Learning how to exit apps on Apple Watch is a fundamental skill for managing your device. Closing applications on the Apple Watch is achieved by pressing the side button to view the app switcher. This simple action helps keep your watch running smoothly and saves battery life.
Many users think apps close automatically, but they often remain active in the background. Knowing the proper way to quit them can improve performance. This guide covers every method, from basic to advanced.
We will also explain when you should and shouldn’t force-close apps. Let’s get started with the primary technique.
How To Exit Apps On Apple Watch
The standard method for exiting apps uses the app switcher. This is similar to how you switch between apps on an iPhone. It’s the quickest way to close one or several applications at once.
Follow these steps to close any app using this method.
Step By Step Guide Using The Side Button
This process involves just a couple of button presses. Make sure your watch screen is awake before you begin.
- Press the side button (the oblong button below the Digital Crown). This opens the app switcher, showing previews of your recently used apps.
- Swpie left or right with your finger to navigate through the open apps. Find the app card you want to close.
- Swipe up on the app’s preview card. Flick it upward off the top of the screen.
- The app card will dissapear, indicating the app is now closed. You can repeat this for other apps.
- Press the Digital Crown or tap a blank area to exit the app switcher and return to your watch face.
If you don’t see the app switcher when pressing the side button, your settings might be different. We’ll cover that in a later section.
What If The Side Button Doesn’t Work?
Sometimes the side button might be unresponsive or assigned to a different function. Here are a few troubleshooting tips.
- Restart Your Apple Watch: Hold the side button until you see the Power Off slider, then drag it. After the watch turns off, hold the side button again to turn it back on.
- Check for Software Updates: Outdated software can cause glitches. Open the Watch app on your iPhone, go to General > Software Update.
- Clean the Button: Gently clean around the side button with a dry, lint-free cloth. Debris can sometimes prevent a proper press.
If the button is physically damaged, you may need to contact Apple Support. There is also an alternative method to close apps without the button.
Using AssistiveTouch To Exit Apps
For users with mobility challenges, or if your side button is broken, AssistiveTouch provides a touch-free or gesture-based alternative. You need to enable this feature first.
Enabling AssistiveTouch
- Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
- Tap Accessibility, then select AssistiveTouch.
- Turn on AssistiveTouch.
Closing Apps With AssistiveTouch
Once enabled, a floating menu appears on screen. You can use hand gestures to control it.
- Activate the menu by double-pinching your fingers together.
- Navigate to Actions > App Switcher.
- Use gestures to scroll and select the app you want to close.
- Perform the “Swipe Up” gesture (a quick fist clench) to close the selected app.
This method is very useful but can take some practice to master. It’s a great backup option for everyone to know about.
Understanding The App Switcher And Background Apps
It’s important to understand what happens when you “exit” an app. The Apple Watch, like the iPhone, manages memory efficiently. Apps you haven’t used recently are automatically suspended.
Do Apps Really Close Completely?
When you swipe an app away in the app switcher, you force it to close. However, if you just press the Digital Crown to leave an app, it may remain in a paused state in the background. This isn’t usually a problem.
Background app refresh allows some apps to update content periodically. You can control this to save battery.
- On your Apple Watch, go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh.
- You can turn it off globally or for specific apps.
Constantly force-closing all apps isn’t necessary and can even make your watch slower. The system is designed to manage them effectively.
When Should You Force Close Apps?
There are specific times when force-closing is the right solution. Look for these signs.
- An app is frozen and not responding to taps.
- An app is causing significant battery drain.
- An app is behaving erratically or displaying incorrect information.
- You want to ensure an app is not running in the background for privacy reasons.
For daily use, simply pressing the Digital Crown to return to the watch face is sufficient. You don’t need to close every app after using it.
Alternative Methods To Quit Applications
Beyond the app switcher, there are a couple other ways to exit an app. These can be faster in certain situations.
Returning To The Watch Face
The simplest way to leave an app is to go back to your watch face. This doesn’t force-close the app, but it suspends it.
- While in any app, press the Digital Crown once. This will immidiately take you to your watch face.
- If you press the Digital Crown from the watch face, it opens the app grid instead.
This is the method you’ll use most often. It’s quick and preserves your place in the app if you return to it soon.
Using Siri To Open Another App
You can effectively exit one app by asking Siri to open a different one. This is a hands-free method.
Just raise your wrist and say “Hey Siri, open [App Name].” Siri will close the current app and launch the one you requested. This is more about switching than closing, but it gets you out of the app you were in.
Managing Open Apps And Watch Performance
Keeping too many apps open in the switcher can occasionally impact older Apple Watch models. Regular management is a good habit.
How To View All Open Apps
You already know the main way: press the side button. The app switcher shows the most recent apps. It’s not a complete list of every running process, but it shows the ones you’ve interacted with.
Scrolling through this list gives you a good idea of what’s currently active. If you see an app you used hours ago, you might want to swipe it closed.
Improving Battery Life And Speed
While force-closing apps isn’t a magic solution for battery, managing them can help. Here are effective tips.
- Close memory-intensive apps like Maps or Streaming audio apps after use.
- Reduce background app refresh for apps that don’t need constant updates.
- Restart your watch weekly to clear temporary system data.
- Keep your watchOS updated for the latest performance optimizations.
If your watch feels laggy, checking the app switcher is a good first step. Sometimes a simple restart is more effective than closing apps individually.
Common Problems And Solutions
You might encounter specific issues when trying to exit apps. Here’s how to solve the most frequent ones.
App Won’t Close In The Switcher
If you swipe up on an app card and it doesn’t close, try these steps.
- Ensure you are swiping straight up from the bottom edge of the card. A diagonal swipe might not register.
- Restart your Apple Watch as described earlier.
- Check if the app is currently updating or loading. Wait a moment and try again.
Persistent problems might require you to uninstall and reinstall the problematic app from your iPhone’s Watch app.
Side Button Opens Wallet Instead
By default, double-clicking the side button opens Apple Pay (Wallet). If a single press opens it, your settings are customized.
To change it back:
- Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
- Go to Settings > General > Accessibility.
- Tap on Side Button.
- Change the “Press Speed” setting to “Default”.
This should restore the single-press function to the app switcher. The double-press function for Wallet is very convenient for payments.
FAQ Section
Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about exiting apps on your Apple Watch.
How Do I Close All Apps At Once On Apple Watch?
Unlike the iPhone, there is no gesture to close all apps simultaneously on the Apple Watch. You must swipe up on each app card individually in the app switcher. It’s generally not recommended to do this regularly, as it doesn’t provide a significant benefit.
Does Closing Apps On Apple Watch Save Battery?
It can save a small amount of battery if you close an app that is actively running in the background, like a workout or music app. For most other apps, the savings are minimal because suspended apps use negligible power. Managing Background App Refresh settings is more effective for battery savings.
What Is The Difference Between The Digital Crown And Side Button?
The Digital Crown primarily navigates: it returns to the watch face, opens the app grid, and scrolls. The side button opens the app switcher (for closing apps) and, when double-clicked, Apple Pay. They have distinct functions for controlling your device.
Why Can’t I See The App Switcher When I Press The Side Button?
First, ensure you are pressing the side button once, not double-clicking it. If it still doesn’t work, your Accessibility settings may be modified. Check the Side Button settings in the Watch app on your iPhone under Accessibility, as mentioned in the article. A restart can also resolve this glitch.
How Do You Force Quit An App That Is Frozen?
If an app is frozen and unresponsive, press and hold the side button until the power off slider appears. Then, press and hold the Digital Crown instead of sliding to power off. This will force-quit the active app and return you to the watch face or app grid. This is a usefull trick for any unresponsive application.