In this article, we will explain what you can do when you are unable to delete unwanted apps from your Apple Watch. There can be a lot of reasons why you can’t delete apps from your Apple Watch. For example, Screen Time (restrictions) may be preventing you from uninstalling apps on your watch. We will also go over these reasons and how you can address them.
Users have said that they experience one of the following problems:
- The delete (X) button on the app does not appear.
- The delete (X) button does not function, nothing happens when it is tapped.
- The iPhone does not manage the Apple Watch apps.
Built-in apps that you can delete from Apple Watch
If you have watchOS 9.4 or later, you can delete these apps directly from your Apple Watch:
- Activity
- Alarms
- Blood Oxygen
- Camera Remote
- Contacts
- Cycle Tracking
- Depth
- ECG
- Siren
- Find Devices
- Find Items
- Find People
- Heart Rate
- Medications
- Memoji
- Mindfulness
- Noise
- Now Playing
- Sleep
- Stopwatch
- Timers
- Tips
- Voice Memos
- Wallet
- Walkie-Talkie (where available)
- Workout
- World Clock
Uninstalling an Apple Watch app is an easy process. You can do so using your iPhone or directly on your Apple Watch. Yet you may encounter issues. If you are having this problem too, try the steps below. Make sure to check your watch after each step to see if you can delete watch apps again.
You can also re-install built-in apps that you removed.
How to delete an app from your Apple Watch
- Press the Digital Crown to show all your apps on the Home Screen.
- Touch and hold an app.
- Tap the Delete button on the app that you want to delete, then tap Delete App to confirm.
- Press the Digital Crown to finish.
Note: Not all built-in apps can be removed. Apps that you can’t delete don’t show the delete button.
If you delete a built-in app from your Apple Watch that is also on your iPhone, such as Contacts, the app isn’t deleted from your iPhone.
Tip: If you remove an app from your iPhone, that app is also deleted from your Apple Watch. If you want to restore an app, including built-in Apple apps, you can download it from the App Store on your iPhone or Apple Watch.
What to do if you can’t delete apps on your Apple Watch
Check Screen Time
The first thing you should do is to check your Screen Time settings. This is especially true if you see no Delete (X) option while the apps jiggle.
If you have Screen Time enabled on your iPhone, this may be the cause. Here is what to do:
- On your iPhone, go to Settings > Screen Time.
- Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions.
- If Content & Privacy Restrictions is turned on, tap iTunes & App Store Purchases. If you have Screen Time password enabled, you will be asked to enter.
- If Deleting Apps is set to “Don’t Allow”, tap that to change it to “Allow”.
Now try to remove the app.
Restart
Restart your iPhone and watch and then try again. Here is how:
- iPhone X, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, or later: Press and hold the side button and the volume up (or down) button together until the power off slider appears. Drag this slider all the way to the right. Wait 30 seconds for your device to power off completely. Then press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears.
- Other iPhone models: Press and hold the power button (side or top button) until you see the power off slider. Then drag this slider. Wait a few seconds for your iPhone to completely shut off. Then press and hold the side or top button until the Apple logo appears.
- Apple Watch: Press and hold the side button until the sliders appear, tap the Power Button, then drag the Power Off slider to the right. To turn on your Apple Watch, hold down the side button until the Apple logo appears.
Update
Update your iPhone to the latest version of iOS. Also ensure that your watch is running the latest version of watchOS.
- iPhone: You can check for iOS update by going to Settings > General > Software Update. And if there is an update, follow the onscreen instructions to update your device.
- Apple Watch: You can update watchOS directly on your watch (Settings > General > Software Update) or using your iPhone (the Watch app > My Watch > General > Software Update).
After the update, try deleting apps on your Apple Watch.
How to use your iPhone to manage your watch apps
- Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
- Tap the My Watch tab.
- Scroll to the Installed on Apple Watch section and find the app that you want to remove.
- Tap the app, then turn off Show App on Apple Watch.
