Tracking a round uses GPS continuously, so Hole19 is more demanding on your battery than most apps. This article covers what to check and what to change so your battery lasts all 18 holes.
Why the Battery Drains During a Round
Hole19 keeps your GPS position live for the whole round so distances stay accurate as you walk. That is what makes the yardages work, and it is also the main reason a round is harder on the battery than normal phone use.
How much it costs you depends far more on your device than on the app. Battery health is the biggest single factor, and an older battery will struggle with a four-hour round even if everything else is set up perfectly.
Check Your Battery Health
On iPhone. Go to Settings, tap Battery, then Battery Health & Charging. The Maximum Capacity percentage shows how your battery compares to when it was new. A low percentage is the most common reason a round cuts out early. You can also see whether Peak Performance Capability is on, or whether the battery needs servicing.
Apple explains the numbers in iPhone battery and performance.
On your Apple Watch. The same information is in the Settings app on your watch, under Battery. Apple's guide is Apple Watch battery and performance.
On Android. Some devices, including Samsung Galaxy phones, show battery health under Settings, then Device Care, then Battery. The exact path varies by manufacturer, so if you cannot find it, check your device maker's support site.
If your battery health is low, replacing the battery usually solves this. If your device is too old to run the current version of Hole19 at all, see What devices does Hole19 work on? for the versions we support.
Save Battery on iPhone
- Lower your screen brightness, or turn on Auto-Brightness in Settings > Display & Brightness. This makes more difference on a bright day than a cloudy one.
- Use Wi-Fi rather than cellular where you can. Wi-Fi uses less battery.
- Keep your phone up to date in Settings > General > Software Update.
- Check whether other apps are tracking your heart rate, steps or other health information in the background.
- Check whether other apps are using GPS in the background. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services and look at the colour of the arrow beside each app, which tells you when it last used your location.
Save Battery on Android
- Turn off Adaptive Brightness so you control the screen yourself. It is in Settings > Display > Adaptive Brightness.
- Use Wi-Fi rather than cellular where you can.
-
Keep your apps and your Android version up to date in Settings > Software Update.
Playing With Your Apple Watch
Using GPS on your Apple Watch increases battery consumption noticeably. A full 18-hole round uses 60-70% of your watch's battery on Watch OS 10 and above.
Keep your iPhone in your pocket during the round. If your phone is in your bag or on the cart, the two devices lose each other and keep searching for a connection, which drains both batteries. Keeping the phone on you gets the best out of the watch app, battery included.
For everything the watch app can do, see Using Hole19 on Apple Watch with Premium. If the watch and phone keep disconnecting, see Troubleshooting Connection - Smartwatches.
Still Running Out of Battery?
If you have worked through everything above and a round still drains your battery, contact our team and tell us your device model, your OS version and roughly how far into the round it happens. That is usually enough for us to spot the cause.
Comments