How to Force-Quit Misbehaving Apple Watch Apps - MacRumors
Skip to Content

How to Force-Quit Misbehaving Apple Watch Apps

by

Apple Watch apps rarely misbehave, but if one becomes non-responsive or fails to refresh data, sometimes force-quitting the app and relaunching it can solve the issue.

applewatchseries4digitalcrowndesign
Fortunately, it's a simple procedure. The following steps show you how it's done on Apple Watch models running watchOS 4 or later.

  1. Open the misbehaving app on your Apple Watch, either by tapping its complication or selecting it from the honeycomb-style app menu/list view, so that it takes over the display.
    force quit apple watch apps01

  2. Now, press and hold the Side button.
  3. Release the Side button once the power down menu appears.
    force quit apple watch apps02

  4. Next, press and hold the Digital Crown. You can release it once the app is whisked away from view and you're returned to the watch face.

And that's all there is to it. The next time you launch the app in question, it will load up as if for the first time, and hopefully play nice again.

If the problem you're having still persists, try restarting your Apple Watch from the power down screen, or consider re-installing the related app on your iPhone.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 11
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Caution)

Top Rated Comments

AZMecha Avatar
101 months ago
S4 using the new info graph face.

Has anyone noticed that the date & weather are not updating??
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
skywalkerr69 Avatar
101 months ago
“Apple Watch apps rarely misbehave” hahahahahahahaha I cried reading this.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
OUsooner08 Avatar
101 months ago
Actually you hit the side button and then swipe left and hit the X.
No that removes the app from your dock.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NufSaid Avatar
101 months ago
Actually you hit the side button and then swipe left and hit the X.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bingeciren Avatar
101 months ago
I’ve been trying to find a solution for the non responding / slow responding Workout program for a while. Apparently it is a well known widespread problem and no known real cure for it. Apple recommend to reboot the watch, unpair and re-pair it again but the problem comes back after a while.

This info to kick out a misbehaving program from the memory was the remedy I was looking for. It actually works like a charm. I keep the Workout in the Dock but delete it from the memory once I’m done with it. Next time I need to run the Workout, I launch it from the Dock. It spins its icon briefly and loads it. Once it’s loaded no lag, no freeze no misbehaving, it just works immediately. Problem solved.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
101 months ago
“Misbehaving”?! Might as well have said “Naughty” hahah.
2nd defintion at https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misbehave
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Apple Watch Ultra 2 Black Titanium

watchOS 27 Will Add These New Features to Your Apple Watch

Sunday May 24, 2026 11:53 am PDT by
Apple will unveil watchOS 27 during its WWDC 2026 keynote on Monday, June 8, and a handful of new features have been rumored already. The first developer beta of watchOS 27 should be available immediately following the keynote, and a public beta typically follows in July. The update should be released to all users with a compatible Apple Watch model in September. Below, we recap watchOS...
Apple Watch Blood Glucose Monitoring Feature 2

Apple Watch for Diabetes: The Latest on Apple's Plans for Non-Invasive Blood Sugar Monitoring

Tuesday May 26, 2026 9:30 am PDT by
For many years now, it has been rumored that the Apple Watch will eventually gain non-invasive blood sugar monitoring capabilities, which would enable millions of people with diabetes to track their blood glucose levels without needing to prick their skin with a needle or wear a dedicated continuous glucose monitor. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple recently shifted oversight of...
apple watch global running day 2026

Earn a Running Day Apple Watch Activity Award on June 3

Tuesday May 26, 2026 11:46 am PDT by
Apple plans to hold an Apple Watch Activity Challenge to celebrate Global Running Day on Wednesday, June 3. To complete the challenge, Apple Watch owners will be required to record a running workout of at least 5K on Global Running Day. On June 3, the world runs as one. This Global Running Day, record a running workout of at least 5K (3.1 mi) to earn this award. Use the Workout app or any...