Default apps missing on the Apple Watch Series 5

Hey there rudeboy,

Thanks for reaching out to Apple Support Communities. I understand some apps are missing after setting up your Apple Watch. I’ll be happy to help.

When setting up your Apple Watch, you may see the option to add the apps from your iPhone. If you don’t allow this, you many have to manually add these. Take a look at this article for more info about setting up your watch with your iPhone:

Set up your Apple Watch

If apps are missing after restoring a backup, you may need to download them again from the App Store or install them from your iPhone if they show there. Take a look at this article for more info:

Get more apps on Apple Watch

You can read even more info about this here:

Install apps on your Apple Watch

Let me know if this helps.

I re-paired it the next day and slowly but surely the apps returned.

I guess patience is a good thing sometimes ;-}