To download an app on your Apple Watch, open the App Store on the watch, find the app, tap Get (or the price), and double-click the side button to confirm. To add a watch app you already have on your iPhone, open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, tap My Watch, tap Apps, scroll to Available Apps, and tap Install.
These steps come from Apple’s watchOS 27 guide Get apps in the App Store on Apple Watch and its support article Download apps on your Apple Watch.
How to Download an App on Apple Watch
- Press the Digital Crown to see your apps, then open the App Store.
- Tap Search to find an app using Scribble, Dictation, or the keyboard, or scroll (or turn the Digital Crown) to browse featured apps and collections.
- Tap an app to see its description, ratings, reviews, screenshots, and privacy details.
- Tap Get for a free app, or the price for a paid app.
- When prompted, double-click the side button to download and install it.
Result: The app downloads and appears with your other apps when you press the Digital Crown. If it is hard to spot among the icons, you can switch your Apple Watch apps to list view to see every app by name.
Apple notes that a Get button means the app is free, though some free apps offer in-app purchases. If you see a Download button instead, you’ve already bought the app and can download it again without paying. Purchases use the payment method on your Apple Account, and cellular data charges may apply on a cellular watch.
How to Install an iPhone App on Your Apple Watch
Apple says the watch automatically installs watch versions of your iPhone apps by default, when they’re available. To add one that isn’t on your watch yet:
- Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
- Tap the My Watch tab.
- Tap Apps, then scroll down to Available Apps.
- Tap Install next to the app you want.
Result: The watch version installs, and you can open it from your watch’s app list.
How to Turn Automatic Downloads and Updates On or Off
- Open Settings on your Apple Watch.
- Tap App Store.
- Turn Automatic Downloads on to install the watch version of apps you buy on your other devices, or off to stop that.
- Turn Automatic Updates on or off to control whether apps update on their own.
You can change the same settings from your iPhone: open the Apple Watch app, tap My Watch, then go to App Store.
If You Can’t Find an App
- Check your purchases. In the App Store on your watch, scroll to the bottom, tap Account, then tap Purchased. You can redownload apps you’ve bought without paying again.
- Check your region. Apple says some watchOS apps aren’t available in every region or language.
- Check storage. On your watch, go to Settings > General > Storage to see how much space is left.
- Update watchOS. Some apps need a newer version. See how to install a software update on Apple Watch.
How to Remove an App From Apple Watch
Apple’s Organize apps guide says to press the Digital Crown, turn it to see all your apps, then touch and hold an app and tap the Delete button. Not all apps can be removed. Removing an app from your iPhone also removes it from the watch, but removing it from the watch leaves it on your iPhone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need my iPhone to download Apple Watch apps?
No. You can use the App Store directly on your watch, or use the Apple Watch app on your paired iPhone.
Why are apps appearing on my watch that I didn’t download?
By default, Apple Watch installs watch versions of your iPhone apps, and Automatic Downloads can install apps you buy on other devices. Turn off Automatic Downloads in Settings > App Store on the watch.
Can I get a deleted built-in app back?
Yes. Apple says you can restore apps, including built-in Apple apps, by downloading them from the App Store on your iPhone or Apple Watch.
New to Apple Watch? See whether you can pair an Apple Watch to an iPad, or learn what the water drop icon on Apple Watch means.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are tested on current devices or checked against official product documentation, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
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