How to add and remove watch faces on your Apple Watch

Apple Watch with customization for watch face
Apple Watch with customization for watch face

Apple has made it increasingly easier to change the look of your watch faces by allowing you to add native- and third-party complications. In doing so, you can now have different versions of the same face.

How to add additional versions of Apple Watch faces via Apple Watch

The sky is the limit on the number of watch faces you can add or design to suit your taste.

  1. Press firmly on the watch face to enter switching mode.
  2. Swipe all the way to the left and tap + New button.

Adding a watch face to Apple Watch
  1. Turn the Digital Crown to select the clock face you want to add.
  2. Tap the watch face to confirm.
  3. Customize the new watch face version.

Selecting a new watch face on Apple Watch

You can add as many versions of a watch face as you like, so you can keep different colors handy, and different complication setups.

How to add additional versions of Apple Watch faces via your iPhone

You can add as many versions of as many watch faces as you'd like from your iPhone.

  1. Launch the Watch app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap the Face Gallery tab.

Open the Watch app on iPhone and then select Face Gallery

Open the Watch app on iPhone and then select Face Gallery
  1. Tap a watch face to select it. They are organized by type.
  2. Customize the complications and style and color of the watch face.
  3. Tap Add.

The new watch face will automatically appear as the current display on your Apple Watch.

How to delete Apple Watch faces via your Apple Watch

It doesn't take long before you start to get overwhelmed with all of your different watch faces. If you're ready to pare down, you can remove them right on your Apple Watch.

  1. Press firmly on the watch face to enter switching mode.
  2. Swipe to the watch face you want to delete.
  3. Swipe up on the watch face to reveal the trash button.
  4. Tap the trash button to confirm.

Removing a watch face from Apple Watch

If you delete a watch face and later regret it, you can add it back by following the steps above.

How to delete Apple Watch faces via your iPhone

It might be convenient to remove watch faces right on your Apple Watch, but it is much easier to do so on your iPhone.

  1. Launch the Watch app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap the My Watch tab.
  3. Tap Edit across from My Faces.

Open the Watch app, then tap My Watch, and then tap edit
  1. Tap the red remove button (-) on the left side of a watch face.
  2. Tap Remove on the right side of the watch face.

Tap the remove button, then tap remove.

The watch face will automatically be removed from your Apple Watch.

Try some new bands

If you don't like Apple's current selection of Apple Watch bands, there are a number of others you could try to bring a more personal touch to your Apple Watch.

Marge Plus leather band

Marge Plus leather band ($11 at Amazon)

This leather band is soft and features beautiful white stitching for a great accent. Comes in a nice variety of colors.

Metal replacement band

JETech Metal replacement band ($20 at Amazon)

Get the metal band look for a lot less than Apple's first-party option with this band from JETech.

Any questions?

Do you have any questions about adding a variety of customized watch faces to your Apple Watch? Let us know in the comments.

Updated May 2019: Updated for watchOS 5.

Rene Ritchie
Contributor

Rene Ritchie is one of the most respected Apple analysts in the business, reaching a combined audience of over 40 million readers a month. His YouTube channel, Vector, has over 90 thousand subscribers and 14 million views and his podcasts, including Debug, have been downloaded over 20 million times. He also regularly co-hosts MacBreak Weekly for the TWiT network and co-hosted CES Live! and Talk Mobile. Based in Montreal, Rene is a former director of product marketing, web developer, and graphic designer. He's authored several books and appeared on numerous television and radio segments to discuss Apple and the technology industry. When not working, he likes to cook, grapple, and spend time with his friends and family.