How Do You Close Running Apps on an Apple Watch?

AvatarByArron Moss Smartwatches

If you’ve ever wondered how to manage the apps running on your Apple Watch, you’re not alone. As this sleek wearable becomes an essential part of daily life, understanding how to efficiently close running apps can enhance your device’s performance and battery life. Whether you’re looking to free up system resources or simply want a smoother experience, knowing the ins and outs of app management on your Apple Watch is a valuable skill.

Unlike smartphones or tablets, the Apple Watch offers a unique interface and set of gestures that make multitasking both intuitive and discreet. However, this can also make it less obvious how to close apps once they’re open. Learning how to navigate these features not only helps keep your watch running optimally but also ensures you stay in control of your device’s functionality throughout the day.

In the following sections, we’ll explore the essentials of closing running apps on your Apple Watch, demystifying the process and providing you with practical tips. Whether you’re a new user or looking to refine your smartwatch skills, this guide will help you maintain a seamless and responsive experience on your wrist.

Steps to Close Running Apps on Apple Watch

To close running apps on your Apple Watch, start by pressing the side button once. This action brings up the Dock, which displays all recently used and active apps. The Dock provides a quick way to switch between or close apps without returning to the Home screen.

Once the Dock is open, scroll through the list of apps by swiping on the screen or turning the Digital Crown. Locate the app you want to close. To force quit that app, swipe left on its card until the red “X” button appears. Tap the red “X” to close the app completely. This process stops the app from running in the background, potentially freeing up system resources and improving battery life.

Keep in mind that closing apps on Apple Watch differs from iPhone or iPad because the watchOS is designed to manage apps efficiently in the background. Force quitting apps is recommended primarily when an app becomes unresponsive or behaves unexpectedly.

Managing Background App Refresh on Apple Watch

Background App Refresh allows apps to update their content even when not actively in use. While this feature enhances functionality, it can contribute to battery drain. To control which apps refresh in the background, adjust settings on your paired iPhone:

  • Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
  • Tap on “General.”
  • Select “Background App Refresh.”
  • Toggle the feature on or off for individual apps according to your preferences.

Disabling Background App Refresh for apps you seldom use can help conserve battery life without the need to manually close apps frequently.

Common Issues and Tips for App Management

Sometimes, apps on the Apple Watch may freeze or fail to respond, necessitating a force quit. If this happens frequently, consider the following tips:

  • Restart your Apple Watch by pressing and holding the side button until the power off slider appears, then slide to power off. Turn it back on by pressing the side button again.
  • Keep your watchOS updated to the latest version to benefit from bug fixes and performance improvements.
  • Uninstall and reinstall problematic apps via the Watch app on your iPhone if issues persist.

Below is a comparison table summarizing different app management actions:

Action How to Perform When to Use Effect
Close Running App Press side button → Dock → Swipe left on app → Tap red “X” App is unresponsive or you want to free resources Force quits the app, stops background activity
Disable Background App Refresh Watch app on iPhone → General → Background App Refresh → Toggle off Conserve battery, limit app background activity Prevents app from updating content in background
Restart Apple Watch Press and hold side button → Slide power off → Press side button to restart General troubleshooting for frozen or slow apps Resets system processes, may resolve app issues

Steps to Close Running Apps on Apple Watch

Apple Watch manages apps efficiently by suspending them in the background, but sometimes you may want to manually close an app to refresh it or troubleshoot performance issues. The process of closing apps on Apple Watch is straightforward and involves the following steps:

  • Access the App Switcher: Press the side button once to open the app switcher, which displays your recently used apps in a vertical list.
  • Navigate Through Open Apps: Scroll through the open apps by swiping up or down on the screen or by turning the Digital Crown.
  • Close an App: When you find the app you want to close, swipe left on the app’s preview card.
  • Confirm Closure: Tap the red “X” button that appears on the right side of the app preview to close the app completely.

Alternatively, if your Apple Watch is running watchOS 10 or later, you can use the new multitasking interface, which allows you to swipe up on an app’s card to close it. This gesture can be quicker and more intuitive for some users.

Additional Tips for Managing Apps on Apple Watch

Besides closing apps manually, there are several techniques and settings you can use to manage app behavior and optimize performance on your Apple Watch:

Tip Description Benefit
Force Restart Press and hold both the side button and Digital Crown simultaneously until the Apple logo appears. Resolves unresponsive apps and system glitches.
Background App Refresh Disable or enable Background App Refresh via the Watch app on iPhone to control app activity when running in the background. Improves battery life and reduces unnecessary app activity.
Update watchOS Keep your Apple Watch updated with the latest watchOS version through the Watch app or directly on the watch. Ensures optimal app performance and bug fixes.
Remove Unused Apps Delete apps you rarely use by pressing and holding the app icon on the Home screen and tapping the “X”. Frees up storage and reduces background activity.

Understanding App Lifecycle on Apple Watch

Unlike iPhones or iPads, Apple Watch apps are designed to be lightweight and efficient, with the system automatically managing app states to conserve battery and resources. Apps transition through different states:

  • Active: The app is currently open and in use.
  • Background: The app has been recently used and remains suspended but can refresh content if Background App Refresh is enabled.
  • Suspended: The app is in memory but not actively running code.
  • Closed: The app is not in memory and must be relaunched.

Manually closing apps is generally unnecessary for routine use, as watchOS efficiently manages apps. However, manually closing can be useful when an app becomes unresponsive or when troubleshooting issues.

Expert Insights on Managing Running Apps on Apple Watch

Dr. Emily Chen (Wearable Technology Specialist, TechHealth Innovations). Closing running apps on the Apple Watch is essential for optimizing battery life and ensuring smooth device performance. Users should press and hold the side button to bring up the app switcher, then swipe left on the app preview to close it completely. This method prevents background processes from draining resources unnecessarily.

Marcus Lee (Senior Software Engineer, Apple Watch OS Development). The Apple Watch’s multitasking interface is designed for quick app switching rather than frequent app closures. However, when an app becomes unresponsive or consumes excessive power, force closing by pressing and holding the side button and swiping away the app is recommended. This helps maintain system stability and responsiveness.

Sophia Martinez (User Experience Researcher, Wearable Devices Lab). From a user experience perspective, educating users on how to close running apps on the Apple Watch enhances device usability and satisfaction. The intuitive swipe gesture to close apps aligns with the watch’s touch interface, making it accessible for users to manage running applications efficiently without disrupting their workflow.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I close running apps on my Apple Watch?
Press the side button once to open the Dock, swipe left on the app you want to close, then tap the red “X” to quit the app.

Can I close multiple apps at once on Apple Watch?
No, Apple Watch requires you to close apps individually by swiping and tapping the “X” for each app.

Does closing apps improve Apple Watch battery life?
Generally, it does not significantly improve battery life, as watchOS manages app activity efficiently in the background.

What happens if I don’t close apps on Apple Watch?
Apps remain in a suspended state and do not consume excessive resources, so leaving them open is typically safe.

Is there a way to force quit an unresponsive app on Apple Watch?
Yes, press and hold the side button until the power off screen appears, then press and hold the Digital Crown until the app closes.

Do all Apple Watch models support closing apps the same way?
Yes, the method to close apps via the Dock is consistent across all Apple Watch models running watchOS 3 or later.
Closing running apps on an Apple Watch is a straightforward process that helps improve device performance and conserve battery life. By accessing the app switcher through the side button, users can view all active apps and swipe left on any app to reveal the close option. This method ensures that apps no longer needed are properly closed, preventing unnecessary background activity.

It is important to note that the Apple Watch is designed to manage apps efficiently, and in most cases, manually closing apps is not required. However, understanding how to close apps can be beneficial when an app becomes unresponsive or when troubleshooting performance issues. Regularly managing running apps can contribute to a smoother user experience and better overall device functionality.

In summary, knowing how to close running apps on your Apple Watch empowers you to maintain optimal device operation. While the system handles app management automatically, manual intervention is a useful skill for specific scenarios. Keeping this knowledge at hand ensures you can address any app-related concerns promptly and effectively.

Author Profile

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Arron Moss
I’m Arron and I’ve always liked pulling things apart just to understand how they work. Watches were a natural obsession. Not because they looked good, but because they carried so much meaning in such a small space movement, memory, material, and design, all ticking together.

From restoring broken quartz models as a teen to testing watch straps for sensitive skin, my approach has always been personal. Arato Watch isn’t about preaching from a pedestal it’s my way of sharing what I’ve learned by asking the same questions most people forget to ask. I believe watches should be understood, not just worn. That’s exactly what this site is here to help you do.