To add apps to your Apple Watch, open its App Store, find an app, tap Get or its price, then double-click the side button when prompted. You can also install compatible apps from the Watch app on your paired iPhone.
These steps use watchOS 27 and the current iPhone Watch app menus. You need connectivity, compatible software, regional availability, and the appropriate account permissions to install an app. Individual apps can have stricter requirements than watchOS itself.
The short version
- Install on your watch: Find an app in App Store, tap Get or its price, and double-click the side button when prompted.
- Install from iPhone: Open Watch, tap My Watch, then open Apps and tap Install beside an app under Available Apps.
- Add apps automatically: Turn on Automatic Downloads in your watch’s Settings > App Store.
- Restore a purchase: Open the watch’s App Store, scroll to the bottom, tap Account > Purchased, and tap the app’s Redownload button.
| Method | When to use it | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Watch App Store | Find and install an app directly | A compatible app available in your region |
| Available Apps on iPhone | Add a watch companion to an installed iPhone app | An iPhone app with a compatible watchOS version |
| iPhone App Store first | Get a new app for both devices | An app offering Apple Watch support |
| Automatic Downloads | Add compatible apps acquired on other devices | Compatible purchases associated with your Apple Account |
| Purchased on the watch | Restore a previously acquired app | An app that remains available and compatible |
| Built-in app search on the watch | Restore a deleted built-in app directly | The exact name of a supported removable app |
| Built-in app restoration on iPhone | Restore the corresponding watch app | A built-in app with iPhone and watch versions |
| Family Sharing purchases | Download a family member’s app | An eligible shared purchase supporting Apple Watch |
| Shared watch face | Get an app needed for a complication | A compatible shared face and app |
| TestFlight | Install a watch-only beta app | A compatible developer invitation and supported devices |
Install apps directly on your Apple Watch
Press the Digital Crown, then swipe up to see all apps and open App Store. Tap Search and enter an app name, or scroll through the featured apps and collections. Select the app you want, then tap Get or its price. When prompted, double-click the side button to download and install it.
You can use this method on both GPS and GPS + Cellular models running watchOS 27. The app must support your watch and be available in its region.
For a text search, tap the search field and then the input-method button at the bottom right. Choose Dictate to speak your query, Scribble to draw letters, or Keyboard to type, then tap Search. Input options vary by language, and Apple Watch SE 3 does not have the onscreen keyboard.
You can also enter your search using a nearby paired iPhone. Start entering your query in App Store > Search on the watch, then tap the Apple Watch Keyboard Input notification on your iPhone and type or dictate. Finish the search and installation in the watch’s App Store.
Add a companion app from your iPhone
On your paired iPhone, open Watch, tap My Watch, then open Apps. Scroll to Available Apps and tap Install beside the app you want. This route requires an installed iPhone app that offers a compatible watchOS version.
For a new app, open App Store on your iPhone and tap Search. You can also browse Today, Games, Apps, or Arcade. Select an app offering Apple Watch support, then tap Get or its price.
Authenticate as prompted using the side button and Face ID, Touch ID, or your Apple Account password. After the iPhone app downloads, its compatible watch version can install automatically, or you can install it through Available Apps. Downloading an iPhone-only app does not create an Apple Watch app.
Choose whether apps download automatically
Apple says compatible iPhone apps install on your paired Apple Watch automatically by default. To control downloads of compatible watchOS versions of free and paid apps acquired on other devices, open Settings > App Store on your watch. Turn on Automatic Downloads to enable that behavior, or turn off Automatic Downloads to stop it.
You can also manage this from your paired iPhone. Open Watch, tap My Watch, then open App Store and turn on or turn off Automatic Downloads. These downloads apply to compatible purchases associated with the relevant Apple Account.
Restore apps you previously downloaded
Open App Store on your Apple Watch and scroll to the bottom. Tap Account > Purchased, find the app, and tap its Redownload button, shown as a cloud-download icon. The app must still be available and compatible with your watch.
To restore a deleted built-in app directly, search for its exact name in the watch’s App Store. Tap Redownload, wait for restoration, then open the app from the Home Screen. This applies to removable built-in apps supported by your model, watchOS version, and region.
For a built-in app with both iPhone and Apple Watch versions, you can restore its iPhone counterpart instead. Open App Store on the paired iPhone, search for the app’s exact name, and tap Redownload. Apple says restoring that iPhone app also restores its Apple Watch counterpart.
Check compatibility and permissions if installation stalls
Check that the app supports your Apple Watch and its installed software, and that it is available in your region. For installation through Available Apps, confirm that the installed iPhone app includes a compatible watchOS version. Also check connectivity and the account permissions required for the download.
If you use a personally paired watch, review Screen Time restrictions on its paired iPhone. Open Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions and review the restrictions. Apple says relevant Screen Time changes on the iPhone also apply to its paired Apple Watch.
Keep installed watch apps updated
To update an installed app manually, open App Store on your watch and scroll to the bottom. Tap Account > Updates, then tap Update beside an app or Update All.
For automatic updates, open Settings > App Store on the watch and turn on Automatic Updates. You can also open Watch on iPhone, tap My Watch, open App Store, and turn on Automatic Updates. Turn off the same setting to stop automatic updates. This setting controls new versions of installed apps, while Automatic Downloads controls adding compatible apps acquired elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you download an app purchased by a family member?
Yes, you can download eligible shared purchases through Family Sharing when the app supports Apple Watch. On the watch, open App Store, scroll to the bottom, and tap Account > Purchased. Tap the family member’s name, find the app, and tap Redownload.
Can adding a shared watch face also install an app?
Yes, a compatible shared face can offer an app needed for a third-party complication. Open the message, email, or link containing the face, tap the face, then tap Add. Tap Get or the app’s price to download it, or tap Continue Without This App to omit it.
How do you install a beta app on Apple Watch?
For an available, compatible watch-only beta, install TestFlight on your paired iPhone and open the developer’s invitation email or public invitation link there. Tap View in TestFlight for an email invitation, tap Accept when joining for the first time, then tap Install for the watch-only app in the Apps list. You need watchOS 9 or later and a paired iPhone running iOS 16 or later.
Can you control the watch App Store from your iPhone screen?
Yes, you can use Apple Watch Mirroring with watchOS 27-compatible Series and Ultra models and a paired iPhone; it is unavailable on Apple Watch SE. On iPhone, open Settings > Accessibility > Apple Watch Mirroring and turn on Apple Watch Mirroring. Use the mirrored display and its onscreen Digital Crown and side button controls to operate your watch, including opening its App Store.