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You can download apps from the App Store on your Apple Watch or install compatible iPhone apps through the paired iPhone’s Watch app. To organize the app screen, choose Grid or List view; Grid view also lets you arrange icons. Removing an app from the watch does not necessarily remove it from your iPhone.
Add apps to Apple Watch
There are two ways to add apps: download one directly on the watch, or install a compatible app that is already on your iPhone. Some apps require their iPhone version to be installed as well.
Download an app on the watch
- Open the App Store app on Apple Watch.
- Browse, or tap Search and enter an app name, category, or developer.
- 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.
- Double-click the side button to complete the purchase or download.
Cellular data charges may apply if you use cellular service. See Apple’s instructions for installing apps on Apple Watch.
Install an iPhone app on the watch
- On the paired iPhone, open the Watch app and go to My Watch.
- Find the app under Available Apps, then tap Install beside it.
Compatible iPhone apps may install on the watch automatically by default. To choose apps individually, turn off Automatic App Install in the Watch app’s General settings, then install apps from Available Apps. Labels and routes can vary between software versions.
#1 Best Overall
- 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
You can remove a watch app from the watch itself or manage its visibility from the paired iPhone. Removing the watch installation alone leaves the app on the iPhone; deleting an app from the iPhone also deletes it from the watch.
Remove an app on the watch
The controls depend on the app-screen view:
- Grid view: Press the Digital Crown to show the apps. Touch and hold an app until the icons jiggle, tap its Delete button, then confirm Delete App. Press the Digital Crown when finished.
- List view: Swipe left on the app and tap the trash button.
Apple notes that not all apps can be removed. If an app has no Delete button, you cannot delete it using this flow. Deleted apps, including built-in Apple apps that are available for download, can be downloaded again from the App Store on the iPhone or watch. See Apple’s app deletion instructions.
Rank #2
- 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.
Hide or remove a watch app using iPhone
- On the paired iPhone, open the Watch app and tap My Watch.
- Find the app in the installed apps section and tap it.
- Turn off Show App on Apple Watch to hide or remove the watch app. For an app available only on watchOS, choose Delete app on Apple Watch and confirm if that option appears.
Apple’s section names may differ across versions, but look for the setting that controls whether the app appears on Apple Watch. Deleting the app from the iPhone itself also removes it from the watch.
Choose Grid or List view
Grid view displays a field of icons and supports custom placement. List view displays apps alphabetically, so you can find one by scrolling through its name.
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- 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.*
- On Apple Watch, press the Digital Crown to reach the app screen.
- Scroll to the bottom and choose Grid View or List View.
You can also change the view on the watch by opening Settings, tapping App View, and selecting a view. Apple’s guide to organizing apps on Apple Watch covers both options.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Rearrange apps in Grid view
List view is alphabetical, so custom icon placement is available in Grid view.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 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
- 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.*
Arrange icons on Apple Watch
- Press the Digital Crown to open the Home Screen.
- Touch and hold an app, then drag it to the spot you want.
- Press the Digital Crown when you are done.
Arrange icons using iPhone
- On the paired iPhone, open the Watch app.
- Tap My Watch > App View > Arrangement.
- Touch and drag an icon to its new position.
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