A big and somewhat controversial change in watchOS 7 is the removal of Force Touch. This means that many apps now have to be customized and previous functions are now controlled differently - including changing the app layout.
With Force Touch, watchOS 6 users can open hidden menus on the Apple Watch, including options for clearing notifications or customizing watch faces. This also allows the app layout to be displayed in a grid or list view. However, since Force Touch is no longer supported, the feature had to be accommodated elsewhere. The question of why Apple removed Force Touch from watchOS 7 cannot be answered with certainty. This somewhat surprising the change is not the first, however. Old hands will certainly remember the iPhone XR, which came with the Haptic Touch feature. This is essentially a feedback mechanism that was supposed to replace the well-known 3D Touch. The function is now supported on all new iPhone models.
watchOS 7: How to display the app layout as a grid or list
So we now know one thing for sure: the Apple Watch Series 6 will not support Force Touch. What Apple will do with the newly gained space under the display remains to be seen. So, after removing Force Touch, Apple had to add this option to the Apple Watch's settings. Navigate to Settings and then select "App View." You can now choose between grid and list view from the App Layout menu.
watchOS 7: Big changes in the control area
Similarly, the calendar view now has to be changed in the settings, while the gesture for changing the movement goal in the activities application is just another menu item. The "Customize watch faces" menu is now called up by a long press. The removal of Force Touch therefore brings with it some changes in the area of controls. Selecting the app layout is just one example of many others. While Apple has already adapted its own apps, third-party providers have yet to follow suit. (Photo by raditya / Bigstockphoto)
