How do I access the app switcher in watchOS 27 to close apps?

saadat210 wrote:

How do we access the App Switcher? I just purchased a brand new Apple Watch Ultra 4, and have finished setting it up, but I'm spending way too much time trying to figure out how I can

1.) See which apps are currently running

2.) How to stop them from running.

NO apps are running except the app currently displayed.

There is a 19 year old myth that somehow apps that are suspended are secretly running. On any iOS device the only app that is running is the one that is currently active on the screen. The App Switcher is just a list of apps that have been used; none of them are running, and killing them arbitrary actually uses more energy (not less) and also slows down your device.

See: Why you shouldn't close "background" apps | Communities

abc-d_123 wrote:

The app switcher does not work in watchOS 27. When I press the digital crown, the new app grid appears. When I double press it, the new grid still appears. I need the app switcher so I can close apps.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: App switcher not working

Apple's guidance:

Quit an app

If an app isn’t responding, you can quit and reopen it to try to resolve the issue. (Typically, there’s no reason to quit an app; quitting it doesn’t save battery power, for example.)

1. 1. From the app you want to quit, press and hold the side button until the sliders appear.
   2. Press and hold the Digital Crown until the watch face appears.

Would be if you actually read it.

The “App Switcher “ you refer to has been replaced by the app home screen you get when you press the Digital Crown. It is a dynamic screen containing icons for the apps you have most recently or more commonly use (so it will change as you ope and use apps). In addition, there is an icon at the center bottom for accessing the grid or list view (depending on which you selected in settings).

“Closing” apps is largely a waste of time. It should only be used for troubleshooting. The instructions for that are also on the page I linked to.

Use apps on Apple Watch - Apple Support

abc-d_123 wrote:

The app switcher does not work in watchOS 27. When I press the digital crown, the new app grid appears. When I double press it, the new grid still appears. I need the app switcher so I can close apps.

1. You get to the entire app grid by pressing the digital crown to bring up the dynamic app grid, then you turn the digital crown.
2. It is rarely necessary to close apps on the Watch. Doing so just uses more battery. Only force-close an app if it's really not working.

How do we access the App Switcher? I just purchased a brand new Apple Watch Ultra 4, and have finished setting it up, but I'm spending way too much time trying to figure out how I can

1.) See which apps are currently running

2.) How to stop them from running.

Very simple question. Double tapping the crown is not working for me, nor is pressing and holding the bottom of the screen while in an app.

saadat210 wrote:

2.) How to stop them from running.

Why do you think you need to do that? The only time that's ever required is if the app is malfunctioning. Honestly, I can't say I've ever had that happen on a watch.

Yeah I have this too. Annoying. I’m guessing it’s a bug?

But what about app switching with the “app switcher”? I can’t get to it either with the double press of the crown.

That was so not helpful.