Can’t delete apps on watch

Launch the iOS Watch app on your iPhone.

Tap My Watch in the bottom-left corner of the screen.

Scroll down to the "Installed on Apple Watch" list and tap the app that you want to uninstall.

Toggle the switch next to Show App on Apple Watch to the grey OFF position.

How to Delete Apple Watch Apps From Your Watch.

Press the Digital Crown on your Apple Watch to bring up the App View.

If you're using List View, swipe left across the app you want to remove, then tap the red trash button. If you're using Grid View, tap and hold to activate jiggle mode, then tap the X in the top-left corner of the app you want to remove.

Tap Delete App to confirm.

I don’t have the “x” either and as for the install uninstall it’s greyed out soon I can’t move them. Has anyone figured out how to delete it yet? I can’t do the update and it’s driving me crazy getting the notifications I can’t.

This still in not working for me! My apps will NOT present with an "x" even after following all the steps! I despise Messenger an I want it off my watch! I have reset my watch 3 times. It is not on my iPad or iPhone but remains on my WATCH. GRRRRRRR!

I have a Series 3 Apple Watch, and the first few months after I purchased it I was able to delete when App View was in grid because the X would be available to tap.

I’ve tried everything here, but unfortunately I still can’t delete apps. I completed the screen time steps, switched to grid view, got the jiggling icons, but still no Xs to allow me to delete any apps. Even tried rebooting on top of that, still no Xs available on grid view.

Sadly, I haven’t been able to update watch for over three months due to not being able to delete apps to make room for update/s. Watch capacity is 4.2 GB but currently only 2.0 GB available, but it needs at least 2.7 to be to be able to update.

I don’t want to buy a new Apple watch because I haven’t even had this 7 months! If I can’t update regularly I feel it’s going to cause more problems. I’m already noticing lack of responsiveness when it comes to rebooting it. Very disappointing.

Thanks, Valerie and everyone! I’ve unpaired my Apple Watch and am in the midst of pairing again, which apparently takes a while since this time (unlike initial pairing) it’s getting back up from iCloud.

Hopefully this will allow me to eventually delete some apps and do the latest update/s.

I do want to take the time to say I’m very appreciative of these discussions and everyone’s contributions. I’ve certainly read more than a few replies on various topics, and each time I’ve been pleasantly surprised by finding the solutions without having to do any additional work. This is my first time actually replying (I guess I hit my breaking point, ha ha). :)

I’ll post again if needed, although at this point keep in mind no news is good news.

I tried this and deleted apps on my watch, but that didn’t give me adequate space, and it seemed the only way I could update the watch software was to unpair my watch and re-pair it with my iPhone. After 12 hours trying to update them watch, I took it off its charger and the watch screen said to complete the installation using the watch app on my phone. I tried that. My phone now does not recognize my watch, and my watch has turned off and seems to have died.

Well said! I wholeheartedly agree. Initially it was easy to delete apps on my Series 3, but I think somewhere along the way a Watch OS update must have impacted the functionality of being able to delete apps the same way I do on my iPhone (icons jiggle and I can delete). I know I should just contact Apple and ask them to explain why this functionality isn’t working, but after reading your last reply realized I’m not likely to have much impact. I hope your watch lasts long time, but hopefully you don’t end up aging while waiting for it to update!

Did this allow you to delete some of the Apple apps that they placed on there? I want to get rid of the wallet on my watch I want to get rid of the health and fitness on my watch, etc. but those I have been unable to uninstall. I’ve only been able to uninstall apps that I installed in the first place.

It allowed me to delete some, but not all Apple apps. Unfortunately, Wallet was among those Apple apps I could not delete. I don’t recall if there were default app installations on my initial watch pairing, which I am not allowed to delete later, or if it’s an issue with a Series 3 watch. I think it’s the latter.

Many other Apple apps remain, for which I’m not given the option to delete by being able to press app icon, wait for the movement and delete using the minus symbol. :(

I’m pretty sure if I were able to delete more I wouldn’t have to unpair and re-pair my watch every time it needed an update! Very frustrating. Not happy. Waste of money. 😠

I tried this & it doesn’t work. Toggles won’t move. I have an Apple Watch 3 w/ 4 apps installed & would like to delete two- HealthMate & Outlook.

How do you delete the apps that don’t have the “x”?

I can't delete apps either. I don't have the x on my watch and toggle on phone won't budge.

I'm having the same issue and came here for help!

Why not?

That worked! You are the best! Thanks!! :-)