To switch between grid view and list view on Apple Watch, press the Digital Crown, turn it to see all your apps, scroll to the very bottom, and tap List View or Grid View. You can also open Settings on the watch and tap App View. The change is instant, it does not remove any apps, and you can switch back the same way.
The steps below follow Apple’s Organize apps on Apple Watch guide for watchOS 27, the current version. Older versions of watchOS work a little differently, so there is a separate section for those.
What Grid View and List View Are
Your Apple Watch can show its apps in two layouts. Both show the same apps. Only the arrangement changes.
- Grid view shows round app icons grouped together with no names. You can drag the icons into any order you like.
- List view shows one app per row with its name next to the icon. Apple says the apps are listed in alphabetical order, and that order cannot be changed.
Two terms come up in every method. The Digital Crown is the round dial on the side of the watch. You can press it like a button or turn it to scroll. The side button is the flat button next to it.
What You Need
- An Apple Watch that is unlocked and on your wrist. No iPhone is needed for the two watch methods.
- watchOS 27 for the exact steps in the next two sections. To see your version, open Settings on the watch and tap General > About.
- If your watch is on an older version, skip to the section on older watchOS versions, or see how to update your Apple Watch.
How to Switch Views From the App Screen
This is the shortest route because you never leave your apps.
- From the watch face, press the Digital Crown once. Apple says this first shows the dynamic app grid, a small set of the apps you use most and have used most recently.
- Turn the Digital Crown to move past that set and see all your apps.
- Keep scrolling until you reach the very bottom of your apps.
- Tap List View or Grid View.
Your apps redraw in the new layout right away. Press the Digital Crown to go back to the watch face.
How to Switch Views in Settings
Use this method if you have a lot of apps and do not want to scroll to the bottom, or if you cannot find the button there.
- Press the Digital Crown and open the Settings app. Its icon is a gear.
- Scroll down and tap App View.
- Tap Grid View or List View.
- Press the Digital Crown to leave Settings and check your apps.
The setting applies to the whole watch. It is not tied to a watch face, so changing faces does not change your app layout.
What About the Watch App on iPhone?
In the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, tap My Watch > App View. Apple’s current guide describes one thing on that screen: Arrangement, which lets you drag your grid icons around on the larger iPhone screen. Some older guides say you can also pick Grid View or List View there. Apple’s watchOS 27 guide does not list that, so if you do not see those choices on your iPhone, use one of the two watch methods above.
Steps for Older watchOS Versions
Apple has moved this control more than once. Find your version below. Each row comes from the matching version of Apple’s Apple Watch User Guide.
| watchOS version | From the app screen | In Settings |
|---|---|---|
| watchOS 27 | Press the Digital Crown, turn it to see all your apps, scroll to the bottom, tap List View or Grid View | Settings > App View |
| watchOS 11 and watchOS 26 | Press the Digital Crown to go to the Home Screen, scroll to the bottom, tap Grid View or List View | Settings > App View |
| watchOS 9 | Press the Digital Crown, touch and hold the Home Screen, then tap Grid View or List View | Settings > App View |
The Home Screen is Apple’s older name for the screen that shows all your apps. If your watch is on a version that is not in the table, try Settings > App View first, since Apple lists that route for every version above.
How to Confirm the Change or Switch Back
Press the Digital Crown and turn it to see all your apps. Names beside the icons mean you are in list view. A cluster of icons with no names means you are in grid view.
To undo the change, repeat either method and pick the other option. Nothing is lost when you switch. Both views show the same set of apps.
How to Rearrange Apps in Grid View
Only grid view lets you choose where each app sits.
- Press the Digital Crown, then turn it to see all your apps.
- Touch and hold an app, then drag it to a new spot.
- Press the Digital Crown when you are done.
The small icons can be hard to drag on the watch. For more room, open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone and tap My Watch > App View > Arrangement. Touch and hold an icon, then drag it.
How to Remove an App While You Are There
Before you delete: removing an app from the watch leaves it on your iPhone. Removing an app from your iPhone also deletes it from the watch. Apple also notes that not all apps can be removed.
- Press the Digital Crown, then turn it to see all your apps.
- Touch and hold the app you want to remove.
- Tap the Delete button.
On watchOS 11 and watchOS 26, Apple’s guide gives a second way for list view: swipe left on the app, then tap the Delete button. To get an app back, including a built-in Apple app, download it again from the App Store on your iPhone or watch. Our guide on how to download an app on Apple Watch has the steps.
Troubleshooting
There is no List View or Grid View button at the bottom
Make sure you turned the Digital Crown far enough. On watchOS 27, the first press shows only your most used and recent apps. The button is at the bottom of the full set of apps, below the last one. If you still do not see it, use Settings > App View. On watchOS 9, there is no button at the bottom. Touch and hold the Home Screen instead.
I pressed the Digital Crown and it still shows a grid
On watchOS 27, pressing the Digital Crown from the watch face shows the dynamic app grid first, even if you chose list view. Turn the Digital Crown to move on to all your apps, which use the view you picked.
I cannot drag apps to a new spot
Check which view you are in. List view is always alphabetical. Switch to grid view, then touch and hold an app and drag it.
Settings has no App View option
Scroll through the whole Settings list before deciding it is not there. If it is truly missing, your watch may be on a version of watchOS older than the ones covered here. Check the version under Settings > General > About and update if an update is offered.
An app is slow or frozen after switching
Changing the view does not affect how apps run. If one app stops responding, see how to quit an app on Apple Watch. Apple notes there is usually no reason to quit apps, and that quitting them does not save battery power.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which view is better, grid or list?
List view is usually easier if you have many apps or do not recognize every icon, because each app shows its name and the list runs from A to Z. Grid view fits more apps on the screen at once and lets you put your favorites where you want them.
Does switching views delete or reset anything?
No. Apple describes list view and grid view as two ways to display the same apps. Switching does not install, remove, or sign you out of anything.
Can I reorder apps in list view?
No. Apple’s guide says list view arranges apps in alphabetical order. To set your own order, switch to grid view and drag the icons.
Can I use a different view for each watch face?
No. App View is a single setting in the Settings app on the watch. Apple’s guide does not offer a per-face option.
Where can I see how much space my apps use?
On the watch, go to Settings > General > Storage. On your iPhone, open the Apple Watch app and tap My Watch > General > Storage. Apple’s app settings and storage guide says you will see the total used, the amount left, and the amount each app uses.
What shows up when I first press the Digital Crown?
On watchOS 27, Apple’s Use apps on Apple Watch guide says you see the dynamic app grid, which shows the apps you use most and have used most recently. Turn the Digital Crown to see more apps. From inside an app, press the Digital Crown once to return to your apps, then again for the watch face.
Next Step
Once your apps are laid out the way you like, clear out what you do not use. If music is taking up room, see how to limit or remove music on Apple Watch.
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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