The Microsoft Band 2 has an advertised battery life of 48 hours, but that can vary depending on your settings, usage, and other factors. For example, using the GPS during exercise can significantly drain the battery. If you want to extend the battery life on your Microsoft Band 2, we have some tips that can help you out. These tips include turning off some features, so read carefully.
1. Turn off GPS when it's not necessary
When you start a run or a bike ride, you can enable or disable the GPS. If you turn off the GPS, the Microsoft Health app can't show you a map of your run or ride, but it will save battery life. It is recommended to disable the GPS for activities such as stationary biking, running on a treadmill, dancing, and racquetball.
2. Turn on Airplane Mode or turn off Bluetooth to stop auto-sync
While your phone is connected to the Internet and connected to your Microsoft Band 2 via Bluetooth, data is synchronized about every thirty minutes. You can turn off Bluetooth when you don't want your Band to sync automatically. On your Band, go to Settings (gear icon) > Airplane to turn Airplane mode on. Alternatively, you can go to Settings (gear icon) > Bluetooth to turn off the Bluetooth. (Note: I can't figure out the difference between these two settings. They both turn off Bluetooth.)
3. Lower the screen brightness
You can change the screen brightness of your Microsoft Band 2. On your Band, go to Settings (gear icon) > Tools (gear icon) > Brightness. The default is Medium, but I've changed it to Auto. You can change this to low for more battery life.
4. Choose a lower vibration level
Your Microsoft Band vibrates when you receive notifications. It's on Medium by default. You can change it to Low. Go to Settings > Tools > Haptic Alert Levels and change to Low. It vibrates after selecting an option so you can feel if it might be too weak.
5. Turn off Watch Mode
We recommend setting Watch mode to Rotate On as one of the first things you should do with the Microsoft Band. If you already wear another watch or rather check the time on your phone, you can leave it to Off. This is the default option. You can also still check the time by pressing the power button on your Band 2. You can change the settings in Settings > Watch (clock icon).
6. Turn on Do Not Disturb
If you're too busy to care about notifications, turn on Do Not Disturb. Calls, messages, and other data are still downloaded to your Band, but you won't receive notifications when they arrive. Go to Settings > Do Not Disturb.
7. Turn off Daily Heart Rate
This is a major feature that we recommend leaving on, but you can turn off Daily Heart Rate measurements to extend the battery life on the Microsoft Band 2. The Band 2 monitors your heart rate day and night to measure your calories burned. Estimates of your calories burned will be less precise while the Daily Heart Rate monitor is turned off, but it automatically turns back on when you're tracking a run, a bike ride, a workout, or your sleep. Go to Settings > Tools > Daily Heart Rate to change the setting.
8. Turn off the display during a run, bike ride, or workout
When tracking a run, bike ride, or workout, the display on the Microsoft Band 2 stays on to show your stats. You can save battery life by pressing the power button to turn off the display. Press the power button again when you want to check the stats.
Battery life vs. features
These 8 tips will extend the battery life on your Microsoft Band 2, but you'll lose out on some features. Will you be following all or some of these tips? Do you have more to add? Sound off in the comments!
