Can I Charge My Apple Watch With My Iphone

So, there I was, sitting at the airport, my Apple Watch battery blinking like a strobe light, and my iPhone nestled snugly in my pocket. I'd forgotten my charger at home, and the thought of my smartwatch conking out mid-flight was enough to make me break into a cold sweat. I mean, who wants to be that person frantically asking strangers if they've got a charger they can spare?

Then it hit me. I've seen those ads, right? The ones where Apple's all like, "We're a family, we share everything, even batteries." So, I whipped out my iPhone, connected my watch, and held my breath. Was this the moment I'd finally get to witness the magic of Apple's ecosystem in action?

Can You Really Charge Your Apple Watch With Your iPhone?

Alright, let's cut to the chase. The short answer? Yes, you can. But hold your horses, because it's not as simple as it sounds.

What's This Magic Trick Called?

Apple's dubbed this feature "Battery Charging," which is about as creative as naming your kid "Baby." But I digress. This feature allows you to use your iPhone to charge your Apple Watch, provided you've got the right setup.

Now, before you start celebrating and planning your charger-free life, let me throw some cold water on your parade. This feature is only available on the iPhone 8 or later models. Sorry, iPhone 7 users, you're out of luck. And no, you can't use an Android phone to charge your Apple Watch. Apple's walled garden is pretty secure, folks.

How Does This Magic Trick Work?

So, you've got an iPhone 8 or later, and you're ready to give this a shot. Here's what you need to do:

How To Charge Apple Watch With iPhone - Full Guide - YouTube

1. Connect your Apple Watch to your iPhone using the Apple Watch charger cable.
2. Make sure your iPhone is unlocked and the screen is on.
3. Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
4. Tap the "General" tab, then tap "Battery."
5. Make sure "Wear Charge Notification" and "Power Reserve" are turned off.
6. Now, here's the magic part. Your iPhone will start charging your Apple Watch. You should see a charging icon on your watch face.

And that's it! Well, almost. Here's where the magic starts to fade a little.

Why This Magic Trick Isn't As Magical As It Seems

First off, this isn't a quick fix. Charging your Apple Watch this way is painfully slow. We're talking "watching paint dry" slow. Apple estimates it could take up to 90 minutes to charge your watch from 0% to 80%, and that's with your iPhone plugged in and charging too.

Secondly, this trick only works when your iPhone is plugged in. You can't just use your iPhone's battery to charge your watch. That would be too magical, I guess.

4 Ways to Charge Your Apple Watch (Including With iPhone)

Lastly, this feature isn't designed for regular use. Apple's official stance is that you should use this feature "in case of emergency." So, if you're planning on ditching your Apple Watch charger, think again.

So, Should You Try This Magic Trick?

Look, I get it. We've all been there. You're out and about, your watch is dying, and you've got nothing but your iPhone to save the day. In a pinch, this feature could be a lifesaver. But as a daily habit? Nah, it's not worth it.

Here's my advice. Keep your Apple Watch charger with you. It's small, it's light, and it's the easiest way to keep your watch powered up. And if you're really worried about running out of juice, invest in a portable charger. There are plenty of options out there that can charge both your iPhone and your Apple Watch.

But hey, if you're stuck at the airport, and you've got nothing but your iPhone, give this trick a shot. Just don't be surprised if it takes longer than a layover in Dallas.