How To Close Applications On Apple Watch

Learning how to close applications on Apple Watch is a simple skill that improves your device’s performance. Managing active applications on your Apple Watch helps preserve its battery life throughout the day. It also keeps your app switcher tidy and can resolve minor app glitches.

This guide covers every method, from basic to advanced. You will find clear, step-by-step instructions for each technique.

We will also explain why and when you should force quit apps, a common point of confusion for many users.

The primary way to close apps is through the app switcher, similar to on an iPhone. This is the method you will use most often. It works for any app that is currently running in the background.

Follow these steps to close applications using the Digital Crown and side button.

Step-By-Step Guide Using The App Switcher

This process is quick and becomes second nature with a little practice. Ensure your watch face is active to begin.

Press the Digital Crown (the round dial on the side) once. This takes you to the app grid or list view.
Press the Digital Crown again. A second, quick press will open the app switcher. You will see a vertical stack of your most recent app cards.
Swip left or right on the screen to navigate through the open apps. Find the application you wish to close.
Once the app card is centered, swipe it up from the bottom edge of the screen towards the top. The card will fly off the screen.
The app is now closed. You can repeat this for any other applications you want to exit.

To exit the app switcher without closing anything, simply press the Digital Crown again to return to the watch face.

Alternative Method Using The Side Button

If the Digital Crown method isn’t working, you can use the side button. This is especially useful if an app is frozen and not responding to touches.

Press and hold the side button (the button below the Digital Crown). This will bring up the power off screen.
Instead of sliding to power off, press and hold the Digital Crown. Hold it for a few seconds.
You will be taken directly to the app switcher view, bypassing any app freeze.
From here, swipe up on the frozen app’s card to close it as described above.

What To Do If An App Is Unresponsive

Sometimes, an app may not swipe away easily. If the swipe-up gesture doesn’t work, ensure you are swiping the entire card up firmly. Start your swipe from the very bottom edge of the card. If it remains stuck, try the side button method to access the switcher, as this can sometimes overcome a software hiccup.

Understanding When Apps Close Automatically

You don’t always need to manually close apps. watchOS is designed to manage memory efficiently. Most apps will suspend or close on their own when not in use.

For example, when you lower your wrist, many apps will pause. They only resume when you raise your wrist again or reopen them.

Constantly force-closing every app can actually use more battery, as the system must reload the app completely next time. It’s generally best to only close apps that are misbehaving or that you know you won’t use for a long time.

Force Quitting Applications On Apple Watch

Force quitting is a stronger action than simply closing an app from the switcher. It is reserved for when an application freezes, crashes, or becomes completely unresponsive.

This process stops all of the app’s processes immediately.

How To Force Quit An App

The steps for force quitting are straightforward and similar to the side button method mentioned earlier.

From within the problematic app, press and hold the side button until the power off slider appears.
Release the side button.
Now, press and hold the Digital Crown for about five seconds. You need to hold it until the app quits and you return to the watch face.

This action force quits the current app. You can then relaunch it from your app grid, and it should hopefully function normally.

When Should You Force Quit?

Force quitting should not be a regular habit. Use it only in specific situations to avoid unnecessary strain on the system.

The app screen is frozen and does not respond to touch or button presses.
The app has crashed and shows a blank or error screen.
An app is causing significant battery drain that stops when you force quit it.
You experience persistent glitches within a single application.

Managing Background App Refresh

Background App Refresh allows apps to update their content in the background. This means they can show you the latest information when you open them.

However, this feature can impact battery life. Managing it gives you more control over which apps are allowed to run processes when not in use.

How To Disable Background App Refresh

You can adjust these settings directly on your Apple Watch for finer control.

Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
Scroll down and tap General.
Tap Background App Refresh.
Here, you can toggle the main Background App Refresh switch off entirely. Or, you can scroll through the list and disable it for individual apps you don’t need updating constantly.

Disabling this for non-essential apps can lead to noticeable battery improvements. Critical apps like Messages and Mail will still notify you of new content.

Adjusting Settings From Your Paired IPhone

You can also manage these settings from the Apple Watch app on your iPhone. The interface is larger and sometimes easier to navigate.

Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
Go to the My Watch tab.
Tap General.
Tap Background App Refresh.
You will see the same toggle and list of apps. Make your changes here, and they will sync to your watch.

Optimizing Battery Life Through App Management

Effective app management is one of the best ways to extend your Apple Watch’s daily battery life. It’s not just about closing apps; it’s about smart habits.

Daily Habits For Better Battery

Incorporate these simple practices into your routine.

Review your app switcher at the end of the day and close any apps you won’t need tomorrow.
Disable Background App Refresh for social media and news apps that you check infrequently.
Use the Theater Mode (the mask icon) in Control Center when you don’t need the screen to activate with every wrist raise.
Reduce unnecessary notifications, as each alert wakes the screen and uses power.

Monitoring Battery Usage

Your Apple Watch provides tools to see which apps are using the most energy. This helps you make informed decisions.

To check on your watch, open Settings > Battery. Scroll down to see battery usage details for the last 24 hours.

On your iPhone, open the Apple Watch app, go to General > Usage, to see similar data. If a specific app is using a disproportionate amount of battery, consider closing it when not in use or checking for updates.

Troubleshooting Common Application Issues

Even with good management, you might encounter problems. Here are solutions for frequent application issues on Apple Watch.

App Won’t Close Or Reopens Automatically

If an app won’t swipe away or immediately reopens, try this sequence.

Force quit the app using the side button and Digital Crown method.
Restart your Apple Watch. Press and hold the side button until you see the power off slider, then drag it. Turn the watch back on after a moment.
If the problem persists, check for software updates on your watch in Settings > General > Software Update.

Applications Crashing Frequently

Constant crashes are often due to software bugs or corrupted data.

First, ensure the app and your watchOS are updated to the latest versions.
Try uninstalling the app from your watch and then reinstalling it from the App Store on your watch or the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
As a last resort, you can unpair and re-pair your Apple Watch from your iPhone, which creates a fresh software install. Remember to make a backup first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to some common questions about closing apps on the Apple Watch.

Do I Need To Close Apps Every Day?

No, you do not need to close apps daily. watchOS is efficient at managing background processes. Only close apps that are misbehaving or that you know have been running complex tasks, like a workout or navigation.

What Is The Difference Between Closing And Force Quitting?

Closing an app from the app switcher gently suspends it. Force quitting immediately terminates all of its processes. Use closing for normal maintenance and force quitting only for frozen or crashed apps.

Can I Close All Apps At Once?

Unlike the iPhone, there is no “close all” gesture on the Apple Watch. You must swipe up on each app card individually in the app switcher. This is by design to prevent accidental mass closures.

Why Don’t My Recently Used Apps Appear In The Switcher?

The app switcher only shows apps that are currently suspended in memory. If an app has been automatically closed by the system to free up resources, it will not appear there until you open it again.

Does Closing Apps Actually Save Battery Life?

It can, but the effect is most noticeable with specific apps. Closing a GPS navigation app or a streaming audio app after use will save significant power. For most simple apps, the battery impact of leaving them suspended is minimal.