Here’s why random apps automatically install on your Apple Watch

This has been driving me crazy.

Shortly after visiting the App Store on my iPhone I’d notice several new watch extensions installed on my Apple Watch. I know that I didn’t explicitly install MindNode, Drafts and FitStar on my Watch, and I specifically selected “Choose later” when setting up my Apple Watch.

What gives?

If this has been happening to you, there’s a simple reason. The answer comes via Andy Gipetti on Twitter: if you update an iOS app (on your iPhone, for instance) and it has a watch extension, the new watch extensions automatically gets installed on your watch.

@JasonOGrady I find when a App with a watch extension gets updated it automatically defaults to install onto watch even if it was off before

— Andy Gippetti (@AndyGip) June 6, 2015

This strange behavior occurs despite selecting “choose later” when you set up your Apple Watch. (If you selected “Install All” during setup, you’re probably used to having tons of watch extensions running.) Let’s hope that Apple fixes this wacky “install everything” behavior before too long (today at WWDC perhaps?) and my other current pet peeve: the massive, scrolling list of apps in the Apple Watch iOS app. Apple needs to split it up into watch extensions that are “installed” and “available.”