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How to Add, Remove, and Organize Apps on Your Apple Watch

Install compatible apps from the watch or paired iPhone, remove them from the watch, and choose Grid or List view to make apps easier to find.
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Install apps from the App Store on your Apple Watch or from the paired iPhone’s Watch app. To remove an app only from the watch, delete or hide its watch installation; deleting the app from the iPhone also removes it from the watch. For a tidier app screen, choose Grid or List view, then arrange icons in Grid view.

Add apps to Apple Watch

You can download an app directly on the watch or install an iPhone app that has a compatible watch app. Some watch apps also require their iPhone version to be installed.

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Download from the watch

  1. Press the Digital Crown and open the App Store.
  2. Browse, or tap Search and enter an app name, category, or developer.
  3. Open the app listing. Tap Get for a free app, or tap the displayed price for a paid app. A Download button means you previously purchased the app and can download it again without charge.
  4. Double-click the side button to complete the purchase or download. Cellular data charges may apply if you use cellular service.

Apple’s instructions for downloading apps on the watch are in its Apple Watch user guide.

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Install an available iPhone app from the Watch app

  1. On the paired iPhone, open the Watch app and tap My Watch.
  2. Scroll to Available Apps.
  3. Tap Install beside the app you want on the watch.

Compatible iPhone apps may install on the watch automatically. To choose apps individually, open the Watch app on iPhone, go to My Watch > General, and turn off Automatic App Install. Menu wording or placement can vary between software versions.

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Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 46mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - M/L. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant
  • A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
  • KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
  • GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
  • SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
  • A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.

Remove an app from Apple Watch

Removing an app from the watch does not, by itself, delete the app from the paired iPhone. The available watch-side controls depend on whether the app screen is in Grid or List view.

Delete from the watch in Grid view

  1. Press the Digital Crown to show the Home Screen.
  2. Touch and hold an app until the icons jiggle, then tap its Delete button.
  3. If prompted, confirm Delete App. Press the Digital Crown when you are finished.

Delete from the watch in List view

  1. Press the Digital Crown to show the app list.
  2. Swipe left on the app, then tap the trash button.

Apple also documents managing an app from the paired iPhone: open the Watch app, tap My Watch, select the app, and turn off Show App on Apple Watch. For an app available only on watchOS, Apple documents a Delete app on Apple Watch option and a confirmation step. Labels may vary by watchOS version. See Apple’s instructions for deleting apps.

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Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 42mm] Smartwatch with Rose Gold Aluminum Case with Light Blush Sport Band - S/M. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant
  • A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
  • KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
  • GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
  • SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
  • A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.

Know what happens on iPhone

  • Deleting an app from the iPhone also deletes it from the Apple Watch.
  • Removing it from the watch alone leaves the iPhone app installed.
  • Not every built-in app can be removed; Apple notes, “Not all apps can be removed from Apple Watch.” If there is no Delete button, the documented removal flow is not available for that app.
  • Deleted apps, including built-in Apple apps, can be downloaded again from the App Store on the iPhone or Apple Watch.

Choose Grid or List view

Grid view displays a field of icons and lets you position them. List view displays app names alphabetically, making it easier to scan a straightforward list.

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  1. On the watch, press the Digital Crown to reach the app screen.
  2. Scroll to the bottom and choose Grid View or List View.

You can also change the view on the watch by opening Settings > App View and selecting Grid or List. Apple’s guidance on view choices and app arrangement is in its Apple Watch guide to organizing apps.

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Apple Watch SE 3 [GPS 40mm] Smartwatch with Starlight Aluminum Case with Starlight Sport Band - S/M. Fitness and Sleep Trackers, Heart Rate Monitor, Always-On Display, Water Resistant
  • GET SMARTER HEALTH INSIGHTS—Apple Watch SE 3 is an advanced health tracker that helps you better understand your body. The smartwatch sends alerts for an irregular heart rhythm, or an unusually high or low heart rate.* You can view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app,* track your sleep score, and get sleep apnea notifications.*
  • A GREAT FITNESS TRACKER—SE 3 can track your workouts in a healthy number of ways—from running and strength training to simply achieving your 10K steps a day. With real-time metrics and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone,* you’ll hit your goals like never before.
  • KEEP HELP CLOSE AT HAND—SE 3 is a smartwatch that can detect a hard fall or severe car crash and automatically help connect you to emergency services and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
  • WOMEN’S HEALTH INSIGHTS—SE 3 has advanced sensors that track your wrist temperature while you sleep. With this smartwatch, you can log your periods and symptoms, get period predictions, and get notified of cycle deviations.*
  • GREAT BATTERY LIFE AND FASTER CHARGING—Enjoy a smartwatch with all-day, 18-hour battery life* from sunup to sundown. Then charge up to twice as fast as SE 2* and get up to 8 hours of battery in just 15 minutes.*
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Rearrange apps in Grid view

List view is alphabetical, so custom placement is available in Grid view.

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Sale
Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 42mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - S/M. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant
  • A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
  • KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
  • GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
  • SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
  • A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.
Rank #4
Apple Watch SE 3 [GPS 40mm] Smartwatch with Midnight Aluminum Case with Midnight Sport Band - S/M. Fitness and Sleep Trackers, Heart Rate Monitor, Always-On Display, Water Resistant
  • GET SMARTER HEALTH INSIGHTS—Apple Watch SE 3 is an advanced health tracker that helps you better understand your body. The smartwatch sends alerts for an irregular heart rhythm, or an unusually high or low heart rate.* You can view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app,* track your sleep score, and get sleep apnea notifications.*
  • A GREAT FITNESS TRACKER—SE 3 can track your workouts in a healthy number of ways—from running and strength training to simply achieving your 10K steps a day. With real-time metrics and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone,* you’ll hit your goals like never before.
  • KEEP HELP CLOSE AT HAND—SE 3 is a smartwatch that can detect a hard fall or severe car crash and automatically help connect you to emergency services and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
  • WOMEN’S HEALTH INSIGHTS—SE 3 has advanced sensors that track your wrist temperature while you sleep. With this smartwatch, you can log your periods and symptoms, get period predictions, and get notified of cycle deviations.*
  • GREAT BATTERY LIFE AND FASTER CHARGING—Enjoy a smartwatch with all-day, 18-hour battery life* from sunup to sundown. Then charge up to twice as fast as SE 2* and get up to 8 hours of battery in just 15 minutes.*

Move icons on the watch

  1. Press the Digital Crown to show the Home Screen in Grid view.
  2. Touch and hold an app, then drag it to the position you want.
  3. Press the Digital Crown when you are done.

Arrange icons from iPhone

  1. Open the Watch app on the paired iPhone.
  2. Tap My Watch > App View > Arrangement.
  3. Touch and drag an app icon to move it.

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