If you are one of the lucky ones to be able to snag a Microsoft Band, then congratulations. For those of you who have yet to purchase a Microsoft Band, read on as we explore the device in a new feature we like to call “help series.” This helpful set of features offers new owners of a particular product the chance to learn about key device features. You can even learn some exciting tips or tricks to make the most out of your new device.
In the first part of this series, we explored how to pair your new Microsoft Band to your Windows Phone. Now, lets explore how to extend your battery life. Microsoft promises up to 48 hours on a single charge, which can seem pretty weak when you really think about it. Let’s make it last a bit longer.
- When you go for a run, turn off GPS. This can drain your battery. However, if you want your Microsoft Health app to show you a map of your run, then keep GPS enabled. GPS uses a lot of battery power so make sure you have your Band fully charged before going for a run with GPS enabled.
- You can always turn on Airplane mode. This mode will turn off Bluetooth, helping you save some battery life.
- Go into settings and adjust your haptic level. In other words, choose a lower vibration setting. You can also reduce the number of notifications you receive.
- You can also adjust the screen brightness setting. The lower the setting, the better you can increase your battery life.
- You can also turn off Daily Heart Rate, which will disable the continual monitoring that is used to calculate the calories you burn all day long. If you don’t care for this feature, turning it off will help boost your battery life. Your heart rate will still be monitored during sessions you measure, such as workouts and sleep.
- You can increase battery life by disabling Watch Mode. By having it off, your Band will not be continuously displaying the time, eating up the battery. However, if you press the power button to display the Me tile, you can still see the time.
- Enable Do Not Disturb mode, which disables notifications of calls, messages, and other data (but it doesn’t stop them from getting downloaded to your Band).
Unfortunately, extending the battery life on your Band requires you to make certain sacrifices with features. For those of you who are willing to disable a feature or two during certain times, you can definitely increase your battery life by a few extra hours. However, if you choose to keep all the above settings enabled, you will get up to 48 hours of battery life. Depending on how much you use the device, you could be plugging in your device for a charge sooner than you think.
Have any Microsoft Band battery tips? Share them in the comments below.
