Learning how to close apps on Apple Watch is a useful skill for managing your device’s performance. Closing background apps on your Apple Watch is a simple maintenance task for optimal performance. This guide provides clear, step-by-step instructions for every method.
You might want to close apps to save battery life, fix a frozen application, or simply keep your app switcher tidy. The process is quick and can help your watch run more smoothly.
How To Close Apps On Apple Watch
The primary method for closing apps uses the Apple Watch’s app switcher, similar to on an iPhone. This is the technique you will use most often. It gives you a visual overview of all your recently used applications.
Follow these steps to close apps from the app switcher view.
- Press the Digital Crown on the side of your watch 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 cascading stack of your recent app cards.
- Swipe left or right on the screen to browse through the open apps. Find the app card you wish to close.
- Once the desired app is in view, swipe up on its card. Flick it all the way up and off the top of the screen.
- The app card will disappear, confirming the app is now closed. You can repeat this for any other apps you want to close.
To exit the app switcher without closing anything, simply press the Digital Crown or tap on an app card to switch to it. This method works on all Apple Watch models, from the earliest Series to the latest Ultra.
Using The Side Button For Quick Access
Apple provides an even faster shortcut to the app switcher. This method is handy if you are already in another app and want to switch or close quickly.
Here is how to use the side button method.
- Double-press the side button (the button below the Digital Crown). Do this quickly, just like a double-click.
- The app switcher will appear immediately, overlaying your current app. You don’t need to navigate to the home screen first.
- Swipe through the cards and swipe up on any app you want to close, just as described in the previous section.
This shortcut is a major time-saver. It’s the most efficient way to manage your running apps directly from within any application.
How To Close A Frozen Or Unresponsive App
Sometimes, an app may freeze and not respond to your touches. When this happens, the standard swipe-up method in the app switcher might not work. You need to force quit the application.
Force quitting is a straightforward process that resolves most temporary software glitches.
- Hold down the side button until the power off slider appears. Do not let go yet.
- While continuing to hold the side button, press and hold the Digital Crown as well.
- Keep both buttons held down for about 10 seconds. The watch screen will go blank and then show the Apple logo.
- Release both buttons when you see the Apple logo. The watch will restart, and the frozen app will be closed.
This force restarts your Apple Watch, closing all apps in the process. It is the most effective solution for a completely unresponsive app or system slowdown. Your data will not be affected.
When To Force Restart Your Device
Consider a force restart if your entire watch is unresponsive, the screen is black, or buttons do not work. It is a general troubleshooting step for various minor issues beyond just a single frozen app.
Why You Might Want To Close Apps
Unlike older computer systems, modern smart devices like the Apple Watch are designed to manage memory efficiently. However, there are still valid reasons to manually close applications.
Understanding these reasons helps you decide when to take action.
To Improve Battery Life
Background apps can consume small amounts of battery power, especially those that use location services or fetch data in the background. If you notice your battery draining faster than usual, closing apps you are not using can help.
It’s a good practice before putting your watch on its charger for the night.
To Fix App Performance Issues
If an app is running slowly, crashing, or not updating information correctly, closing and reopening it can often fix the problem. This clears the app from active memory and allows it to start fresh the next time you open it.
This is often the first step in troubleshooting any app-related issue.
To Maintain A Tidy App Switcher
The app switcher can become cluttered with many cards, making it hard to find the app you actually want to switch to. Periodically closing apps you have finished with keeps this view clean and organized.
It makes navigating between your truly active apps much quicker.
Common Misconceptions About Closing Apps
There is a lot of confusion about whether closing apps is necessary or even harmful. Let’s clarify some common points.
Does Closing Apps Save Battery?
The answer is nuanced. For most well-designed apps, iOS and watchOS effectively freeze them in the background, using negligible power. However, an app with a bug or one that is actively using location or network features in the background can drain battery.
Therefore, closing such apps can save power, but closing every app constantly is unlikely to provide a significant benefit and can actually use more battery as the system reloads them from scratch next time.
Should You Close Apps Regularly?
Apple’s official guidance is that you should not need to force-quit apps regularly. The operating system is optimized to manage background processes. You do not need to close apps after every use.
Manual closing is best reserved for troubleshooting specific problems, like a misbehaving app or preparing for a long day away from a charger.
Managing Apps From Your Paired iPhone
You can also view and manage some aspects of your Apple Watch apps directly from your iPhone. This is done through the Watch app.
While you cannot force-close running apps from here, you can uninstall applications to free up storage space, which is another form of app management.
- Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
- Tap on the “My Watch” tab at the bottom.
- Scroll down to the “Installed on Apple Watch” section.
- Find the app you wish to remove and tap on it.
- Toggle off the setting that says “Show App on Apple Watch.” The app will be uninstalled from your watch.
To reinstall it later, simply toggle the setting back on. This is helpful for removing apps you no longer use to declutter your watch’s interface and free up space.
Checking App Background Refresh Settings
The iPhone Watch app also lets you control which apps can refresh in the background. Limiting this can conserve battery.
- In the Watch app on iPhone, go to General > Background App Refresh.
- You can toggle Background App Refresh off entirely, or select which specific apps are allowed to refresh.
- Choose “Off” or “Wi-Fi & Cellular” for individual apps based on your preferences.
Disabling background refresh for non-essential apps is a proactive way to improve battery performance without constantly closing apps manually.
Tips For Optimal Apple Watch Performance
Beyond closing apps, a few general habits can keep your Apple Watch running its best. These practices complement occasional app management.
Restart Your Watch Weekly
A weekly restart can clear temporary system caches and resolve minor software hiccups before they become noticeable. It is a good general maintenance habit.
To restart normally, 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.
Keep Software Updated
Always install the latest version of watchOS. Updates from Apple frequently include performance improvements, bug fixes, and better battery management algorithms that make the system run smoother.
You update through the Watch app on your iPhone in General > Software Update.
Manage Your Notifications
Too many notification can cause the watch to wake its screen frequently, impacting battery. Review and limit notifications to only the most important apps.
You can adjust these in the Watch app on your iPhone under Notifications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common questions about closing apps on the Apple Watch.
How Do I Close All Apps At Once On My Apple Watch?
There is no single gesture or setting to close all apps simultaneously on the Apple Watch. You must swipe up on each app card individually in the app switcher. The force restart method closes everything but also restarts the entire device.
Does Closing Apps On Apple Watch Improve Speed?
It can if a particular app is using significant system resources or has a memory leak. For general use, the effect on speed is usually minimal, as watchOS manages memory effectively. Closing apps is most effective for solving a specific slowness issue tied to one app.
What Is The Difference Between Quitting And Uninstalling An App?
Quitting (or closing) an app merely removes it from active memory; it remains installed on your watch. Uninstalling an app removes it completely from your watch’s storage, freeing up space. You uninstall through the Watch app on your iPhone.
Why Can’t I See The App Switcher When I Double-Press The Side Button?
First, ensure you are pressing the side button (below the Digital Crown) and not the Crown itself. Second, check that the feature is enabled. On your iPhone, open the Watch app, go to General > Wake Screen, and ensure “Wake Screen on Crown Up” is on. The double-press shortcut should work when this is enabled.
Is It Bad To Force Restart My Apple Watch Often?
Using a force restart occasionally to fix a problem is fine. However, relying on it daily as your primary method for closing apps is unnecessary and may indicate a deeper software issue. For routine app closing, use the app switcher method instead.
Knowing how to close apps on your Apple Watch gives you control over its performance. Whether you use the app switcher, the side button shortcut, or a force restart for frozen apps, these tools are easy to use. Remember that manual app management is a tool for specific situations, not a daily requirement for most users.