The fastest way to change your watch face

To change your Apple Watch clock face, press and hold the current watch face until it enters edit mode, then swipe left and tap the plus sign to add a new face from the gallery. If you already have faces saved, swipe left past the current one to see them, then swipe right to go back and tap the one you want to use. The whole process takes about 30 seconds once you know where to look.

Your Apple Watch comes with several built-in faces, and you can customize each one with different colors, complications (small data displays), and styles. You can also read additional faces from the App Store if the built-in options don't suit you.

Key Takeaways

  • Press and hold your current watch face to enter edit mode, then swipe left to see other faces or add new ones.
  • Tap the plus sign to browse the full gallery of available watch faces and add the ones you want to keep.
  • Swipe right on the face carousel to go back to your current face, then tap any saved face to switch to it when ready.
  • You can customize each face with different colors, complications, and styles before making it your active face.
  • Additional watch faces are available through the App Store if you want options beyond the ones that come pre-installed.

Step-by-step: adding a new watch face from the gallery

Start by pressing and holding the watch face you see right now. After about a second, the screen will dim slightly and you'll see editing controls appear at the bottom. This is edit mode.

Swipe left on the screen. You'll see a carousel of any watch faces you've already added. Keep swiping left until you reach the end, where you'll see a large plus sign. Tap it to open the full gallery of available faces.

Scroll through the gallery by swiping up and down. When you find a face you like, tap it to preview what it will look like. Tap "Add" at the bottom of the screen. The new face is now saved to your watch.

Swipe right to go back to your face carousel. You'll see your new face in the list. Tap it to make it your active watch face, or leave it saved for later and keep using your current one.

Customizing a watch face before you switch to it

Many watch faces let you change the color, style, or which data displays (called complications) appear on them. To customize a face, press and hold it in edit mode, then look for editing options at the bottom of the screen.

Tap the color or style option to cycle through choices. For complications, tap the area where you want to add data—like the top, bottom, or corners—and choose what information you want to see there. Weather, activity rings, calendar events, and stock prices are common options, depending on the face.

Once you've set it up the way you want, tap outside the editing area or swipe to confirm your changes. Your customized version is saved automatically.

Switching between faces you've already saved

If you've already added multiple watch faces, you don't need to go back to the gallery every time. Press and hold your current face, then swipe left and right through your saved faces. Tap the one you want to use, and it becomes active when ready.

You can have as many watch faces saved as you want. The watch will remember all of them, and you can switch between them as often as you like. Some people keep a straightforward face for workouts, a detailed one for daily use, and a minimal one for sleep.

Finding and downloading additional watch faces from the App Store

The built-in watch faces cover most needs, but the App Store has more options. Open the App Store app on your Apple Watch, search for "watch faces," and browse what's available. Some are free; others cost a few dollars.

When you find one you want, tap "Get" and confirm with your Apple ID. The face downloads to your watch and appears in your gallery the next time you press and hold to edit. You can then add it to your carousel and customize it like any other face.

Not all third-party faces work the same way. Some let you customize colors and complications; others come as fixed designs. Read the description before downloading to see what options each one offers.

Troubleshooting: watch face won't change or edit mode won't open

If pressing and holding doesn't open edit mode, make sure you're pressing on the clock face itself, not on a complication or data display. Press in the center of the screen and hold for a full second. If the screen is locked, unlock your watch first.

If a watch face won't appear in your gallery after you add it, restart your Apple Watch. Press and hold the side button until the power-off slider appears, then slide to power off. Wait a few seconds, then press and hold the side button again to turn it back on. The face should show up once the watch restarts.

If you're trying to read a face from the App Store and it won't install, check that your watch is connected to Wi-Fi or Bluetooth and that you have enough storage space. Go to Settings > General > About on your watch to see how much space is available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete a watch face I don't want anymore?

Yes. Press and hold the face you want to remove, swipe to it in the carousel, then swipe left on it. A trash icon will appear—tap it to delete. Your active watch face cannot be deleted, so you'll need to switch to a different one first.

What's the difference between a complication and a watch face?

A watch face is the overall design and layout. A complication is a small widget on that face that shows specific information like weather, heart rate, or calendar events. Most faces let you add or remove complications to customize what data you see at a glance.

Do I need an iPhone to change my watch face?

No. You can change your watch face directly on the watch itself by pressing and holding. You can also use the Watch app on your iPhone to manage faces, but it's not required.

Why can't I find a watch face I used before?

If you deleted it, it won't appear in your gallery anymore. If it was a third-party face from the App Store and you uninstalled the app, the face is removed too. You can reinstall the app to get the face back.

Can I use the same watch face on multiple Apple Watches?

If your watches are paired to the same iPhone, your watch faces sync across them automatically. If they're paired to different iPhones, you'll need to add the faces separately on each watch.