The two ways to remove apps from your Apple Watch
You can delete an app from your Apple Watch in two ways: directly on the watch itself, or through the Watch app on your iPhone. The direct method on the watch is faster if you are standing in front of it. The iPhone method is better if you want to manage multiple apps at once or if you find the watch screen too small to tap accurately.
Both methods permanently remove the app and its data from your watch. The app remains on your iPhone unless you delete it there separately. You can reinstall any deleted app later from the App Store on your iPhone — it will download to your watch automatically if it is compatible.
Key Takeaways
- You can delete apps directly on your Apple Watch by pressing and holding an app icon until a menu appears, then tapping the trash icon.
- You can also delete apps through the Watch app on your iPhone by going to the App Library, selecting an app, and turning off "Show on Apple Watch".
- Deleting an app from your watch does not delete it from your iPhone — you must delete it separately there if you want it gone from both devices.
- You cannot delete the built-in Apple apps like Workout, Heart Rate, or Siri, though you can hide them from your home screen.
- Deleted apps can be reinstalled at any time from the App Store on your iPhone.
Delete an app directly on your Apple Watch
This is the quickest method if you are already using your watch. Press and hold your finger on the app icon you want to remove. Hold it there for about two seconds until a menu pops up with options. You will see a trash can icon at the bottom of the screen — tap it.
A confirmation message will appear asking if you want to remove the app. Tap "Remove" to confirm. The app disappears from your watch immediately. If you change your mind right after, you can undo the deletion by tapping "Undo" before the confirmation screen closes.
This method works on any app you installed yourself. Apple's built-in apps like Workout, Messages, and Heart Rate cannot be deleted this way, though you can remove them from your home screen so they do not clutter your view.
Delete an app using the Watch app on your iPhone
Open the Watch app on your iPhone and tap the "App Library" tab at the bottom of the screen. Scroll through the list until you find the app you want to remove. Tap the app name to open its details page.
On the details page, toggle off the switch next to "Show on Apple Watch". This removes the app from your watch while keeping it on your iPhone. If you want to delete it from your iPhone as well, scroll down and tap "Remove App", then choose "Remove from iPhone" or "Remove from All Devices" depending on what you need.
This method is useful when you want to manage several apps at once without picking up your watch. It also gives you the option to keep the app on your iPhone while removing it only from your watch, which the direct method does not offer.
What happens to your data when you delete an app
When you delete an app from your Apple Watch, all the data stored on the watch — activity logs, settings, saved information — is erased. If the app stores data in iCloud or on your iPhone, that data remains safe and will be there if you reinstall the app later.
Some apps, like fitness or health trackers, may back up their data to iCloud automatically. Check the app's settings on your iPhone before deleting if you are concerned about losing information. Most mainstream apps handle this, but smaller or older apps may not.
Built-in apps you cannot delete
Apple Watch comes with several apps that cannot be removed: Workout, Heart Rate, Breathe, Noise, ECG (on compatible models), Blood Oxygen, Medications, Menstrual Cycle, Sleep, Mindfulness, Stocks, Weather, Reminders, Calendar, Mail, Messages, Phone, Contacts, Wallet, Maps, Siri, Settings, and Control Center.
You can hide these apps from your home screen so they do not take up space. Press and hold the app icon, tap "Remove", and choose "Remove from Home Screen". The app stays on your watch and remains functional — you can still access it through Siri or by swiping to the app library, but it will not appear on your main home screen.
Reinstalling a deleted app
To put an app back on your Apple Watch, open the App Store on your iPhone, find the app, and tap the download or cloud icon to install it. If the app is compatible with your watch model, it will download to your watch automatically within a few minutes, usually while your watch is charging and connected to Wi-Fi.
You can also search for the app by name in the Watch app on your iPhone. Go to App Library, search for the app, and tap "Install" next to it. The installation process is the same — the app downloads to your watch in the background.
Troubleshooting apps that will not delete
If you press and hold an app but no menu appears, the app may be a built-in Apple app that cannot be removed. Try the iPhone method instead: open the Watch app, go to App Library, find the app, and toggle off "Show on Apple Watch". This hides it from your home screen even if you cannot delete it.
If an app is stuck or frozen and will not respond to deletion attempts, restart your Apple Watch. Press and hold the side button until the power-off slider appears, then drag it to turn off the watch. Wait 10 seconds, then press and hold the side button again to turn it back on. Try deleting the app once the watch has restarted.
If the problem persists, try deleting the app through the Watch app on your iPhone instead. Sometimes the iPhone method works when the watch method does not. If neither method works and the app is not a built-in Apple app, the app itself may have a problem — contact the app developer or try reinstalling it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will deleting an app from my watch also delete it from my iPhone?
No. Deleting an app from your Apple Watch removes it only from the watch. The app stays on your iPhone unless you delete it separately through your iPhone's home screen or the App Store. You control each device independently.
Can I delete built-in Apple apps like Workout or Messages?
You cannot delete them, but you can hide them from your home screen. Press and hold the app icon, tap "Remove", and choose "Remove from Home Screen". The app remains on your watch and you can still use it through Siri or the app library.
What if I delete an app by mistake?
You can reinstall it anytime from the App Store on your iPhone. Search for the app, tap the download icon, and it will install on your watch automatically. Any data backed up to iCloud will be restored when you reinstall.
Do I lose my data when I delete an app?
Data stored only on your watch is erased. Data backed up to iCloud or stored on your iPhone remains safe. Before deleting an app with important information, check its settings to see if it backs up to iCloud automatically.
Why does my app not have a delete option?
It is likely a built-in Apple app. Try using the Watch app on your iPhone instead — go to App Library, find the app, and toggle off "Show on Apple Watch". If it is a third-party app and still will not delete, restart your watch and try again.