The basic way to close an app

To close an app on your Apple Watch, press and hold the side button (the one below the Digital Crown) until you see the power menu appear. This is not the power menu — keep holding. When the app switcher appears showing a stack of recently used apps, you can swipe up or down to find the app you want to close, then swipe left across it. The app will disappear from the list.

This method works on all Apple Watch models running watchOS 5 and later. The side button is the physical button on the right edge of your watch face, below the rotating crown at the top.

Key Takeaways

  • Press and hold the side button until the app switcher appears, then swipe left on any app to close it.
  • Most apps close automatically when you switch to a different app or return to the watch face, so manual closing is rarely necessary.
  • Closing an app does not delete it — it only removes it from active memory and stops it from running in the background.
  • If an app is frozen or not responding, closing it and reopening it usually fixes the problem.

When you actually need to close an app

Your Apple Watch closes apps automatically most of the time. When you press the Digital Crown to return to the watch face, or when you open a different app, the previous app shuts down on its own. You do not need to manually close every app after you use it.

Close an app manually only when it is frozen, not responding, or draining your battery noticeably. If an app is stuck on a loading screen or will not respond to taps, closing it and opening it again usually solves the problem. Some apps that run in the background — like fitness or navigation apps — may continue using battery even after you think you have stopped using them, and closing them can help.

The difference between closing and deleting

Closing an app stops it from running right now. Deleting an app removes it from your watch entirely. When you close an app using the side button method, the app stays on your watch and you can open it again whenever you want.

If you want to remove an app completely so it no longer takes up space on your watch, you need to delete it instead. You can delete an app by pressing and holding its icon on the watch face or in the app grid, then selecting "Remove App" from the menu. Deleting is permanent unless you reinstall the app later from the App Store.

Troubleshooting when the side button method does not work

If you press and hold the side button and nothing happens, your watch may be frozen. Try force-restarting your watch by pressing and holding both the side button and the Digital Crown at the same time for about 10 seconds, until you see the Apple logo appear on the screen. This restarts the entire watch and closes all running apps.

If the app switcher appears but you cannot swipe left to close the app, try swiping more deliberately from right to left across the app card. Make sure you are swiping horizontally, not vertically. If the app still will not close, force-restart your watch as described above.

Using Siri to close apps

You can also close an app by using Siri. Press and hold the Digital Crown to activate Siri, then say "Close [app name]" — for example, "Close Mail" or "Close Weather." Siri will close the app immediately.

This method is useful if the side button is not working or if you prefer voice commands. Siri works the same way whether you are looking at the watch or not, as long as you can hear the response.

Why your watch might feel slow even after closing apps

If your Apple Watch feels sluggish or slow to respond even after you close apps, the problem is usually not the apps themselves. Apple Watch has limited storage and memory compared to an iPhone, and closing individual apps rarely makes a noticeable difference in speed.

If your watch is running slowly, try restarting it completely by pressing and holding both the side button and Digital Crown for 10 seconds. If slowness continues, check that you have the latest watchOS version installed by opening the Watch app on your iPhone, going to General, then Software Update. Outdated software is a more common cause of sluggish performance than open apps.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to close apps to save battery?

Not usually. Most apps close automatically and do not drain battery when you are not using them. Only apps that run in the background — like fitness trackers, navigation, or music apps — use significant battery power. If battery life is poor, check which apps are running in the background through the Watch app on your iPhone under Privacy, then close the ones you do not need active.

What happens if I close an app by accident?

Nothing bad happens. The app is still on your watch and you can open it again immediately by tapping its icon. Closing an app does not delete any data or settings — it just stops it from running right now.

Can I close multiple apps at once?

No, you have to close them one at a time. Press and hold the side button, swipe to find each app, then swipe left to close it. If you want to close all apps quickly, force-restart your watch by holding the side button and Digital Crown together for 10 seconds.

Why does my app keep opening again after I close it?

Some apps are set to launch automatically when you raise your wrist or at certain times of day. Check the Watch app on your iPhone under the app's settings to see if "Show on App Launcher" or "Background App Refresh" is turned on. Turn these off if you do not want the app to reopen automatically.