After WW1, New York transferred to the pacific Fleet in San Diego where she spent the next 16 years training off the west coast and Hawaii returning to the Atlantic and Caribbean for brief missions or overhauls.
Considered obsolete by 1926, New York went to Norfolk Navy yard for a complete refit to increase their speed, armor, armament, and propulsion systems. The cage mast was replaced with a tripod mast, a catapult was added to the top of the #3 Midship turret and cranes to handle ships boats and aircraft.
Upon completion of her Refit, New York returned to the Pacific Fleet until 1937
Returning to the Atlantic in 1937 New York sailed to Great Britain for the coronation of King George VI of England, and took part in the Grand Naval Review of 20 May 1937. New York was used to train Naval Academy midshipmen and other prospective officers with cruises to Europe, Canada, and the Caribbean.
Prior to the U.S. entrance into World War II, New York participated in the Neutrality Patrol and escorted convoys to Great Britain and troop ships delivering garrison forces to Iceland. New York was in the midst of another modernization at the time of the Pearl Harbor attack.

After the Pearl Harbor attack, New York returned to duty escorting cargo and troop ships to Iceland and Scotland
In November 1942, New York saw her first major action during the Allied invasion of North Africa (Operation Torch) attacking Safi harbor in Morocco and shore batteries at Point De La Tour in support of landings by the U.S. 9th Infantry Division. She then stood by at Casablanca and Fedhala remaining off North Africa until the beaches were secure before returning home for convoy duty escorting men and supplies to North Africa.
In early 1943, New York underwent her final refit, increasing her anti-aircraft armament improving her fire control. From mid 1943 until mid 1944, she was then used to train thousands of enlisted men and officers on the ships weapons platforms. Upon completion of training duties, se was sent to the Naval Academy and used for midshipmen cruise from June to August 1944.

In late 1944 she was selected to return to the Pacific,transiting the Panama Canal in Late November en route to Long Beach. After refresher training in December and January, New York departed to rendezvoused with other "older" battleships forming a support force for the invasion of Iwo Jima. After a brief stop to repair a Screw, New York returned to the group near Saipan, then arrived of Iwo Jima on February 16th. During the three day Pre-invasion bombardment, New York suceeded in hitting the island's main Ammunition dump causing a tremendous explosion.

New York Sailed to Ulithi and then Manus to repair her damaged Propellor, finally rejoining Task Force 54 at Ulithi in late March to prepare for the Invasion of Okinawa. From March 27th thorough June 11th New York Participated in operations off Okinawa, first in pre-invasion bombardment then as naval artillery support of ground troops.
During this time, New York received superficial damage from a Kamikaze attack. New York departed the Okinawa area for Pearl Harbor to have her worn out gun barrels replaced stopping by Leyte Gulf on the way. She was still in Pearl Harbor when the Japanese Surendered in August, ending the war.

New York left Pearl Harbor in early september for the west coast, with a load of veterans as part of Magic Carpet, arriving in California on September 9th. From there, she sailed to New York to take part in the Navy Day celebration.

Classified obsolete New York chosen to take part in the Operation Crossroads nuclear weapon tests at Bikini Atoll in 1946.
She survived both explosions and the effects of radiation on the ship were studied for several years. She was eventually sunk as a target in 1948. She received three battle stars for her service.