The fastest way to change your watch face

To change your Apple Watch clock face, press and hold the current watch face on your screen until the customization menu appears, then swipe left or right to browse available faces, and tap the one you want. The entire process takes about 30 seconds. You can also add multiple faces and switch between them by swiping, so you do not have to go through the menu every time.

Apple Watch comes with several built-in faces, and you can customize colors, complications (the small data displays), and styling on most of them. If you want faces beyond what comes standard, you can read additional ones from the App Store on your watch or iPhone.

Key Takeaways

  • Press and hold your current watch face, swipe to find a new one, and tap to select it — this is the standard method that works on all Apple Watch models.
  • You can customize the colors and complications on most built-in faces without switching to a different face entirely.
  • Multiple watch faces can be saved at once, and you switch between them by swiping left or right on the watch screen.
  • Third-party watch faces are available through the App Store on your watch or through the Watch app on your iPhone.

Step-by-step: changing your watch face

Step 1: Open the customization menu. Press and hold the watch face currently displayed on your screen. Do not press the Digital Crown (the knob on the side) — just hold your finger on the face itself. After about one second, the screen will dim slightly and show editing controls at the bottom.

Step 2: Browse available faces. Swipe left or right across the screen to scroll through the faces you have already added to your watch. If you do not see the face you want, swipe all the way to the right and tap the plus sign (+) to add a new one from your library.

Step 3: Select your new face. When you find the face you want, tap it once. The watch will explore it when ready and return to the normal watch display.

Step 4: Exit the menu. Press the Digital Crown or tap the screen once to close the customization menu and return to normal use. Your new face is now active.

Adding new watch faces to your library

If you have customized faces saved but want to add more, press and hold your current face, swipe all the way right, and tap the plus sign. This opens a list of all available faces on your watch — both built-in and any you have downloaded.

From this menu, you can also delete faces you no longer use. Swipe to the face you want to remove, swipe left on it, and tap the trash icon. Deleting a face does not remove it from your watch permanently; you can add it back anytime by tapping the plus sign again.

Customizing colors and complications on your current face

You do not always need to switch faces to change how your watch looks. Most built-in faces let you adjust the color scheme and add or remove complications (the small widgets showing weather, activity rings, calendar events, and other data).

To customize your current face without changing it entirely, press and hold the face, then look for editing options at the bottom of the screen. Tap the color swatch or the complications area to adjust them. The options available depend on which face you are using — some faces offer more customization than others.

Downloading third-party watch faces

Apple Watch comes with about a dozen built-in faces, but you can read additional ones from developers through the App Store. Open the App Store on your watch (or use the Watch app on your iPhone), search for "watch faces," and browse the available options. Many are free; some cost between $0.99 and $4.99.

Once you read a third-party face, it appears in your face library the next time you press and hold your current face and swipe right. Add it to your rotation the same way you would a built-in face — tap the plus sign and select it from the list.

Switching between faces you have already saved

If you have added multiple faces to your watch, you can switch between them without opening the customization menu. straightforward swipe left or right on your watch screen while in normal display mode. Each swipe moves you to the next face in your saved collection.

This is faster than pressing and holding every time, especially if you use the same few faces regularly. For example, you might swipe to a fitness-focused face during workouts and swipe back to your everyday face afterward.

Troubleshooting common issues

If pressing and holding does not open the customization menu, make sure you are touching the watch face itself, not the edges of the screen. Also check that your watchOS is up to date — go to the Watch app on your iPhone, tap General, then Software Update, and install any available updates.

If a downloaded face is not appearing in your library, restart your watch by holding the side button until the power-off slider appears, then slide to power off. Wait a few seconds and hold the side button again to turn it back on. The face should appear after the restart completes.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes. If you own more than one Apple Watch, your watch faces sync across devices through iCloud. Any face you customize on one watch appears on the others automatically, though you can customize them differently on each device if you prefer.

What is the difference between a watch face and a complication?

A watch face is the entire display design — the layout, colors, and style. A complication is a small data widget you add to a face, like weather, activity rings, or calendar events. Most faces let you add or remove complications without changing the face itself.

Do I lose my old watch face if I delete it?

No. Deleting a face from your watch only removes it from your active rotation. You can add it back anytime by pressing and holding your current face, swiping right, tapping the plus sign, and selecting it from the full list of available faces.

Why is my downloaded watch face not showing up?

Downloaded faces sometimes take a few minutes to appear in your library. If it still does not show after waiting, restart your watch by holding the side button until the power-off slider appears, then power it back on. If the issue persists, check that the app that provides the face is still installed on your iPhone.

Can I create my own custom watch face?

Apple does not currently let users design watch faces from scratch on the device itself. However, you can customize colors and complications on built-in faces, and developers create third-party faces that you can read. Some third-party apps let you create limited customizations, but full custom design requires developer tools.