4 Different Ways to Charge Apple Watch Without Its Charger
What if you forgot to charge your Apple Watch and do not have access to its regular charger? What are some alternative ways of charging it?
Well, you can charge an Apple Watch with the iPhone’s Magsafe charger, even if you do not have its usual charger. Plus there are some other wireless chargers that can also help you do this.
So, let’s look at the different ways you can charge your Apple Watch and bring it back to life again.
What Is the Recommended Way of Charging An Apple Watch?
The recommended way to charge an Apple watch is by using the cable supplied with its box.
Just plug in the cable to the charging brick and attach the magnetic end of the cable to the Apple Watch. Make sure that the concave end lines up perfectly with the watch’s back.
You should see a green bolt that visualizes your watch charging successfully.
There are two different versions of the magnetic charging cable for the Apple Watch.
You either get a Type C or a lightning cable. For your reference, the Series 7 and 8 ships with a Type C cable, while the earlier models came with a lighting cable.
You can use any charging brick that outputs at 5 watts to charge an Apple Watch. But to enjoy its fast charging capability, you will need the 20 W brick sold by Apple.
Can You Charge an Apple Watch Without Its Charger?
Actually, the answer is both yes and no.
An Apple watch only charges using a verified wireless charger. That means it is compatible with the MagSafe line of chargers for the iPhone.
But it does not support the QI charging standard that is used by the majority of other smartwatches. So it will not charge with just any other wireless chargers.
But there are charging pads supported by the Apple Watch. This includes the official MagSafe duo charger and third-party party models, which Apple officially verifies. So, if you have one of those at your disposal, you can actually charge your Apple Watch.
4 Alternative Ways to Charge an Apple Watch
We assume that you don’t have the Apple Watch’s magnetic charger. So now you have two ways to charge your watch.
The first is to use any MagSafe cable for your iPhone. The second is to use a charging pad that is certified to work with an Apple Watch.
Any solution that is mentioned on the internet uses either of these two methods.
You may have come across a funky keychain charger that charges an Apple Watch. Guess what? It is basically a wireless charging pad in disguise.
Now that you know which chargers can actually charge your Apple Watch, let’s look at the different ways you can use the cables to charge the Apple Watch.
1. Using Your iPhone /MagSafe Charger
As we already said, a MagSafe charger is totally compatible with your Apple Watch. And you can fast charge with it too. A MagSafe charger can provide up to 12 Watts, which can quickly charge your Apple Watch.
Just place the MagSafe magnetic end below your Apple Watch, and it should snap in place. Now connect the charging brick to the mains, and it should start charging the Apple Watch.
So, if you have MagSafe accessories from third-party manufacturers, that should work with the watch without any hitch.
2. Use Third-party Charging Pad
These are wireless chargers that are manufactured by companies other than Apple. But do not get stressed, as Apple certifies these to be used to charge your Apple Watch.
There are two types of charging pads for the Apple Watch.
- Multi-device chargers
The Apple MagSafe Duo or the Belkin Boost Charge Pro 3-in-1 enables you to charge your iPhone along with the Apple Watch.
The magnetic strap required for the Watch face comes built-in, so you do not have to carry its charging cable. Just place the Watch on the circular pad, and you are good to go.
- Dedicated Apple Watch Charger
Single chargers exist for the Apple Watch, where you only have one charging station. Most of these only support the Apple Watch and are priced reasonably too.
Scosche’s BaseLynx Watch Charger is a great-looking product that charges your Apple Watch while maintaining aesthetics as well.
- Snap-in Watch Charger
These are very similar to the Scosche’s above, but they have one specialty in them. These units are extremely portable, and you can plug them into a Type-C port.
So, basically, using these, you can charge the Watch with your laptop. The Watch rests over the charging pad while it is connected to your laptop.
The Satechi USB-C Watch charger can even charge your AirPods along with the Apple Watch. So, if you are someone who forgets to top up their devices during the night, it is a fantastic accessory to own.
3. Using a Power Bank
As Apple Watch has become popular, manufacturers have started making portable batteries that natively charge it.
That means when you are in a place with no nearby power outlets, these will handily charge the Apple Watch on the go. Being a power bank, it will also charge your iPhone too.
Belkin’s Boost Charge Pro 3 is a device that will charge your Apple Watch on the go.
You get a dedicated cutout where the Apple Watch can sit snugly. And it removes the hassle of carrying an extra cable for the Apple Watch.
4. Using your MacBook’s Type-C Ports
Now this option assumes that you already have the Apple Watch charging cable, the Type-C one specifically. Then you can easily plug it into any USB port on your Mac, and the watch should start charging.
This hack is helpful if you have lost the default charging brick for your Apple Watch.
Is it Safe to Charge Apple Watch Without Recommended Charger?
Apple recommends you use the dedicated cable to charge an Apple Watch. But even if you use certified devices from other manufacturers, it is totally safe to charge your Apple Watch. As long as the device is certified by Apple, you should be okay.
But I will say this. Many cheaper charging cables and devices exist which claim to charge the Apple Watch. I would seriously take their claim with a grain of salt because you do not know if these devices are using the right current and voltages.
And that can seriously damage the Apple Watch on a long-term basis. So, go to Apple’s website, which shows a curated collection of wireless chargers for its devices, and choose your product from there.
Frequently Asked Questions
As your Apple Watch is very dear to you, you may have some questions related to its charging. These queries arise from a user’s point of view. So I have tried to answer them below.
Is there another way to charge an Apple Watch?
Yes, another way to charge an Apple Watch involves a MagSafe-certified charger, which will not require its charging cable. You can also use a compact Type-C charging pad for your Apple Watch.
Can I charge my Apple Watch with my iPhone charger?
If you use a MagSafe-based charger for your iPhone, then yes that can charge your Apple Watch too. Just place the back of the Watch face over the wireless charger, and the charging should start.
Can you charge an Apple Watch with a Samsung Watch charger?
Actually, no. A Samsung Watch charger uses the QI standard, while the Apple Watch uses MagSafe. Even though it may seem like a regular wireless charger, a Samsung charger will not charge an Apple Watch.
Can you charge an Apple Watch with any wireless charger?
No, an Apple Watch will only charge with its dedicated cable or a MagSafe charger. This is because the charging pins on an Apple Watch are different from the other smartwatches, so any other wireless charger will not work.
Can I charge an Apple Watch with a lightning cable?
No, a normal USB lightning cable will not be able to charge an Apple Watch. But earlier versions of the watch shipped with a magnetic cable with one end as a lightning cable. Those can be used with the older iPhone power bricks that have a lightning port.
Conclusion
This article aims to clear your confusion about whether using a different charger for your Apple Watch is okay. And if you use one specifically designed for the Apple Watch, it is perfectly fine to do so.
If you ask me, I will recommend you use the MagSafe charger. It is totally compatible with Apple Watch, with fast charging capability, and you do not need to pay any extra bucks if you already own an iPhone 12 or later.
So, that’s everything, I guess. Do comment below and let us know if you have any queries.