The fastest way to switch watch faces
To change your Apple Watch clock face, press and hold the current watch face until the customization menu appears, then swipe left to see other faces and tap the one you want. If you don't see the face you're looking for, scroll down to the plus sign (+) and tap it to browse the full library. Once you've selected a new face, press the Digital Crown (the knob on the side) or swipe right to save it and return to your watch.
The whole process takes about 10 seconds. You can switch between faces as often as you like—there's no limit to how many times you change them in a day.
Key Takeaways
- Press and hold your current watch face to open the customization menu, then swipe left to browse available faces.
- Tap the plus sign (+) at the end of the face carousel to see all available watch faces in the full library.
- You can customize colors, complications, and other settings for each face before saving it.
- Press the Digital Crown or swipe right to confirm your choice and return to the watch display.
Finding watch faces you haven't seen yet
When you first press and hold your watch face, you'll see a row of faces you've already installed. If none of those appeal to you, swipe all the way to the right until you reach the plus sign. Tap it to open the full watch face library, which contains dozens of options organized by category: Modular, Infograph, Chronograph, straightforward, and others.
Each face has a preview image showing what it looks like on your wrist. Tap any face to see it in full size, then tap "Add" to install it. The face will appear in your carousel the next time you press and hold to customize.
Customizing colors and complications before you save
Once you've selected a watch face, you can adjust its appearance before saving. Swipe up and down on the face preview to change colors, materials, or style options—the exact choices depend on which face you've chosen. Some faces let you pick from dozens of color combinations; others offer just a few.
You can also add complications, which are small widgets that show information like weather, calendar events, or activity rings. Tap the areas on the face where you can add them (usually marked with a plus sign or a blank space), then choose what information you want to display. Not every face supports complications, and not every complication works on every face.
Switching between faces you've already installed
If you've already set up multiple watch faces, you don't need to go to the library each time. Just press and hold your current face, and you'll see all your installed faces in a row. Swipe left or right to move through them, then tap the one you want to switch to. It becomes your active face when ready.
This is the fastest way to rotate between your favorite faces—for example, switching from a straightforward face for work to a more detailed one for the gym.
Removing watch faces you no longer use
If your carousel is crowded with faces you don't wear, you can delete them. Press and hold your current face to open the customization menu, then swipe to the face you want to remove. Swipe up on that face, and a trash icon will appear. Tap it to delete the face from your watch.
Deleting a face doesn't remove it from the library—you can always add it back later by tapping the plus sign and selecting it again.
Using Siri or the Watch app to manage faces
You can also change your watch face using the Watch app on your iPhone. Open the Watch app, go to the "Watch Face" section, and you'll see all your installed faces listed. Tap any face to make it active on your watch, or tap "Edit" to add new ones from the library. This method is useful if you want to browse and install faces on a larger screen.
Siri can't change your watch face directly, but you can ask Siri to open the Watch app, which gets you to the face settings quickly.
Troubleshooting when faces won't change or save
If you press and hold your watch face and nothing happens, make sure you're pressing firmly on the face itself—not on a complication or widget. Hold for at least one full second. If the menu still doesn't appear, restart your watch by holding the side button until the power-off slider appears, then slide to turn it off. Wait a few seconds and press the side button again to turn it back on.
If a face you added doesn't appear in your carousel, check that your watch is paired with your iPhone and that both devices are up to date. Open the Watch app on your iPhone, go to "General," and tap "About" to see your watchOS version. If an update is available, connect your watch to power and to Wi-Fi, then update it through the Watch app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a photo as my watch face?
Yes. Press and hold your current face, tap the plus sign to open the library, and select "Photos." Choose an image from your iPhone's photo library, and the watch will create a face using that photo. You can adjust how the photo displays and add complications on top of it.
What's the difference between a watch face and a complication?
A watch face is the entire display on your watch—the background, the time display, and the overall design. A complication is a small widget you add to a face to show specific information like weather, calendar, or activity rings. One face can have multiple complications.
Do I need an internet connection to change my watch face?
No. Changing between faces you've already installed works without any connection. If you want to browse and add new faces from the library, your watch needs to be paired with your iPhone, but you don't need active internet at that moment.
Will changing my watch face affect my activity data or health information?
No. Your watch face is purely visual and doesn't affect any of the data your watch collects. All your activity rings, workouts, and health information stay the same no matter which face you're using.
How many watch faces can I install at once?
There's no hard limit, but your carousel will become harder to navigate if you install dozens. Most people keep between 3 and 10 faces active and delete the ones they don't use regularly.