How to Change the Watch Face on Your Apple Watch
To change the watch face on your Apple Watch, press and hold the current face, swipe left or right to the one you want, and tap it. You can also add and manage faces from the Watch app on your iPhone. If you turn on Swipe to Switch Watch Face, you can change faces just by swiping on the screen.
Change the face on the watch
This is the quickest way, and it works with faces you have already added.
- Wake the watch and press and hold the screen on the current face.
- Swipe left or right to move through your faces.
- Tap the face you want to use.
That is all. The new face stays until you change it again.
Before you start
You need an Apple Watch paired with your iPhone. For the iPhone steps, the Watch app must be installed, which it is by default. Faces you add show up in the same collection whether you add them on the watch or on the phone, so you can mix both methods freely.
Turn on swipe-to-switch
With this setting on, you do not need to press and hold. You swipe on the current face and the watch changes faces right away. It is handy if you switch between a work face and a workout face during the day.
- On the watch, open Settings.
- Tap Clock.
- Turn on Swipe to Switch Watch Face.
If you do not see this option, check that your watch is up to date. Menu names can differ a little between watchOS versions, and the steps here follow Apple's guide for recent watchOS versions.
Add a new face on the watch
- Press and hold the current face.
- Swipe all the way to the end of your faces and tap the Add button.
- Tap a collection such as New Watch Faces, or tap All Watch Faces.
- Tap Get next to the face you like, then tap Add.
The face is now on your watch. Press and hold, then swipe to it whenever you want it.
Change the face from your iPhone
The Face Gallery lives in the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, not on the watch. The bigger screen makes it easier to compare faces and pick options before you add one.
- Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
- Tap Face Gallery and choose a category.
- Scroll to a face and tap Get.
- Choose any features and complications you want.
- Tap Add to Watch.
The face appears in your collection on the watch. Then use the press-and-hold steps above to switch to it.
Remove a face you no longer use
On the watch, press and hold the current face, swipe to the face you want to delete, swipe up, and tap Remove. On the iPhone, open the Watch app, tap My Watch, tap Edit in the My Faces area, tap the delete button next to the face, and tap Remove. You can add a removed face back later, so there is no risk in tidying up.
A shorter list also makes swiping faster. Many people keep three or four faces: one for everyday use, one for exercise, one for nights, and one they just like looking at.
Where to find more faces
Tima is an iPhone app with a gallery of hand-picked Apple Watch faces. You can browse them at watchface.us/faces. To install one, open it on an iPhone with Tima installed, tap Install on the face, then open the Watch app on the iPhone and add the face to the watch.
Apple's guide covers the full list of options, including every collection and setting. You can read it in Change Apple Watch faces on Apple Support.
Pick the right face for the moment
Switching faces is most useful when each one has a clear job. A face with a big clock and few details suits an office. A face with a timer and activity data suits the gym. A calm, dark face suits the evening. Once you have set these up, changing between them takes two or three seconds.
If a face will not change
Try these checks in order.
- Make sure you pressed and held the face itself, not a button or an app icon.
- Check that the face is actually in your collection. If not, add it first.
- Restart the watch and your iPhone, then try again.
- Update to the latest watchOS and iOS.
If the face you want will not appear in the Watch app, look at the complications it needs. Some third-party complications only show up after the matching app is installed on both devices.
Frequently asked questions
Can I change the watch face without my iPhone?
Yes. Press and hold the face on the watch, swipe to another face, and tap it. You can even add new faces from the watch itself.
Why can I not swipe to change faces?
Swipe to Switch Watch Face is a setting. Open Settings on the watch, tap Clock, and turn it on. Some faces may behave differently, so press and hold works as a fallback.
Does changing the face delete my old one?
No. Switching only changes which face is showing. A face is deleted only if you swipe up on it and tap Remove.
How many faces can I keep on my watch?
You can keep a collection of faces and swipe between them. If your list feels long, remove the ones you never use so switching stays quick.
