why is my apple watch stuck on grid view list view
When you open the app view page on your Apple Watch, it sometimes freezes in grid view or list view. But what is causing this to happen?
If an Apple Watch is stuck on the Grid View/List View screen, the system is likely being overworked. A software update or erasing apps should fix this. Other fixes include selecting an app view on the Watch app, restarting the Apple Watch and iPhone, or unpairing and re-pairing the devices.
To learn how to perform these fixes and get your watch working back the way it was before it froze, continue reading.
Select App View on Your iPhone’s Watch App
If your Apple Watch is frozen on the app view screen, it’s probably because you were trying to switch it because you want a different organization style for your apps.
The grid view is the default organization style, but if you’re unfamiliar with the app icons, it may be more useful for you to have your apps listed in alphabetical order with the icons next to them.
Sometimes an overworked system can cause the app view screen to freeze, so the best way to bypass this is by using the iPhone’s Watch app. Once you have the app opened on your iPhone, click on My Watch, then App View, then check List View.
If you want to change the app view again, you’ll need to open this page on your iPhone’s Watch app to avoid it possibly freezing again, but we would recommend you update your system so it doesn’t crash or freeze while using other apps.
This may automatically cause you to exit the app view screen on your Apple Watch, but you may have to tap Cancel on your screen to exit it. If this doesn’t unfreeze your watch, try the following troubleshooting tips.
Erase Any Unnecessary or Unused Apps
If your system is overworked, it’s probably because unused or unnecessary apps are taking up too much space and data on your Apple Watch. You can delete these apps through the iPhone Watch app.
Once you have the app open, go to the My Watch tab, then scroll down until you find the section titled “Installed on Apple Watch.” These are apps that you can remove. Tap the app you want to uninstall, then tap the toggle next to “Show App on Apple Watch.”
Repeat for all other apps you want to uninstall. Tap Cancel on the app view screen on your Apple Watch to see if this worked. If your screen is still frozen, try the next few troubleshooting tips.
Restart your iPhone and Force Restart Your Apple Watch
The next thing you can try to get your Apple Watch unstuck is to restart both your iPhone and your Apple Watch. This should be the simple traditional restarting process for the iPhone, since it doesn’t have a frozen screen, but you’ll have to perform a force restart on your Apple Watch because the screen is unresponsive.
To restart your iPhone, press and hold one of the volume buttons and the side power button simultaneously until the power-off screen appears. Drag the Power Off slider and wait for the iPhone to turn off.
After about 30 seconds of being powered down, you can turn your iPhone back on by pressing and holding the side power button on the right until the Apple Logo appears on the screen. You may need to redownload and install the Apple Watch update, and it should work more smoothly and quickly this time.
To force restart your Apple Watch, you’ll need to press and hold both the Digital Crown and the side power button for at least 10 seconds. Release those buttons when the apple logo appears. This should bring you back to your home page.
Unpair Your Apple Watch from Your iPhone and Re-Pair Them
If these tricks won’t work to get your Apple Watch out of the App View screen, you may have to try unpairing and re-pairing your Apple Watch from your iPhone.
To unpair your Apple Watch from your iPhone, open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone and tap the My Watch tab. Tap on All Watches to bring up the watches on your watch list. Keeping your Apple Watch close to your Apple Watch, tap the info button (a little lowercase letter i inside a circle), then tap Unpair Apple Watch.
If prompted, click on Keep Cellular Plan, and type in your Apple ID password to disable the Activation Lock. Tap Unpair once more when prompted.
To re-pair your Apple Watch to your iPhone, tap Pair New Watch on the Apple Watch iPhone app, then tap Set Up for Myself.
Keep your Watch nearby so that your iPhone can find your watch. When it appears, tap Set Up Apple Watch, and follow the instructions given on your iPhone and your Apple Watch. You may need to redownload and install the Apple Watch update.
Update Your Apple Watch
One of the best fixes for this issue and to keep your Apple Watch from freezing on the app view screen in the future, or any screen for that matter, is to update your Apple Watch to the latest operating system.
Luckily, you can do this while your Apple Watch is frozen because the download happens on the iPhone and will reboot your Apple Watch. Oftentimes, a frozen screen is caused by an old system being overloaded or overworked, and a new system will be able to handle this better.
This will only work if you have an older version of iOS than the latest one available for your Apple Watch. To update your Apple Watch to the latest operating system, open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, then select the My Watch tab. Tap on General, then Software Update.
If there is an update available for download, you will find the option to Download an Update. Tap this button, and enter your passcode if prompted. A progress wheel will appear on your Apple Watch if the frozen screen is bypassed and the update begins downloading. It will take several minutes to complete, so make sure your watch is on its charger while it updates.
If none of these fixes work to return your Apple Watch from the App View screen to the clock face, you may have a hardware issue with your watch that will need to be repaired by people who work for Apple. We recommend making an appointment ahead of time so you can get a quote and can ensure your watch will get fixed in a timely manner. Otherwise, your best bet is to just buy a new Apple Watch.