The Apple Watch is a powerful companion to your iPhone, keeping you updated and organized with just a glance at your wrist. One of the most noticeable features of the Apple Watch is the layout of its apps. Apple gives users the flexibility to personalize the way they view and access these apps using two distinct modes: Grid View and List View. Whether you prefer a sleek honeycomb layout or a more straightforward alphabetical list, switching between these views is simple and quick.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to change the Apple Watch app layout and provide tips on deciding which view suits your preferences better.
Understanding the Two App Layouts
Before diving into how to switch views, it’s important to understand what sets the two layouts apart:
- Grid View: This is the classic honeycomb layout where all your apps are displayed as icons that you can move around and organize. It’s dynamic and visually appealing, but can sometimes be a bit chaotic or harder to navigate if you have many apps.
- List View: A more organized and accessible display where apps are listed in alphabetical order. It may not look as snazzy, but it’s very efficient for users who want to find apps quickly.
How to Change the App Layout on Your Apple Watch
Changing the app layout on the Apple Watch itself is easy and takes just a few taps:
- Wake up your Apple Watch and press the Digital Crown to go to the Home Screen.
- Once you’re on the Home Screen, press down firmly on the display until you feel a slight tap (this activates the Force Touch interface).
- You’ll now see an option to choose between Grid View and List View. Tap your preferred view to switch.
It’s that simple! You can switch views any time you want using the same method.
Alternative Method: Using the iPhone Watch App
If you prefer adjusting settings from your iPhone, here’s how you can change the layout:
- Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
- Tap on the My Watch tab at the bottom left corner.
- Scroll down and tap on App Layout.
- From here, you’ll only manage the layout of the Grid View, such as repositioning icons. To change between Grid and List View, go back and use your watch directly, as the layout switching can’t be done from the iPhone.
While the iPhone app is great for organizing apps in Grid View, it does not allow users to toggle between views—an important caveat to keep in mind.
Tips for Choosing the Right View
If you’re unsure which view to stick with, here are a few considerations to help you decide:
- Choose Grid View if: you enjoy a visually rich interface and want the freedom to customize where each app is located.
- Choose List View if: you prefer simplicity and efficiency and want to quickly scroll to your app without searching visually.
Organizing Your App Layout
Once you’ve chosen your preferred view, take a moment to organize your apps for optimal use:
- In Grid View, press and hold any app icon until they start jiggling. Then drag them into locations that make the most sense for your usage pattern—putting frequently used apps near the center for easy access.
- In List View, while you cannot reorder apps manually, the alphabetical layout makes them far easier to find—especially if you have numerous apps installed.
A little time customizing can lead to a much smoother Apple Watch experience day-to-day.
Final Thoughts
Your Apple Watch is all about personalization and convenience, and being able to switch and manage the app layout is just one more way it adapts to you. Whether you’re a fan of the visual flair of Grid View or crave the organizational simplicity of List View, Apple has made it incredibly easy to toggle between both. Try both and settle on the one that best matches your daily routine—you may even find yourself switching back and forth depending on your needs!
With just a press of the Digital Crown and a tap of your finger, your Apple Watch becomes truly yours.
