The quickest way to change your Apple Watch face

Open the Watch app on your iPhone, tap the My Watch tab at the bottom, then tap Clock. Scroll to find a face you want, tap it, and tap Set as Current Watch Face. The change appears on your wrist within seconds.

You can also change faces directly on the watch itself by swiping left or right on the current clock face, then tapping and holding until the customization menu appears. Both methods work equally well — the iPhone app gives you more options to browse, while the watch method is faster if you already know which face you want.

Key Takeaways

  • The Watch app on your iPhone is the easiest place to browse all available clock faces and set a new one as your default.
  • You can change faces directly on the watch by swiping, tapping and holding, then selecting a new face from the carousel.
  • Different watch models and watchOS versions include different built-in faces, so what you see depends on your hardware and software.
  • Once you set a face as current, it becomes your default — you can still swipe to other faces temporarily without changing the setting.

Changing a face using your iPhone

Open the Watch app on your iPhone — it has a black icon with a white watch outline. Tap the My Watch tab at the bottom of the screen, then scroll down and tap Clock. You will see a list of every clock face available on your watch.

Scroll through the list and tap the face you want to use. A preview appears showing what it will look like on your wrist. Tap the Set as Current Watch Face button at the bottom. The face changes on your watch immediately, even if the watch is not in your hand.

Changing a face directly on the watch

Press the Digital Crown (the button on the side of the watch) to go to the home screen, then tap the clock face that is currently showing. Swipe left or right to browse through faces you have already added to your watch. When you find one you want to use, tap and hold on it until the customization menu appears at the bottom of the screen.

Tap the face name or icon at the bottom to set it as your current face. The watch returns to that face immediately. This method is faster if you already have the face you want installed, but it only shows faces you have already added — to see all available faces, use the iPhone app instead.

Adding new clock faces to your watch

Not every clock face comes installed by default. To see faces that are available but not yet on your watch, open the Watch app on your iPhone, go to My Watch, then tap Clock. Scroll to the bottom and tap Edit, then tap the green plus sign next to any face you want to add.

Once you add a face, it appears in the carousel when you swipe on your watch, and you can set it as your current face using either method. You can add as many faces as you want — there is no limit. If you want to remove a face later, go back to the same Edit screen and tap the red minus sign next to the face you want to delete.

Customizing the face you choose

Many clock faces let you change colors, complications (small widgets showing weather, activity, or other information), and other details. On your iPhone, open the Watch app, go to My Watch, tap Clock, then tap the face you want to customize. Tap Edit and you will see options specific to that face.

You can also customize a face directly on the watch. Tap and hold the current clock face until the customization menu appears, then swipe left to see the available options. Changes you make on the watch sync to your iPhone automatically, so you can customize either way.

What to do if a face is not showing up

If you are looking for a specific clock face and cannot find it, check whether your watch model supports it. Some faces require a newer version of watchOS or a specific watch model — for example, the Modular Max face only works on the 49mm Ultra or Series 8 watches. Check the Apple Watch support page or the face description in the Watch app to confirm compatibility.

If a face should be available but is not appearing, try restarting your watch and iPhone. Press and hold the side button on your watch until the power-off slider appears, swipe to turn it off, then press and hold the side button again to turn it back on. Restart your iPhone as well, then open the Watch app again and check whether the face appears.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a clock face from someone else's watch?

No, you cannot transfer a custom face from another person's watch. You can only use the clock faces that come built into your watchOS version or that Apple adds in updates. If someone shows you a face you like, you can find and customize the same face on your own watch using the same steps.

What happens to my current face if I delete it?

Your watch automatically switches to a different face — usually the one you used before. You can always add the face back later by opening the Watch app on your iPhone, going to Clock, tapping Edit, and tapping the green plus sign next to the face you want to restore.

Do I need an internet connection to change my clock face?

No, changing faces works over Bluetooth between your watch and iPhone, or directly on the watch itself. You do not need Wi-Fi or cellular service. If you are away from your iPhone, you can still change faces using the watch method by swiping and tapping and holding on the current face.

Can I set different faces for different times of day?

Apple Watch does not have a built-in schedule for automatic face changes. You have to change the face manually each time. Some third-party apps claim to automate this, but they require you to open the app and tap a button — they cannot change faces in the background without your action.