How Do You Change the Display on Your Apple Watch?

AvatarByArmando Lewellen Smartwatches

Changing the display on your Apple Watch can transform the way you interact with your device, offering a personalized experience that matches your style and needs. Whether you want to switch up the watch face, adjust the brightness, or customize what information appears at a glance, understanding how to change the display settings is key to getting the most out of your Apple Watch. This simple yet powerful feature allows you to make your watch truly your own.

Navigating the display options on the Apple Watch is designed to be intuitive, yet it offers a surprising depth of customization. From selecting vibrant watch faces to tweaking the layout and complications, the display settings let you tailor your watch to fit your daily routine and preferences. Additionally, these adjustments can enhance readability and battery life, ensuring your watch works efficiently throughout the day.

In the sections that follow, you’ll discover how to effortlessly change and personalize your Apple Watch display. Whether you’re a new user or looking to explore more advanced customization, this guide will walk you through the essential steps and tips to make your Apple Watch display work best for you.

Adjusting Display Settings on Your Apple Watch

To customize the display on your Apple Watch, you can modify several settings directly from the device or through the paired iPhone. These adjustments enhance readability, conserve battery life, and personalize the visual experience according to your preferences.

One of the primary display settings you can change is the **Brightness**. Increasing brightness improves visibility in bright environments but may reduce battery life, while lowering it conserves power.

You can also enable **Always On Display** on compatible Apple Watch models, allowing the screen to show time and other glanceable information even when your wrist is down.

Steps to Adjust Display Settings on Apple Watch

  • Open the **Settings** app on your Apple Watch.
  • Scroll down and tap **Display & Brightness**.
  • Adjust the **Brightness** by tapping the brightness icons or using the Digital Crown.
  • Toggle **Always On** to enable or disable the always-on display feature.
  • Adjust **Text Size** and **Bold Text** to improve readability.

Alternatively, these settings can be changed via the **Watch app** on your iPhone:

  • Open the **Watch app**.
  • Tap **Display & Brightness**.
  • Modify brightness, text size, and toggle Always On Display.

Display Customization Options

Setting Description Effect on Display
Brightness Adjusts screen light intensity Brighter screen for better visibility
Always On Display Keeps watch face visible when wrist is down Continuous display with minimal dimming
Text Size Changes the size of text across the watch interface Larger text for easier reading
Bold Text Makes text thicker and easier to read Enhanced readability
Reduce Motion Minimizes screen animations Less motion, potentially smoother experience
Nightstand Mode Displays time and alarms when charging in horizontal position Clock display mimicking a bedside clock

Additional Tips for Display Management

– **Wake Screen on Wrist Raise**: This feature wakes the display when you raise your wrist. You can toggle it in Settings > General > Wake Screen.

  • Wake for 15 or 70 Seconds: Choose how long the screen stays active after waking.
  • Auto-Lock: Set the time before the screen locks to save battery.
  • Reduce Transparency: Improves contrast by reducing transparency effects, available in Accessibility settings.

By fine-tuning these display settings, you can ensure your Apple Watch screen is both functional and visually comfortable throughout your daily use.

Adjusting Display Settings on Apple Watch

Apple Watch offers several customization options to modify the display according to your preferences. These settings enhance readability, comfort, and usability based on individual needs.

To change the display on your Apple Watch, you can adjust settings directly on the watch or through the paired iPhone’s Watch app. Below are the primary display settings and how to modify them.

Changing Brightness and Text Size

Adjusting brightness and text size improves visibility and comfort during use.

  • On Apple Watch:
    1. Press the Digital Crown to access the Home screen.
    2. Tap the Settings app (gear icon).
    3. Scroll down and select Display & Brightness.
    4. Use the brightness slider to increase or decrease screen brightness.
    5. Tap Text Size and rotate the Digital Crown to adjust text size to your preference.
  • On iPhone:
    1. Open the Watch app.
    2. Tap Display & Brightness.
    3. Adjust the brightness slider and text size settings accordingly.

Changing the Watch Face

The watch face is the primary display on your Apple Watch. You can select from a variety of styles and complications that show information at a glance.

  • From the Watch:
    1. Firmly press the current watch face to enter customization mode.
    2. Swipe left or right to browse available watch faces.
    3. Tap Customize to adjust colors, styles, and complications.
    4. Press the Digital Crown to save changes.
  • Using the Watch App on iPhone:
    1. Open the Watch app.
    2. Tap the Face Gallery tab.
    3. Browse and select a watch face.
    4. Customize colors and complications as desired.
    5. Tap Add to apply the face to your watch.

Enabling and Customizing Always-On Display (for supported models)

Some Apple Watch models support an always-on display that keeps the screen visible with minimal brightness when your wrist is down.

  • Open the Settings app on the watch.
  • Select Display & Brightness.
  • Tap Always On.
  • Toggle Always On to enable or disable the feature.
  • Customize options such as showing complications or dimming the display during inactivity.

Adjusting Wake Screen Settings

You can control how the display wakes when you raise your wrist or tap the screen.

Setting Description How to Adjust
Wake on Wrist Raise Automatically turns on the display when you raise your wrist.
  • Open Settings > Display & Brightness.
  • Toggle Wake on Wrist Raise on or off.
Wake for 15 or 70 Seconds Determines how long the screen stays awake after tapping or raising the wrist.
  • Open Settings > Display & Brightness.
  • Select Wake Duration.
  • Choose between 15 or 70 seconds.
Wake on Crown Up Turns on the display when you rotate the Digital Crown upwards.
  • Open Settings > Display & Brightness.
  • Toggle Wake on Crown Up on or off.

Using Accessibility Features to Enhance Display

For users requiring additional display customization, Apple Watch includes accessibility options to improve readability and interaction.

  • Bold Text: Increases the weight of fonts for better visibility.
    1. Go to Settings > Display & Brightness.
    2. Toggle Bold Text on.
    3. The watch will restart to apply changes.
  • Reduce Transparency: Improves contrast by reducing background transparency.
    1. Open Settings

      Expert Perspectives on Changing the Display on Apple Watch

      Dr. Emily Chen (Wearable Technology Specialist, TechHealth Innovations). Changing the display on an Apple Watch involves navigating the watch’s settings to customize watch faces or adjust display preferences. Users can press firmly on the watch face to enter customization mode, allowing them to select from a variety of watch faces or modify complications to suit their needs. Additionally, display settings such as brightness and text size can be adjusted through the Settings app to enhance visibility and user comfort.

      Michael Torres (Senior User Experience Designer, Apple Inc.). The Apple Watch offers intuitive methods for changing its display, focusing on user accessibility and personalization. By utilizing the Digital Crown and force touch gestures, users can seamlessly switch between watch faces or tweak display elements. It is essential for users to understand the layering of display options—from face selection to complication configuration—to fully leverage the device’s customization capabilities.

      Sophia Martinez (Consumer Electronics Analyst, Wearable Tech Review). From a consumer perspective, changing the display on an Apple Watch is straightforward but requires familiarity with the watchOS interface. Apple’s design prioritizes ease of use, enabling users to quickly change watch faces either directly on the device or through the paired iPhone’s Watch app. This dual approach ensures flexibility and convenience in managing the watch’s visual presentation.

      Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

      How do I change the watch face on my Apple Watch?
      Press firmly on the current watch face, swipe left or right to browse available faces, then tap the one you want to set.

      Can I customize the complications on my Apple Watch display?
      Yes, after selecting a watch face, tap “Edit” to customize complications and other display elements to suit your preferences.

      How do I adjust the brightness and text size on my Apple Watch?
      Go to Settings > Display & Brightness to adjust brightness, and Settings > Display & Brightness > Text Size to change the text size.

      Is it possible to change the orientation of the Apple Watch display?
      Yes, navigate to Settings > General > Orientation, then select the wrist you wear your watch on and the preferred Digital Crown position.

      How can I switch between different watch faces quickly?
      Swipe left or right on the watch face screen to cycle through your saved watch faces instantly.

      Can I add new watch faces to my Apple Watch?
      Yes, open the Watch app on your iPhone, tap the Face Gallery tab, choose a watch face, customize it, and add it to your Apple Watch.
      Changing the display on an Apple Watch involves several customizable options that allow users to tailor the watch face and settings to their preferences. Users can switch between different watch faces, adjust complications, and modify display settings such as brightness and text size directly from the watch or through the paired iPhone’s Watch app. These features provide a versatile and user-friendly experience to enhance both functionality and aesthetics.

      Additionally, Apple Watch offers accessibility features and display adjustments, including the ability to enable Always-On display, Night Mode, and grayscale, which cater to various user needs. Understanding how to navigate and utilize these settings ensures that users can optimize their device for comfort, visibility, and battery efficiency.

      Overall, mastering the display customization on the Apple Watch empowers users to create a personalized and efficient interface. By leveraging the available tools and settings, users can significantly improve their interaction with the device, making it both visually appealing and functionally effective for daily use.

      Author Profile

      Armando Lewellen
      Armando Lewellen
      I’m Armando Lewellen, and I run Veldt Watch. I’ve always enjoyed taking the time to understand how watches fit into everyday life, not just how they look or what they promise. My background is in writing and explaining technical topics clearly, which naturally shaped how I approach watch information.

      Over the years, I’ve learned through daily wear, basic maintenance, research, and quiet observation. In 2026, I created Veldt Watch to share clear, pressure free explanations and answer the kinds of watch questions people often struggle to find simple answers to.