How to Delete Apps on Apple Watch 7 (watchOS 8)
Is your Apple Watch 7 cluttered with apps you don’t use? Whether you’re looking to free up space or tidy up the app screen, deleting unused apps is a quick way to make your watch feel faster and more organized. You can do it directly from the watch or through the Watch app on your iPhone.
Here’s how to uninstall apps on your Apple Watch 7 running watchOS 8.
Method 1: Delete Apps Using Your iPhone
This is the easiest way to manage multiple apps at once, especially if you’re not a fan of the tiny watch screen.
Steps:
- Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
- Tap the My Watch tab at the bottom.
- Scroll down to Installed on Apple Watch.
- Tap the app you want to remove.
- Toggle Off the option for Show App on Apple Watch.
The app will be removed from your watch but remain on your iPhone unless deleted separately.
Method 2: Delete Apps Directly on the Apple Watch
If your iPhone isn’t nearby, you can remove apps right from your wrist.
Steps:
- Press the Digital Crown to go to the Home screen (App View).
- Press and hold any app icon until they start jiggling.
- Tap the “X” icon on the app you want to delete.
- Tap Delete App to confirm.
You won’t see the “X” icon on some built-in apps — those cannot be removed.
Built-in Apps You Can’t Delete
Some apps like Alarms, Timer, World Clock, and Radio are stock apps and cannot be removed. If you don’t want to see them, you can hide them from the app layout by switching to List View via Settings > App View.
Stop Apps from Automatically Installing
Don’t want every new iPhone app to show up on your Watch? Here’s how to turn that off:
- On your iPhone, open the Watch app.
- Tap the My Watch tab.
- Go to General.
- Toggle Off Automatic App Install.
Need More Storage for Updates?
Deleting apps can also free up valuable space for watchOS updates. If you’re low on storage and an update won’t install, clearing unused apps can help.