How to Delete Apps on Apple Watch

Deleting apps from your Apple Watch frees up storage space and removes clutter from the Home Screen and app list. You can remove apps directly on the watch itself, or manage them from the Watch app on your iPhone. This guide covers both methods, including how to handle Apple’s built-in apps and what to do when an app refuses to delete.

What You’ll Need

• Your Apple Watch (any model running watchOS 6 or later)
• Your paired iPhone (for the iPhone method)
• The Apple Watch app installed on your iPhone (it comes pre-installed)
• Your watch passcode, if you have one enabled

Step-by-Step

Method 1: Delete Directly on the Apple Watch

1. Press the Digital Crown to go to the Home Screen (the grid of app icons).
2. Locate the app you want to remove. You can scroll with your finger or rotate the Digital Crown to zoom out and see all apps at once.
3. Press and hold the app icon until the icons start to jiggle. On watchOS 10 and later, you may see a small “x” appear in the corner of the icon; on older versions, the icons simply wiggle.
4. Tap the “x” on the app icon. A confirmation prompt will appear asking if you want to delete the app.
5. Tap Delete App (or just Delete on some versions).
6. Press the Digital Crown to stop the jiggling and return to normal mode.

Method 2: Delete Using the iPhone Watch App

1. Unlock your iPhone and open the Watch app (the icon looks like a watch face).
2. Tap the My Watch tab at the bottom of the screen.
3. Scroll down and tap Installed on Apple Watch (on older watchOS versions, it may be labeled just “Installed”).
4. You’ll see a list of all apps currently on your watch. Find the app you want to remove.
5. Tap the app name to open its settings page.
6. Tap Delete App at the bottom (in red text).
7. Confirm by tapping Delete App again in the pop-up. The app will be removed from your watch.

Method 3: Remove Apps from the Dock (watchOS 7 and later)

1. Press the side button (the flat button below the Digital Crown) to open the Dock.
2. Scroll to the app you want to remove from the Dock.
3. Swipe left on the app’s preview card.
4. Tap the red Remove button. This removes it from the Dock but does not delete the app itself.

Common Mistakes

• Confusing “Remove from Dock” with “Delete”: Swiping left on an app in the Dock only removes it from that list. The app stays installed on your watch.
• Deleting the iPhone app instead: If you delete an app from your iPhone that also has a watch version, it may automatically remove the watch version too. Make sure you’re working in the Watch app if you only want to remove it from the watch.
• Forgetting that some apps are pre-installed: Apple’s built-in apps (like Heart, Messages, or Workout) cannot be fully deleted. You can only remove them from the Home Screen view in some cases, but they remain on the watch.
• Not checking storage afterward: Deleting a small app may not free up much space. If your goal is storage, check Settings > General > Storage on the watch to see what’s taking up the most room.
• Assuming the watch needs to be on the charger: You can delete apps anytime, even when the watch is not charging.

Tips

• Use the iPhone method for bulk removal: The Watch app on your iPhone lets you see all installed apps in one list, making it much faster to remove several at once.
• Reinstall is easy: Deleting an app doesn’t remove your purchase or data stored in iCloud. You can reinstall it later from the App Store on the watch or by toggling it back on in the iPhone Watch app under “Available Apps.”
• Restart after deletion: If the watch feels sluggish after removing apps, restart it by holding the side button and swiping to power off, then turning it back on.
• Check for companion apps: Some watch apps are companions to iPhone apps. If you delete the watch app but keep the iPhone one, the watch app may reappear after a sync. To prevent this, you may need to disable “Install on Apple Watch” in the Watch app settings for that specific app.
• Use List View: If you have many apps, switch the Home Screen to List View (press and hold the screen, tap the “i” icon, then choose List View). This makes finding and deleting apps easier.

Troubleshooting

The “x” doesn’t appear when I press and hold an app icon.
Make sure you’re pressing firmly enough and holding for about one second. If you’re using a watch with Force Touch (Series 4 and earlier), press a little harder. On newer models, a simple long press works. If it still doesn’t work, restart your watch.

The app reappears after I delete it.
This usually happens with companion apps. Open the Watch app on your iPhone, go to the app’s settings (under “Installed on Apple Watch”), and turn off the toggle for “Show App on Apple Watch” or “Install on Apple Watch.” Then delete it again from the watch.

I can’t find the app in the list on my iPhone.
Make sure your iPhone and watch are paired and within Bluetooth range. Open the Watch app and wait a few seconds for it to sync. If the app still doesn’t appear, it may be a watch-only app that was installed directly. In that case, delete it from the watch itself.

Deleting an app doesn’t free up storage.
Some apps store data (like music or photos) that isn’t removed when you delete the app. Go to Settings > General > Storage on your watch to see what’s using space. You may need to delete music playlists or photos separately.

The watch says “Cannot Delete” for a specific app.
Apple’s built-in apps (like Heart, Maps, or Wallet) cannot be deleted. You can only hide them from the Home Screen in some cases. To do this, press and hold the icon, tap “Edit,” and then tap the minus sign or “Remove” to hide it. The app remains installed but is out of sight.

After deleting, the watch is stuck on the Apple logo.
This is rare but can happen if the watch is low on storage. Force restart by holding both the side button and Digital Crown for at least 10 seconds until the Apple logo appears and disappears. If it persists, unpair and re-pair the watch from your iPhone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete all apps from my Apple Watch?
No. Apple’s core apps (like Settings, Messages, and Phone) cannot be deleted. You can remove third-party apps and some Apple apps, but the essential system apps stay.

Will deleting an app on my watch delete it from my iPhone?
No. Deleting the watch version does not affect the iPhone app. However, deleting the iPhone app may remove the watch companion app automatically if they are linked.

How do I reinstall a deleted app?
Open the App Store on your watch and search for the app, or go to the Watch app on your iPhone, scroll to “Available Apps,” and tap the install icon next to the app you want back.

Do I need to update watchOS before deleting apps?
No. App deletion has been available since watchOS 6. If you have an older version, update your watch first for best results.

Why can’t I delete the Workout or Heart app?
These are built-in Apple apps that are essential to the watch’s core functions. They cannot be removed, but you can hide them from the Home Screen by pressing and holding the icon and selecting “Remove from Home Screen.”

Does deleting apps improve battery life?
Potentially, if an app is running background tasks or refreshing frequently. However, the impact is usually small. If battery life is a concern, check Settings > Battery on the watch to see which apps use the most power.

Related

• Check Linux Spectre v2 Mitigations: Step-by-Step
• Old Phone Robot: Secure & Prep Guide
• iOS 18 Apps Crashing? Fixes That Work