It includes information on removing apps from the Apple Watch, changing the app layout on the watch, and displaying apps on the Watch Dock.
How to Add Apps to Your Apple Watch
On Apple Watches with watchOS 5 or earlier, you add apps to the watch on your iPhone. In watchOS 6, Apple launched an App Store on the watch, so you no longer add apps using the Watch app on the paired iPhone; you can do it right on your wrist.
Add Apps in watchOS 7 and watchOS 6
The Apple Watch App Store in watchOS 7 and watchOS 6 contains only apps that run on the watch. To view and download apps, follow these steps on the watch.
Press the digital crown on the Apple Watch to display the apps. Tap the App Store app. Scroll through the available apps or tap Search at the top of the screen to enter an app name or category by voice or by writing on the screen with your fingertip. Tap an app to open its information screen. Tap the download arrow to add it to your Apple Watch,
Add Apps in watchOS 5 and Earlier
With watchOS 5 and earlier, adding apps to the Apple Watch is done using the Watch app on the iPhone.
The compatible apps are like mini-apps that come to your Watch after you install the full version on your iPhone. Any iPhone app that offers an Apple Watch version is automatically available on your Apple Watch after installation on the iPhone.
If you have an app with an Apple Watch version you want to install, follow these steps on your iPhone:
Make sure your Apple Watch is paired to an iPhone and they’re near each other. On the iPhone, tap the Watch app to launch it. Tap the My Watch tab at the bottom if it’s not selected. Scroll to the bottom of the screen to the Available Apps section, which lists all of your iPhone apps that have companion Apple Watch apps you haven’t installed. Tap Install next to any app you want to install on your Watch. When the app finishes installing, it appears on your watch and moves to the Installed on Apple Watch section of the Watch app.
How to Remove Apps From the Apple Watch
You can delete many apps directly from the Apple Watch in watchOS 6 and later and from the Watch app on the iPhone for earlier versions. Not every app can be deleted.
Remove Apps in watchOS 7 and watchOS 6
Tap the digital crown to display the apps. Press and hold the app you want to delete. All the apps start to wiggle. Tap the X in the corner of the app you want to delete. Confirm the deletion. Press the crown to stop the apps from wiggling.
Remove Apps in watchOS 5 and Earlier
Removing an app is as simple as adding a new one.
On the iPhone, tap the Watch app to launch it. Tap the My Watch tab at the bottom if it’s not selected. In the Installed on Apple Watch section, find the app you want to remove. Tap it. Move the Show App on Apple Watch slider to off/white to delete the app from your Watch. The app stays on your iPhone (unless you delete the iPhone app, too). It can be downloaded to the Apple Watch again using the first section of this article’s steps.
How to Change the Layout of Apps on Your Apple Watch
If you aren’t satisfied with the arrangements of the apps on your Apple Watch face, you can move them around to suit you.
Change the App Layout in watchOS 7 and watchOS 6
For Apple Watches with watchOS 7 or watchOS 6, you rearrange the apps directly on the watch.
Press the digital crown to display the app arrangement. Press an app until all the apps start to wiggle. Lift your finger. While the apps are wiggling, touch an app and drag it to a new position. Repeat the process with other apps. Press the digital crown again to stop the wiggling apps.
Change the App Layout in watchOS 5 and Earlier
To change the arrangements of all apps installed on your Apple Watch with watchOS 5 or earlier, use the Watch app on your iPhone.
To change the layout of this grid, follow these steps:
Make sure your Watch is paired with and near the iPhone. Open the Watch app on the iPhone. Tap App Layout on the My Watch tab. The app grid on the Watch displays. Drag app icons to your preferred new arrangement. When you’re done, tap My Watch in the upper-left corner. The new arrangement is saved and applied automatically. If you prefer a list view of apps (sorted alphabetically), push down on the watch’s screen when the Grid View is displayed. A pop-up appears asking you if you want Grid View or List View.
How to Organize Apps in Your Apple Watch Dock
Organizing the apps on your Apple Watch is done through the iPhone Watch app for all versions of watchOS. After the apps are organized, swiping up and down on the watch face or turning the digital crown shows a dock containing your most recent apps or up to 10 of your favorite apps.
Open the Watch app on the iPhone. Tap Dock on the My Watch tab. Tap Recents to see recently used apps, ordered from the most recently used to least recently used apps, or select Favorites. If you tap Favorites, new options appear. Your Favorite apps are listed in one section, with all other available apps in another. Tap the red – icon in front of any app to remove it from Favorites. Tap the green + icon to add an app to Favorites. Drag and drop using the three-line icon to rearrange apps. Tap Done to save your Favorites.
