You can change your Apple Watch face in the Watch app on your iPhone or directly on the watch itself

The watch face is the main screen you see when you raise your wrist or tap the display. Apple Watch comes with several built-in faces, and you can switch between them in under a minute. The fastest way is through the Watch app on your paired iPhone, but you can also change it directly on the watch if you prefer not to pick up your phone.

Changing your watch face does not affect your data, passwords, or any of the security settings you have already configured. It is purely a visual change — like choosing a different background on your phone.

Key Takeaways

  • Open the Watch app on your iPhone, tap the Faces tab at the bottom, and tap the face you want to use, then tap Set as Active Face.
  • On the watch itself, swipe left or right on the current watch face to browse available faces, then press and hold to customize or switch.
  • You can customize most watch faces by adding complications (small widgets showing weather, calendar, fitness rings, or other data) before you set it as active.
  • If you want to keep multiple faces and switch between them often, you can set up different faces for different times of day or activities.

Changing your watch face using the iPhone Watch app

This is the most straightforward method if you have your iPhone nearby. Open the Watch app (the icon looks like a small watch), then tap the Faces tab at the bottom of the screen. You will see thumbnails of all available watch faces — both the ones that came with your watch and any you have downloaded.

Tap the face you want to use. A preview will open showing what it looks like. Scroll down and tap the button that says Set as Active Face. Your Apple Watch will update within a few seconds, and that face will now appear when you raise your wrist or wake the screen.

Changing your watch face directly on the watch

If you do not want to use your iPhone, you can change the face right on your wrist. On your current watch face, swipe left or right with your finger. Each swipe shows you a different available face. When you find one you like, press and hold on it with your finger.

A menu will appear with options to customize the face or set it as active. Tap Set as Active Face at the bottom of the menu. The watch will switch to that face when ready.

Adding complications to customize your watch face

Most Apple Watch faces let you add complications — small displays that show information like the weather, your calendar, your activity rings, or the current temperature without opening an app. You can customize which complications appear and where they sit on the face.

To add complications, press and hold on your current watch face, then tap Edit. Tap the areas on the face where you want to add information. A list of available complications will appear. Tap the one you want, and it will appear on your face. Tap Done when you are finished. These changes only affect the face you are editing, so you can have different complications on different faces.

Downloading additional watch faces

Apple Watch comes with several built-in faces, but you can also read more from the App Store. Open the App Store on your iPhone, tap the Apps tab, then search for watch faces. Many are free, and some cost money.

When you find a face you want, tap Get, then confirm with Face ID or your Apple ID password. The face will automatically appear in your Watch app Faces tab and on your watch. You can then set it as active using either method described above.

Managing multiple watch faces and switching between them

You can keep several watch faces on your Apple Watch and switch between them whenever you want. Some people set up different faces for work, exercise, or bedtime. To see all your faces, swipe left or right on your current face, or open the Watch app on your iPhone and look at the Faces tab.

If you have many faces and want to remove one, press and hold on it in the Watch app on your iPhone, then swipe left and tap Delete. On the watch itself, swipe to the face you want to remove, press and hold, tap Edit, then swipe left and tap Delete. You can always add it back later by downloading it again or switching to a built-in face.

Troubleshooting watch face problems

If a watch face is not appearing on your watch after you set it as active, restart your watch. Press and hold the side button until the power menu appears, then drag the slider to turn it off. Wait a few seconds, then press and hold the side button again until you see the Apple logo.

If a downloaded face is not showing up in your Faces tab, make sure your iPhone and Apple Watch are connected to the same Wi-Fi network or that your watch is in range of your iPhone via Bluetooth. Open the Watch app, go to General, then check that your watch software is up to date. If it is not, tap Software Update and let it install.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing my watch face affect my health data or activity rings?

No. Your activity rings, workouts, and health data are stored separately from your watch face. Changing the face does not erase or change any of that information. If you add a complications widget that shows your rings or steps, you are just viewing the same data in a different place.

Can I use a photo as my Apple Watch face?

Yes. You can use the Photos face, which displays a photo from your iPhone photo library. Open the Watch app, go to Faces, tap Photos, then tap Edit. Tap the photo area to choose which album or photo you want to display. You can set it to show a single photo or rotate through multiple photos.

What happens if I delete a watch face I downloaded?

The face will be removed from your watch and your iPhone. If you want to use it again later, you can read it from the App Store a second time. Built-in faces cannot be deleted permanently — you can only stop using them by switching to a different face.

Can I customize the colors on my watch face?

Most watch faces let you change the color scheme. Press and hold on the face you want to customize, tap Edit, then tap the color area. A color picker will appear. Tap the color you want, then tap Done. Some faces have limited color options, while others let you choose from many different combinations.

Why is my watch face not updating when I change it on my iPhone?

Make sure your iPhone and Apple Watch are paired and connected. Check that Bluetooth is on and that both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network. If they are, try restarting your watch by pressing and holding the side button until the power menu appears, then swiping to power off and back on.