim (indoor pool mode)
Seventh Day: 1 hour Swim. (indoor pool mode).

Daily sync after every activity - several syncs to get the steps during the day / evening.

Total GPS: 21 hours - still with at battery left of 58% after seven days.

0 S.M.R. over 2 years ago in reply to parentoft

Ok so the trick is how the GC app is utilized . If it’s always open and syncing and used as smartwatch I guess it will use more than what you reflect ?

0 parentoft over 2 years ago in reply to S.M.R.

I my case I never Closes the Garmin Connect app, it is running in the background, just as all other apps that are being opened during a normal day (outlook, iPhone mailapp, Trainingpeeks, Strave, Companion, Home Assistant, Sonos and Spotify just to mention a few. I am using my phone just like everyone else except that I do not have the Facebook app installed.