If you’re wondering how do you close apps on the apple watch, you’re in the right place. Closing apps on your Apple Watch helps manage background activity and can improve performance. It’s a simple process, but it works differently than on your iPhone.
This guide will walk you through every method. We’ll cover the standard way, force quitting, and why you might want to close apps in the first place.
Let’s get started.
How Do You Close Apps On The Apple Watch
The primary method for closing apps uses the Apple Watch’s side button. This is the flat button below the Digital Crown, not the rotating crown itself. It’s the same button you use to view your recent apps.
Here is the step-by-step process to close an app normally:
- Press the side button once. This opens the app switcher, showing you your recently used apps in a vertical stack.
- Swpie up or down with your finger on the screen to scroll through the open apps. Find the app you want to close.
- Once the app card is centered on the screen, swipe it all the way to the right. You need to swipe firmly from the left edge of the card to the right edge of the watch screen.
- The app card will disappear, confirming the app is closed. You can repeat this for any other apps you wish to close.
- To exit the app switcher, press the Digital Crown or the side button again.
Remember, this doesn’t uninstall the app. It simply removes it from the recent apps list and stops its background processes. The app icon will remain on your Home Screen for future use.
When Should You Close Apps On Your Apple Watch
You don’t need to constantly close apps. watchOS is designed to manage apps efficiently in the background. However, there are specific situations where closing an app is beneficial.
Consider closing apps when:
- An app becomes unresponsive or frozen.
- You notice significant battery drain from a specific app.
- An app is behaving erratically or crashing on launch.
- You want to ensure an app restarts fresh the next time you open it.
- You’re finished using a GPS or streaming app that runs intensively in the background.
For general use, letting apps remain in the app switcher is fine. The system will automatically manage them.
How To Force Close An Unresponsive App
Sometimes, an app may freeze and not respond to normal input. In this case, you can force quit the app. This is similar to force quitting on an iPhone.
Follow these steps to force close an app:
- While inside 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 closes and you return to the watch face.
This action force quits the current app without affecting any other apps or system functions. You can then reopen the app normally from the Home Screen. This is a handy trick for dealing with stubborn software glitches.
Troubleshooting A Frozen Apple Watch
If a single app freeze turns into a full watch freeze, you may need to restart the device. First, try pressing and holding both the side button and the Digital Crown together for about 10 seconds.
Release the buttons when you see the Apple logo. This force restarts the watch, similar to rebooting a computer. It clears the system memory and can resolve many temporary issues without erasing any data.
Managing Background App Refresh
Background App Refresh allows apps to update their content even when you’re not using them. This is useful for getting the latest news, weather, or messages. However, it can also use battery life.
You can control which apps have this permission. Managing this can be more effective than constantly closing apps.
To adjust Background App Refresh settings:
- Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
- Scroll down and tap ‘General’.
- Tap ‘Background App Refresh’.
- Here, you can toggle the feature off completely or select individual apps to disable it for.
Limiting Background App Refresh for non-essential apps can help conserve your watch’s battery throughout the day.
Differences Between Apple Watch And iPhone
Many users are familiar with closing apps on an iPhone, where you swipe up on the app card. The Apple Watch method is different, using a horizontal swipe instead of a vertical one.
Another key difference is the lack of a “Close All” option. On the iPhone, you can use multi-finger gestures or swipe multiple cards away. On the Apple Watch, you must close each app individually by swiping its card away to the right.
Understanding this distinction prevents confusion and makes the process on your watch feel more intuitive.
Navigating The App Switcher Efficiently
The app switcher on the Apple Watch displays your most recently used apps. The most recent app appears at the top of the stack. You can use the Digital Crown to scroll through them precisely, which is easier than swiping if you have many apps open.
To quickly jump back to your last used app, double-press the Digital Crown. This toggles between your current app and the previous one, a feature many users find very convenient for switching between two tasks.
Common Mistakes And How To Avoid Them
When learning how to close apps, a few common errors can occur. Knowing these helps you avoid frustration.
- Swiping Too Lightly: The swipe to close needs to be a full, firm swipe from left to right. A short, timid swipe will not close the app.
- Confusing the Buttons: Remember, the side button (flat button) opens the app switcher. The Digital Crown is for scrolling and returning home.
- Forgetting to Exit the Switcher: After closing apps, press the Digital Crown to return to the watch face. Otherwise, you’ll remain in the app switcher view.
- Closing Essential System Apps: Avoid force closing core apps like Settings or the Workout app unless they are frozen. It’s generally unnecessary.
Does Closing Apps Save Battery Life
This is a common question. The short answer is: sometimes, but not always in a significant way. watchOS is optimized to suspend background apps efficiently, putting them in a low-power state.
However, if an app is misbehaving or is designed to constantly update in the background (like a GPS mapping app), closing it can stop that activity and save battery. For most day-to-day apps like Weather or Stocks, the battery impact of leaving them open is minimal.
A better strategy for battery life is to manage notifications and Background App Refresh, as mentioned earlier.
Monitoring Battery Usage
To see which apps are using your battery, use your paired iPhone. Open the Watch app on your iPhone, go to General > Usage. This screen shows battery usage information for the last 24 hours or the last 7 days.
If you see an app using a disproportionate amount of power, that’s a good candidate for closing when not in use or adjusting its background settings.
Advanced Tips For Power Users
For those who want even more control, here are some advanced considerations.
Using Siri To Open And Close Apps
You can use Siri for hands-free control. While you cannot directly command Siri to “close an app,” you can use it to open a different app, which will naturally background the previous one.
Say “Hey Siri, open [App Name]” to switch apps quickly. This is useful when your hands are full or you’re in the middle of a workout.
Restarting Your Apple Watch Regularly
A weekly restart can help maintain smooth performance. This clears the system cache and closes any lingering processes. It’s a good maintenance habit that can prevent the need for frequent app closing.
To restart properly, go to Settings > General > Shut Down. Then turn the watch back on by pressing and holding the side button.
Keeping Your WatchOS Updated
Apple regularly releases watchOS updates that include performance improvements and bug fixes. An outdated operating system can sometimes cause apps to behave poorly or crash.
Ensure your watch is updated by going to the Watch app on your iPhone, then General > Software Update. Installing the latest updates can resolve many common app-related issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Can’t I Close Apps On My Apple Watch
If swiping the app card isn’t working, ensure you are swiping it completely to the right, not just a little. Also, confirm you are pressing the correct side button to open the app switcher. If the watch is unresponsive, try a force restart by holding both buttons.
Is It Bad To Close Apps All The Time
Constantly closing all apps is not necessary and can even make your watch slightly slower when reopening them, as they must load from scratch. It’s best to close apps only when you have a specific reason, like troubleshooting or stopping a background task.
How Do I Close All Apps At Once On Apple Watch
There is no built-in feature to close all apps simultaneously on the Apple Watch. Each app must be swiped away individually in the app switcher. This is a limitation compared to some other platforms.
What Is The Difference Between Quitting And Uninstalling An App
Closing or force quitting an app simply stops it from running. Uninstalling removes the app and all its data from your watch completely. To uninstall, press and hold the app icon on the Home Screen until it jiggles, then tap the ‘X’.
My App Still Won’t Close, What Should I Do
If an app persists after trying to close it, try force quitting it using the side button and Digital Crown method described earlier. If that fails, restart your Apple Watch. As a last resort, you can uninstall and then reinstall the app from the App Store on your watch or iPhone.