Are you trying to find out? cHow to organize apps on your Apple WatchIf you have an Apple Watch and love having everything under control, you've probably wondered more than once how to organize the apps on your watch to access your favorites more quickly, delete unused ones, or customize it to your liking. Although it seems simple, there are multiple options and features that allow you to customize the home screen, manage the Dock, and even control apps from your paired iPhone.
Throughout this article we will explain All the ways to organize apps on your Apple Watch, step by step, and with all the tricks and details most guides don't mention. We'll see how you can change the display, move icons, delete them, restore them, manage them from your phone, and customize the Dock so you always have what you use most at hand. If you want to get the most out of your Apple Watch, keep reading!
How do apps appear on the Apple Watch?
Apple Watch offers two main ways to view apps on the Home Screen: grid view y list viewWhen you first set up your watch, you can choose the one you like best, but you can always switch between them at any time. Each of these views has its advantages and allows you to organize your apps differently.
Change the display of apps
To switch between grid view and list view, just follow these simple steps:
- Press the Digital Crown to access the Home screen.
- Turn the Digital Crown to the bottom of the screen, where you can choose your preferred display.
- Select between Grid view (floating and grouped icons) or List view (list sorted alphabetically).
You can also change this setting from the Settings app Apple Watch. Just tap "App View" and select your preferred option. Each view mode has its advantages. The grid is more attractive and customizable, while the list is more organized and makes it easier to find specific apps.
Before continuing, we recommend updating WatchOS to the latest version, as there are many changes. To do so, we've provided this quick step-by-step guide on how to do it. How to update the software on your Apple Watch.
Organize apps in grid view
If you prefer the grid view because you like to move between icons and put your favorite apps in the center, it is possible move and rearrange applications your way. Here's how you can do it:
- Press the Digital Crown to open the Home screen.
- Press and hold your finger on the app icon you want to move. You'll see the icons begin to jiggle slightly, indicating you can edit them.
- Without lifting your finger, drag the icon to the desired position within the grid. You can place the most frequently used icons near the center, for example.
- When you're done rearranging your apps, press the Digital Crown to save your changes and exit edit mode.
This method is quick and very visual, ideal if you want immediate access to the features you use every day. If you have a lot of apps, organizing them by color or category can help you find what you're looking for without wasting time.
How to organize apps on your iPhone
You don't have to do everything from the small screen of your watch. Apple allows manage the layout of applications from your Watch from the Apple Watch app that comes on your iPhone:
- Access the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
- Tap the “My Watch” tab and go to the “App Layout” section.
- You'll see all your app icons displayed on the screen, just like on your watch.
- Long press on any app and drag it to relocate it wherever you want.
- When you're satisfied, the changes will be automatically reflected on your Apple Watch.
It's a more convenient and precise option for those who prefer to navigate from their phone or have many apps installed. It also allows you to make quick changes without having to touch the watch's tiny screen.
Automatic organization in list view
If you opt for the list view, the organization is much simpler, although also less customizable. In this mode, all applications appear organized. alphabetically and you can't change their position manually. This makes it easier to quickly locate apps, as they'll always be in the same order, no matter when you last installed or used them.
To switch to list view, simply:
- Press the Digital Crown to display the Home screen.
- Turn the Digital Crown or swipe all the way to the bottom and select “List View.”
It is the preferred option for those looking for Simplicity and speed when navigating between many apps, especially if they have difficulty handling the grid.
Delete apps from Apple Watch
If you have apps that you don't use, it's best to get rid of them to gain clarity and, at the same time, save storage spaceThere are several methods to remove apps from your Apple Watch:
From the Apple Watch
- In Grid view: Press and hold the app icon you want to delete. When the icons start to jiggle, tap the small "X" icon or the delete option, then confirm. When you're done, press the Digital Crown to exit edit mode.
- In list view: Swipe left on the app you want to delete and tap the delete button (a trash can or an “X” will appear).
From the iPhone
- Access the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
- In “My Watch,” scroll down to the list of installed apps.
- If there are third-party apps, tapping on them will reveal the option "Show app on Apple Watch." If you disable this option, the app will disappear from your watch (though it will remain on your iPhone unless you delete it there as well).
Remember If you delete an app on your iPhone, it also disappears from the watch., although it doesn't happen the other way around. That is, you can have apps on the iPhone that aren't on the watch, but not vice versa. If you later want restore a deleted app, you just have to download it again from the App Store, both on your phone and on your watch.
Customize the Apple Watch Dock
The Dock (also called the App Switcher) is the feature that allows you to quickly access your most recent or favorite apps. Configuring it to suit your needs will streamline your daily routines. You can choose to display your most recently used apps or up to 10 favorite apps selected by you.
To access the Dock:
- Double-click the Digital Crown (on watchOS 9 and earlier, you'll need to press the side button).
Within the Dock you can move between active or selected apps, open them, or close them. Dock Management allows you to adapt it to your way of using the watch:
- From the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, go to the “My Watch” tab and select “Dock.”
- You can choose between “Recent” (shows the most recently used apps) or “Favorites” (only the ones you added manually).
- If you select "Favorites," you can choose up to 10 apps and sort them as you wish.
- To add an app to the Dock, tap "Add," and to remove it, tap the delete icon next to its name.
- To reorder, press and hold the button next to the app and drag it up or down in the list. When you're done, press "OK" to save your changes.
This feature is very useful for those who use the Apple Watch as a work or health tool, as it allows them to always have essential apps, such as Messages, Activity, Music, and Workout, at their fingertips.
Tips for better organization
- Group by functions. Group apps related to sports, productivity, music, or health together to find them quickly.
- Discard what you don't use. Don't hesitate to delete apps you don't use. You can always reinstall them from the App Store if you need them again.
- Update your Dock favorites. Periodically check which apps you have in the Dock and whether you actually use them daily.
- Customize from your iPhone. Take advantage of the Apple Watch app to make changes more accurately and quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions About App Organization
- Can I create app folders like on the iPhone? No, the Apple Watch doesn't currently allow you to create folders, but you can organize and reorder them as you like in the grid.
- What happens if I remove an Apple-built app? Some built-in apps can be removed and reinstalled from the App Store, but not all.
- Does the organization remain the same if I change the clock? If you restore a backup, most settings, including installed apps and their layout, are preserved.
- Can you hide apps without deleting them? No, you can only delete them from your Apple Watch, but they'll still be on your iPhone if you don't delete them there.
Advanced Management: Tips and Tricks
If you are an advanced user or have a Apple Watch with many apps installed, here you have some additional recommendations:
- Use the grid view to put your most-used apps front and center, and group them by color for faster identification.
- In list view, remember the position of your most frequently used apps: since they're in alphabetical order, they'll always be where you left them.
- Don't forget to periodically clean up apps you installed for testing and no longer use, especially on watches with limited storage.
- If you're someone who frequently switches apps or tries out new versions of watchOS, set the Dock to "Recent" so you always have access to the most recent items you opened.
- Remember that if you change the primary language on your watch, the list view will be reordered according to the new alphabetical order.
