Apple Watch 4 Apps Keep Crashing? Here’s How to Fix It

If your Apple Watch 4 apps are crashing right after you open them—or not working at all—you’re not alone. Whether it started after a recent update or seemed to happen out of nowhere, crashing apps usually boil down to a few common software-related issues.

Here’s a full list of fixes you can try to get your Apple Watch 4 apps stable and working again.

Check Storage First

Before diving into the fixes, make sure your watch has enough free space.

Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
Go to My Watch > General > Usage.
If your available space is less than 1GB, try removing unused apps, music, or synced photos.

Low storage can absolutely lead to app instability.

Force Close Apps on the Watch

Background apps can glitch out and cause system instability. Clearing them might stop the crashes.

To close apps:

Press the Side button to show recent apps.
Swipe left on each app preview.
Tap the red X to close it.

Do this for all open apps, then check if they still crash.

Restart or Force Restart Your Apple Watch

A reboot clears up temporary bugs and memory issues.

To restart:

Hold the Side button until the power slider appears.
Drag the Power Off slider.
After 30 seconds, hold the Side button again until the Apple logo appears.

To force restart (if unresponsive):

Hold both the Side button and the Digital Crown for about 10 seconds.
Release when the Apple logo shows.

Update All Apps and WatchOS

Outdated software is a common crash trigger. Make sure everything is up to date.

To update apps:

Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
Go to My Watch > General.
Turn on Automatic App Install.

To update watchOS:

Place your watch on its charger and make sure it’s at least 50% charged.
Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
Go to My Watch > General > Software Update.
Download and install any available updates.

After updating, restart both your iPhone and watch.

Delete and Reinstall Problem Apps

If only certain apps crash, they may be corrupted. Deleting and reinstalling often clears this up.

To delete an app:

Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
Scroll to the app under Installed on Apple Watch.
Tap the app and toggle off Show App on Apple Watch.

To reinstall:

Scroll to Available Apps and tap Install next to the app you want back.

Reset Network Settings (for Internet-based App Issues)

If only apps that require Internet are crashing, network issues could be the cause.

To reset network settings:

On your watch, go to Settings > General > Reset.
Tap Reset Network Settings.

Reconnect to Wi-Fi after the reset and check your apps again.

Factory Reset Your Apple Watch 4

Still having issues? A full reset might be needed.

To factory reset:

On your watch, go to Settings > General > Reset.
Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
If prompted, choose to keep or remove your cellular plan.
Confirm with Erase All.

Set up the watch as new, then reinstall apps one at a time to test for stability.

Still Crashing? Contact Apple or App Developers

If apps continue to crash even after a factory reset, it could be:

A deeper software bug that needs a patch
A hardware issue
Or a specific app needing an update from its developer

Contact Apple Support or the specific app developer for more advanced help.