How to Force Quit Apps on Apple Watch in watchOS 27

You can force quit a frozen Apple Watch app in watchOS 27 without restarting the entire watch. Keep the unresponsive app on screen, open the power controls with the Side button, then hold the Digital Crown until the app closes.

This direct force-quit gesture is different from removing an app card from the App Switcher. Apple’s Apple Watch app guide explains normal app switching, while the button sequence below is useful when one app ignores taps, scrolling, or normal navigation.

Use force quit only for an app that is stuck. Closing well-behaved apps does not provide a general speed or battery benefit because watchOS manages background activity automatically.

Close an unresponsive Apple Watch app

Begin with the app visible on the display. If the whole watch ignores both buttons, skip to the restart method because the single-app gesture may not be able to complete.

Force quit the app with the buttons

The Side button opens the system power controls, and the Digital Crown then tells watchOS to close the foreground app.

1. Bring the frozen app to the foreground and leave it open.
2. Press and hold the Side button until the power controls appear.
3. Release the Side button without selecting a power option.
4. Press and hold the Digital Crown.
5. Release the Digital Crown when the app closes and the watch face appears.
6. Open the app again and test the action that previously failed.

Restart the Apple Watch normally

Restart when several apps are affected or system controls behave incorrectly but the watch still responds to the Side button.

1. Press and hold the Side button until the power controls appear.
2. Tap the power button if required, then drag the Power Off slider.
3. Wait for the display to turn fully black.
4. Press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears.
5. Unlock the watch and check the affected app again.

Force restart only when the watch is unresponsive

A force restart interrupts the operating system and should be reserved for a watch that cannot be restarted normally. Never use it while a watchOS update is in progress.

1. Press and hold the Side button and Digital Crown at the same time.
2. Continue holding both buttons for at least 10 seconds.
3. Release both buttons when the Apple logo appears.
4. Allow watchOS to finish starting before opening apps.

For related background, read our guides to closing apps across watchOS versions and the watchOS 27.2 App Switcher change.

Tips

Repeated freezes usually point to an app or software problem that needs more than a one-time force quit.

• Update the affected app from the App Store and install the latest stable watchOS release available for your model.
• Restart the paired iPhone if the app depends on a companion iPhone app or synchronization.
• Check free storage if multiple apps fail to launch or update.
• Do not force quit every app after each use because routine clearing is unnecessary.
• Remove and reinstall the problem app if it continues freezing and its data is safely synced or backed up.

FAQs

Does force quitting delete the app or its data?

No. It closes the running app process. Unsaved work inside the frozen app may be lost, but the app remains installed and its stored data should remain intact.

Why does holding the Digital Crown activate Siri?

The force-quit step works after the Side button has opened the power controls. If you hold the Crown from a normal app screen, watchOS can interpret the action differently.

Can I force quit all Apple Watch apps at once?

Apple Watch does not provide a close-all command. More importantly, clearing every app is unnecessary because watchOS suspends and manages background apps on its own.

When should I force restart instead?

Force restart only when the entire Apple Watch is unresponsive and a normal shutdown is impossible. Hold the Side button and Digital Crown together for at least 10 seconds, then release when the Apple logo appears.