Modern smartwatches these days are no less than a smartphone with smaller screens. You literally get all the features and apps you previously needed on a smartphone for your smartwatch, which has added a lot of ease to people’s lives.
Though it’s an awesome experience to enjoy all the applications and features on your smartwatch, many people who are new to the whole concept of smartwatches are unaware of how this works.
Similarly, many users don’t know how to get apps on their smartwatches. But you have nothing to worry about as I have answers to all your confusion.
After getting hands-on experience with smartwatches from different brands, I put up this guide for you containing some simple steps to get your favorite apps on your smartwatch. I will also take you through the method for uninstalling or removing these apps from your mobile phone.
Installing Apps on Andriod Smartwatch
If this is your first time trying to download and install apps on your Android smartwatch and you have yet to learn how this whole process works, try the 2 step-by-step methods explained below to perform this task without much hassle.
Method #1: Installing Apps Directly on the Watch
The first method lets you download and install apps directly on your smartwatch. Here is what you need to do for this:
- Press the “Power” button on the smartwatch to turn it on.
- Head to the menu bar on the watch’s screen.
- Select the “Setting” icon or option from the screen.
- Scroll down to locate the Play Store option and tap on it.
- Once you navigate to the Play Store, hit the “Search” icon on top.
- Search for the app you wish to download.
- Choose the “Install” option on the screen to install or download the required app on your smartwatch.
- Wait till the installation process completes, and you finally succeed in getting your hands on the desired app.
Method #2: Using Phone to Install Apps
Another method you can use to install apps on your smartwatch is by using the smartphone your watch is connected to.
Following are the steps you have to go through for this process.
- Turn on the Bluetooth connection on both your watch and your smartphone.
- Connect the two devices via Bluetooth connection.
- You can also pair them together via a Wi-Fi connection.
- Once the connection is made, find the desired app in the Play Store of your mobile device.
- Tap “Install” to download the app on your phone.
- Wait for a few seconds till the installed app syncs with your smartphone.
- Once synced, you can use the downloaded app on your smartwatch without hassle.
Uninstalling Apps On Smartwatches
Now that you have gone through two simple methods to install or download the apps of your choice on your smartphone, it’s time to understand how you can remove these apps from your smartwatch.
You can easily uninstall apps on your smartwatch using the 2 step-by-step methods elaborated below.
Method #1: Using Smartwatch
The first method allows you to uninstall apps from your smartwatch directly from the watch without the interference of any third-party app or device.
To do this, follow these steps:
- Press the “Power” button on your smartwatch to open it.
- Head down to the Play Store icon and tap on it.
- Now scroll down on your watch’s face and open “My Apps.”
- Select the app you wish to uninstall.
- Scroll down and hit “Uninstall.”
- The selected app will be removed from your smartwatch.
Method #2: Using a Smartphone
You can also remove or uninstall an app from your smartwatch using your phone with these steps.
- Head to the Wear OS app on your smartphone.
- Go to Google Play.
- Scroll down and find the My apps section.
- Choose the app you wish to uninstall from your smartwatch.
- Hit the “Uninstall” option and wait till it syncs with your watch.
Downloading and Installing Apps On Apple Watch
If you own an Apple Watch, downloading and installing apps on it would be slightly different. Here are the 2 step-by-step methods you can use to perform this task on your Apple Watch.
Method #1: Using Apple Watch
For the first method, you can install the apps you want on your watch directly using the watch itself.
Here are the steps you need to follow for this:
- Press your watch’s “Digital Crown” to get to the Home screen.
- Tap to select “App Store.”
- Hit the “Search” icon to locate the apps via Dictation or Scribble.
- Scroll down on the watch face to find featured and curated apps.
- Hit an app to explore everything about it, from the reviews to ratings, and release notes.
- Press the “Get” option to install it on your Apple Watch.
Method #2: Using iPhone
Another method to install and get your desired apps on your Apple Watch is via the iPhone your Apple Watch is paired with.
To do this, here is what you need to do:
- Head to the “Watch” app on your iPhone.
- Go to the “My Watch” tab.
- Scroll to find the app you wish to add to your watch.
- All the apps that can be installed on your iWatch will show in the Available Apps section.
- Tap the “Install” option to add or install an app to your watch.
Hopefully, this guide will make the whole process of adding and removing apps on your smartwatch a lot easier. You can also consult the user manual you get with your smartwatch to know how the installation process works on it.
FAQs
Can I Download Apps Directly to My Smartwatch?
This depends on the smartwatch’s operating system. Some smartwatches allow direct downloads, while others require a paired smartphone to download apps.
How Do I Download Apps on an Apple Watch?
Open the App Store on your Apple Watch.
Browse or search for the app.
Tap the download button.
Enter your Apple ID password if prompted.
How Do I Download Apps on a Wear OS (Google’s Smartwatch OS) Watch?
Open the Google Play Store on your watch.
Browse or search for the app.
Tap the download button.
The app will automatically install.
Do I Need a Smartphone to Download Apps to My Smartwatch?
Some smartwatches require a paired smartphone to download apps, while others can download apps directly via Wi-Fi.
What Types of Apps Can I Download to My Smartwatch?
The available apps depend on the smartwatch’s operating system. Common categories include fitness, productivity, entertainment, and more.
How Do I Manage Apps on My Smartwatch?
Most smartwatches allow you to manage apps directly on the watch or through a paired smartphone app.
Is It Safe to Download Any App to My Smartwatch?
It’s recommended to download apps from official sources like the Apple App Store or Google Play Store to ensure they are safe and free from malware.
Can I Use the Same Apps on My Smartwatch as on My Smartphone?
Some apps have versions for both smartphones and smartwatches, while others may be specific to one device.
