The inability of the Apple Watch to download applications is one of the main watchOS problems that a lot of consumers have to deal with. Apps sometimes have a tendency to get stuck during installation and never finish. Other times, they just refuse to download for no apparent reason at all. We've covered how to resolve the frustrating "apps won't download on Apple Watch" problem in our troubleshooting article. So, if you're having trouble installing applications on your Apple Watch and want some quick fixes, we've got you covered.
Ten Ways to Solve the Problem of Apple Watch Apps Not Installing
There are a few possible causes for your Apple Watch's app installation issues. But there are also just as many (if not more) approaches you may use to solve the issue. We'll look at each of these solutions for Apple Watch app installation in this post.
Not only that, but we'll also examine some of the initial causes of this issue. As always, you can easily browse through this page using the table of contents below.
Why Won't Apple Watch Apps Install?
Although a bad internet connection is the primary cause of applications often failing to install on Apple Watch, there are a few other potential obstacles to be aware of. The app installation problem on your watchOS device might also be attributed to incompatibility, congested storage, and random software bugs. We're going to investigate every potential reason and attempt some workable solutions in order to remedy the problem.
Verify the App's Compatibility with
Compatibility is the first thing you should look at if you're having trouble installing an app. Many well-known apps, such as WhatsApp, are still not accessible on Apple Watch. Therefore, confirm that the program you're attempting to install on your watchOS device is appropriate.
By the way, you may check out the method to use WhatsApp on your Apple Watch if you wish watchOS 8 included a WhatsApp app.
2. Toggle the Airplane Mode (Turn It On/Off)
Apps that often get permanently stuck on the loading screen may have a bad internet connection as their root cause. So, one way to assist you cure the problem is to speed up your internet connection.
- Swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen to bring up Control Center. After that, tap the Airplane button to turn it on.
- Now, wait for sometime and then tap the airplane mode icon again to disable it.
Often, all it takes to resolve a connection problem with your Apple Watch, iPhone, or iPad is to just flip the Airplane mode. Thus, if you have problems with your devices' networks or connection, always give this a go. It simply takes a few seconds, and there are no risks involved.
Downloads That Happen Automatically
Similar to iOS, watchOS provides an option for automatic app downloads, which enables you to download new Apple Watch apps—including free ones—that you've bought on other devices that are linked to your Apple ID. Therefore, if you want to be able to view your compatible iPhone applications on your Apple Watch, make sure that it is enabled.
- Go to Watch app on your iPhone -> App Store and then turn on the toggle next to Automatic Downloads.
- If the toggle is already enabled, turn it off. After that, restart both your iPhone and Apple Watch and then turn it back on.
Toggle Bluetooth, WiFi, and Cellular Networks; Turn Off/On Cellular/Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
Resetting the radios is another clever trick you should attempt to fix the app installation issue. It often resolves network-related problems immediately. Try it out, then.
- On Apple Watch: Head over to Settings app -> Wi-Fi, Cellular/Mobile Data, and Bluetooth and then turn off the toggles.
- Then, restart your Apple Watch. Press and hold the side button and then drag the power off slider to turn off the wearable device. Wait for a few seconds and then press and hold the side button again to turn on your smartwatch.
- On your paired iPhone: Open the Settings app -> Wi-Fi/Cellular and Bluetooth and then turn off the toggles. Then, restart your iOS device.
- On iPhone without a home button, press and hold either volume button and then side button until the power off slider shows up on the screen. After that, drag the power off slider to turn off your device. Now, press and hold your device until you see the Apple logo. Once your device has restarted, turn on Wi-Fi/Cellular and Bluetooth.
Just download one app at a time, please.
Make sure your Apple Watch only downloads one app at a time. It's something to keep in mind even if it may not seem like a clear answer for the app downloading issue. A weak internet connection might prevent many installations from failing at the same time.
Force-Switch Off Your iPhone and Apple Watch
One of the most common ways to troubleshoot an iPhone or Apple Watch is to hard reset, commonly referred to as force restart. In addition to clearing the cache, a hard reset may remove temporary files, which resolves a lot of issues. Therefore, you need to check it out if you ever encounter any common watchOS issues.
- Hold down the side button and the Digital Crown simultaneously until the screen goes black and the Apple logo shows up on the screen.
- On iPhone 8 or later: Press and quickly release the volume up button. Then, press and quickly release the volume down button. After that, press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
- On iPhone 7/7 Plus: Press and hold the side button and the volume down button simultaneously until you see the Apple logo on the screen.
- On iPhone 6s/6s Plus or earlier: Hold down the home button and the side/top button at once until the screen goes black and the Apple logo shows up on the screen.
After restarting your Apple Watch, try installing applications once again. If they install without any problems, the problem is probably fixed.
Reset Network SettingsStill no answer as of yet? To address any network-related difficulties that could be stopping the applications from installing on your Apple Watch, try resetting the network settings.
- On iOS 15 or later: Open the Settings app on your paired iPhone -> General -> Transfer or Reset iPhone -> Reset -> Reset Network Settings.
- On iOS 14 or earlier: Launch the Settings app on your iPhone -> General -> Reset -> Reset Network Settings.
Clear Out Your Apple Watch
Issues like as slowness and trouble installing applications remain when Apple Watch runs out of space. Therefore, if you haven't cleaned your wristwatch in a while, the problem can be with the crowded storage. So, attempt to tidy up your smartwatch.
However, before taking drastic measures, pay careful attention to your Apple Watch's storage use as it will provide more clarity on what has to be cleared out.
- Head over to the Watch app on your iPhone -> General -> Storage. At the top of the screen, you should see a bar showing a breakdown of how the storage has been used.
- On this very screen, a long list of apps will appear along with the total amount of space consumed by each app. Now, go ahead and get rid of all the useless apps and media to free up enough space on your Apple Watch.
Update the software on your iPhone and Apple Watch.
Update the OS on both your iPhone and Apple Watch if applications are still not installing on your wearable. It might be obstructed by the out-of-date software.
- Open the Watch app on your iPhone -> General -> Software Update. Now, download and install the latest version of the watchOS version.
- On your iPhone, launch the Settings app -> General -> Software Update. After that, download and install the latest iteration of iOS on your device.
Repair Your Smartwatch to iPhone and Erase Your Apple Watch
Should the aforementioned solutions prove ineffective for resolving the issue of your Apple Watch not installing applications, try wiping it off and repairing it using your iPhone. It is said to be a nuclear answer for Apple Watch because of its ability to resolve even the most difficult problems.
- Head into the Settings app on your Apple Watch -> General -> Reset -> Erase Content and Settings.
- Now, you will get a popup asking you to confirm the action. Tap Erase All to finish.
- Alternately, you can navigate to the Watch app on your iPhone -> General -> Reset -> Erase All Content and Settings. Next, tap Erase All to confirm.
Following the steps to pair the Apple Watch with your iPhone, after your Apple Watch has been wiped, launch the Watch app on your iPhone.
Easily Fix the Problem of Apps Not Installing on Apple Watch
You're all set! These thus represent the best methods for resolving the problem of applications not installing on Apple Watches. Hopefully, the issue is now behind you. As always, we would appreciate hearing about your thoughts and the trick that enabled you to resolve the problem. Additionally, don't hesitate to mention any additional effective fix that you think this troubleshooting guide is lacking.