How to Change the App View on Apple Watch

When I want to change how apps appear on my Apple Watch, I go directly to the layout settings and pick the view that fits how I use it. Here’s how I do it (and you can too) to switch between the two main app-views: Grid View and List View.

What are the two app views?

1. Grid View

In Grid View, your apps show up as a cluster of icons, laid out in a honeycomb pattern. It’s the default layout for many Apple Watches.

2. List View

In List View, your apps appear in a vertical list, typically alphabetical. You scroll through using the Digital Crown or your finger.

How I change the app view on Apple Watch

Here’s the step-by-step process I follow:

1. On the watch itself

1. Press the Digital Crown to go to the Home Screen.
   
2. Tap the Settings app (gear icon).
   
3. Scroll down and tap App View.
   
4. Choose either Grid View or List View. It changes immediately.
   
5. Press the Digital Crown to exit back to your apps.
   

2. Using my iPhone

1. Open the Watch app on your paired iPhone.
   
2. Tap the My Watch tab.
   
3. Tap App View.
   
4. Choose Grid View or List View. The change syncs to your watch.
   

Rearranging apps (if you picked Grid View)

In Grid View, you can rearrange icons: press and hold an app icon until everything jiggly-mode starts, drag the icon to the spot you prefer, then press the Digital Crown to save.

In List View, the apps are sorted alphabeticall,y and you cannot freely arrange them.

Tips

• If you install many apps and have trouble finding them via icons, List View can help since it shows names.
  
• If you prefer recognizing apps visually, Grid View may feel more natural to you.
  
• If you make changes on your iPhone and don’t see them take effect, ensure your watch is connected via Bluetooth and the iPhone is nearby.
  
• You cannot use folders in the app view on Apple Watch; it’s either grid or list only.
  
• Picking the view you prefer makes launching apps faster for your everyday use.
  

FAQ

I find that switching the app view on my Apple Watch from Grid to List (or vice-versa) is a simple change that can make a noticeable difference in how fast I open apps. Whether you prefer icon-rich layouts or straightforward lists, picking your view makes your watch more usable. Once you set it, you’re done — and you’ll likely forget you ever had the “wrong” layout.