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How to Close Apps on Apple Watch (Without Side Button)

Quick Tips
  • To close open apps running in the background, unlock your watch → double-press digital crown to open the App Switcher window → choose the app and swipe it left. Tap the X icon to close the app.
  • Thanks to Apple’s competent app optimization, you don’t have to close background apps often unless there is some issue with the watch or the app.

How to Close Open Apps

The watchOS 10 update removed the side button for launching recent applications, and many users are struggling to find a way out. Here’s how to shut background apps on Apple Watch.

Step 1: Unlock your Apple Watch if you have a passcode. Then, double-press the digital crown on the side of your watch.

Digital crown of Apple Watch

Step 2: Now, you can see the recent apps dock on your screen. Swipe left on the app you wish to close and tap the red X icon to close it.

With the above method, you can easily close recent apps on the Apple Watch without the side button.

Note: You can close one application at a time via this method. So, after you close an open app, swipe left to close other applications in the background application dock.

How to Force Close Apps on Apple Watch

While Apple does not prescribe an official method for force-shutting or force-quitting Apple Watch apps, there is a workaround.

Once the app you wish to force quit is open, long-press the side button until you see the Emergency SOS screen. Next, press and hold the digital crown till the app closes and the watch face appears.

Should You Close Background Apps on Apple Watch?

Apple is great at optimizing apps and background activity and resource management, so it’s not necessary to close background apps regularly. In fact, closing and re-opening commonly used apps can affect battery and performance more adversely.

However, if you’re watch is running slow or draining battery comparatively faster, its wiser to shut down background applications.

In conclusion, unless you are experiencing a specific issue with a particular app, manually closing background apps on your Apple Watch is generally unnecessary and may not provide any noticeable benefits.

FAQs

1. Can I remap the side button to launch the recent applications dock?

No. The watchOS 10 doesn’t allow you to go back to the good old way of opening the recent apps’ dock via the side button.

2. Can I close all running apps on my Apple Watch at once?

No. Apple Watch does not provide any means to shut all the apps running in the background at once.

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Last updated on 26 August, 2024

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