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How to Force Quit Apple Watch Apps in watchOS 27

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How to Force Quit Apple Watch Apps in watchOS 27Monday September 21, 2026 6:33 AM PDT by Tim HardwickPrior to watchOS 27, the easiest way to force quit Apple Watch apps was by swiping across them in the App Switcher screen, but th

Published Oct 28, 2026

How to Force Quit Apple Watch Apps in watchOS 27

Monday September 21, 2026 6:33 AM PDT by Tim Hardwick

Prior to watchOS 27, the easiest way to force quit Apple Watch apps was by swiping across them in the App Switcher screen, but that's no longer possible because the Digital Crown double-click gesture that got you there is now reserved for Apple's upcoming Live Rewind AI feature. Fortunately, there's still a way to force quit apps in watchOS 27.

From the app you want to quit, press and hold the Side button until the sliders appear. Then simply press and hold the Digital Crown until the watch face appears. You've now quit the app. Quitting an app doesn't save battery power, but it's useful if the app is misbehaving.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4, watchOS 26, watchOS 27
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