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How to Remove Apps from Apple Watch

How to easily get those third-party apps off your wrist

By Rob LeFebvre Rob LeFebvre Associate Editorial Director, News UCLA California State University, Northridge Rob LeFebvre is the Associate Editorial Director, News for Lifewire. He has been a technology writer for more than 12 years with articles appearing in 148Apps, Cult of Mac, Engadget, and more. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on May 31, 2022 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Smart Watches & Wearables Eco Tech Electric Vehicles Working From Home Headphones & Ear Buds Smart Home Smart Watches & Wearables Travel Tech Connected Car Tech iPods & MP3 Players

What to Know

On Apple Watch: Press the digital crown. Tap and hold an app icon (or name in list view) until it wiggles.Then, tap the X on the app to delete it. Confirm by tapping Delete App.On iPhone Watch app. Scroll to the 3rd-party app section and tap an app. Toggle Show App on Apple Watch to off. This article explains two methods for removing apps from an Apple Watch: one on the watch itself and one using the Watch app on the iPhone.

How to Delete Apps on Apple Watch Directly

Once you’ve installed apps on your Apple Watch, there are two simple ways to delete them should you decide you no longer want them on your wrist. You can use your iPhone’s Watch app, or you can delete directly from your Apple Watch itself. Here's how to delete apps on the watch. Press the Digital Crown to bring up the apps on your Apple Watch. If you’re using List View, you’ll see a list instead of a grid. Find the app you want to delete. You can swipe around the face itself with a finger or turn the Digital Crown to shrink or enlarge the app icons. If you’re in List View, scroll up and down the list to find the app you want to delete. Once you can see the app you’re deleting, tap and hold its icon (or its name in List View) until it starts to wiggle, and you see a big X in the upper left-hand corner of the icon. This will look familiar if you’ve deleted apps from your iPhone or iPad before. Tap the X to delete the app, then confirm the action with a tap on the Delete App button. You can then delete other apps the same way, or you can click the Digital Crown to take the Apple Watch out of this mode. If you want to move apps around, you can do so while the icons have an X on them. You cannot remove stock apps from Apple Watch at this time.

How to Remove Apps From Apple Watch on your iPhone

This used to be the way you had to manage your apps for Apple Watch. Now it’s just a different way to do so. Launch the Watch app on your iPhone. Scroll down past the Apple-supplied apps to the third-party apps section. You cannot uninstall first-party Apple apps from your Apple Watch. Tap an app you want to delete. Toggle the Show App on Apple Watch switch to Gray/White. A little message will appear underneath, saying Uninstalling. When the message disappears, the app is deleted from your Apple Watch. If you want to put the app back on your Apple Watch, return to the Watch app, scroll past the apps that are already on your watch to the Available Apps section. Tap the Install button to the right of the app you want to reinstall on your Apple Watch. Wait for the familiar circle around a square icon to finish spinning. If you change your mind while reinstalling, tap the square to stop the reinstall.

Turn off Automatic App Install

If you’re finding that you don’t want all the Apple Watch-enabled apps from your iPhone ending up on your Apple Watch (the default setting), you can turn it off and install apps manually via the new Apple Watch App Store or your iPhone. Launch the Watch app on your iPhone. Make sure the My Watch tab is selected at the bottom left. Tap General to go to the settings you need. Tap the toggle switch to the right of Automatic App Install to turn it off. The green button will turn to gray/white. Now you won’t have every app you put on your iPhone appearing on your Apple Watch, saving you clutter and space (for apps you want, music, or photos). Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Delete Apps From Your iPhone How to Unpair Apple Watch Can You Delete the Apps That Come With the iPhone? How to Reset Your Apple Watch How to Close Apps on an Apple Watch How to Activate Your Apple Watch Step Counter How to Set Alarm on Apple Watch What Is the 'i' Icon on the Apple Watch? How to Use Maps on the Apple Watch How to Fix an Apple Watch That Won't Turn On How to Silence Your Apple Watch How to Use Apple Watch With Siri How to Hide the Red Dot on Apple Watch How to Zoom In and Out on Apple Watch How to Delete Apps on an Amazon Fire Tablet How to Use WhatsApp on Your Apple Watch Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies