How Do You Change the Display on an Apple Watch?

AvatarByArmando Lewellen Smartwatches

Changing the display on your Apple Watch opens up a world of personalization and functionality, allowing you to tailor your device to better suit your style and needs. Whether you want to refresh the look with a new watch face, adjust the brightness for better visibility, or customize the complications to keep your most important information at a glance, understanding how to modify your Apple Watch display is key to maximizing your experience. This guide will help you unlock the full potential of your wearable by exploring the various ways you can change and optimize its display settings.

The Apple Watch offers a versatile and intuitive interface designed to be both visually appealing and highly functional. From vibrant watch faces to adjustable display settings, the device provides numerous options to enhance usability and aesthetics. Changing the display isn’t just about looks—it’s about making your Apple Watch work smarter for you, whether that means improving readability, conserving battery life, or accessing your favorite apps more quickly.

As you dive deeper into the topic, you’ll discover how simple tweaks and customizations can transform your Apple Watch into a personalized companion that reflects your lifestyle. With just a few taps and swipes, you can make your device truly your own, ensuring that every glance at your wrist is both enjoyable and efficient.

Customizing the Watch Face

Changing the display on your Apple Watch begins with customizing the watch face to suit your preferences and needs. The watch face serves as the primary interface, offering quick access to the time, notifications, and various complications.

To customize the watch face, press firmly on the current watch face to enter the customization mode. Here, you can swipe left or right to browse available faces. Tap the “Customize” button to adjust elements such as colors, styles, and complications—small widgets that provide information from apps.

Complications can display data like weather, calendar events, activity progress, or heart rate. You can add, remove, or rearrange complications depending on your priorities. After selecting your desired settings, press the Digital Crown to save changes and set the new face.

Additional customization options include:

  • Changing the dial style (analog, digital, modular)
  • Adjusting color schemes to match your style or improve readability
  • Setting complications that update dynamically based on your usage

Adjusting Brightness and Text Size

Modifying brightness and text size on your Apple Watch enhances visibility and comfort, especially in varying lighting conditions.

To adjust brightness:

  • Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
  • Navigate to Display & Brightness.
  • Use the brightness slider to increase or decrease the screen brightness.

Adjusting text size helps with readability:

  • Go to Settings > Display & Brightness.
  • Select Text Size.
  • Use the slider to increase or decrease the size of the text displayed on the watch.

Enabling Bold Text further enhances legibility by making the font weight heavier. This option is also available under Display & Brightness.

Switching Between Light and Dark Mode

Apple Watch supports both Light and Dark modes to improve visual comfort based on ambient lighting and user preference.

To toggle between modes:

  • Open the Settings app.
  • Tap Display & Brightness.
  • Choose either Light or Dark mode.

Alternatively, you can set the watch to automatically switch modes based on the time of day, aligning with the system-wide appearance setting on your paired iPhone.

Changing the Watch Face Using the Watch App on iPhone

You can also change and customize your Apple Watch display using the Watch app on your paired iPhone, which offers a broader interface and easier navigation.

Steps include:

  • Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
  • Tap the “Face Gallery” tab at the bottom.
  • Browse through available watch faces categorized by style and function.
  • Tap a face to customize colors, complications, and style.
  • Tap “Add” to send the customized face to your Apple Watch.

This method allows for quicker experimentation and management of multiple watch faces, which you can then switch between directly on your watch.

Display Settings Comparison

Setting Where to Change Purpose Notes
Watch Face Apple Watch or Watch App on iPhone Customize style, color, and complications Multiple faces can be saved and switched
Brightness Settings > Display & Brightness Adjust screen brightness Improves visibility in different lighting
Text Size Settings > Display & Brightness Increase or decrease text size Enhances readability
Light/Dark Mode Settings > Display & Brightness Switch between light and dark UI Can be set to automatic

Customizing the Apple Watch Display

Changing the display on your Apple Watch primarily involves modifying the watch face and adjusting display settings to suit your preferences. Apple Watch offers a variety of customizable watch faces that can display different complications, colors, and styles to enhance functionality and aesthetics.

To customize the display, follow these steps:

  • Change the Watch Face: Press firmly on the current watch face to enter the watch face gallery. Swipe left or right to browse available faces, then tap on the one you want to set.
  • Add or Customize Complications: Once a watch face is selected, tap “Customize.” Use the digital crown to scroll through options such as colors and complications—small widgets that display information like weather, battery life, or calendar events.
  • Create New Watch Faces: In the watch face gallery, swipe all the way to the right and tap the plus icon (+) to add a new face from the available options.

Adjusting Brightness and Text Size for Better Visibility

Optimizing the display settings can improve readability and comfort during prolonged use. Adjust the following settings directly on your Apple Watch:

Setting Location in Settings Description
Brightness Settings > Display & Brightness Use the slider to increase or decrease screen brightness for better visibility in various lighting conditions.
Text Size Settings > Display & Brightness > Text Size Adjust the text size to make on-screen text easier to read.
Bold Text Settings > Display & Brightness Enable Bold Text to increase font weight for improved legibility.

Changing the Watch Face Using the Apple Watch App on iPhone

You can also customize and change your Apple Watch display through the paired iPhone’s Watch app, which provides a broader interface for managing watch faces and complications:

  • Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
  • Tap the Face Gallery tab at the bottom.
  • Browse through a wide selection of watch faces categorized by style and function.
  • Select a watch face to customize colors, complications, and other details.
  • Tap Add to send the customized watch face to your Apple Watch.

This method is especially useful for previewing and managing multiple watch faces without needing to interact with the smaller screen on the watch itself.

Enabling Always-On Display and Wake Settings

For supported Apple Watch models, enabling the Always-On display allows you to see the watch face continuously without raising your wrist, enhancing convenience:

  • Go to Settings > Display & Brightness on the Apple Watch.
  • Toggle Always On to enable or disable the feature.
  • Adjust the Wake Screen settings to control how and when the watch face lights up, such as on wrist raise or tap.

Configuring these settings ensures the display behaves according to your preferences, balancing visibility and battery life.

Using Accessibility Features to Modify the Display

Apple Watch includes several accessibility options to enhance the display for users with specific needs:

Feature Effect on Display How to Enable
VoiceOver Reads aloud on-screen text and controls for visually impaired users. Settings > Accessibility > VoiceOver
Zoom Magnifies the screen content for easier reading. Settings > Accessibility > Zoom
Reduce Motion Minimizes animations for a simpler visual experience. Settings > Accessibility > Reduce Motion
Increase Contrast Improves display contrast for better visibility. Settings > Accessibility > Increase Contrast

These options can be tailored to make the display more accessible and comfortable to use depending on individual requirements.

Expert Perspectives on Changing the Display on Apple Watch

Dr. Emily Chen (User Experience Researcher, Wearable Tech Innovations). Changing the display on an Apple Watch is primarily about personalizing the user interface to enhance usability and aesthetics. Apple provides intuitive options through the Watch app on the paired iPhone, allowing users to select, customize, and rearrange watch faces. Understanding these customization features not only improves user satisfaction but also ensures that essential information is readily accessible at a glance.

Michael Torres (Senior Software Engineer, Apple Watch Development Team). From a technical standpoint, altering the Apple Watch display involves interacting with watchOS’s flexible watch face framework. Users can switch between different watch faces by force touching the screen or using the Watch app, and developers can create custom complications to extend functionality. This design enables seamless transitions and a highly personalized experience without compromising system performance.

Lisa Patel (Digital Accessibility Consultant, Inclusive Tech Solutions). When changing the Apple Watch display, it is crucial to consider accessibility settings to accommodate diverse user needs. Features such as adjusting text size, enabling bold fonts, and selecting high-contrast watch faces significantly improve readability and interaction for users with visual impairments. Apple’s commitment to accessibility ensures that display customization is inclusive and enhances the overall user experience.

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 select. You can also customize faces by tapping the “Edit” button.

Can I customize complications on the Apple Watch display?
Yes, after selecting a watch face, tap “Edit” to modify complications. Swipe to the complications section and tap each area to choose different apps or information to display.

How do I adjust the brightness and text size on the Apple Watch?
Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch, then go to Display & Brightness. Here, you can adjust brightness levels and text size to improve visibility.

Is it possible to change the orientation of the Apple Watch display?
Yes, you can change the display orientation by going to Settings > General > Orientation. Choose the wrist you wear the watch on and the Digital Crown position to suit your preference.

How do I switch between different watch faces quickly?
Use the Force Touch gesture on the watch face to bring up the face gallery, then swipe left or right to switch faces quickly. You can also set multiple faces in the Watch app on your iPhone for easier management.

Can I create a custom watch face on the Apple Watch?
While you cannot create fully custom faces from scratch, you can customize existing watch faces extensively by changing colors, styles, and complications to create a personalized look.
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 on the watch or through the Apple Watch app on their paired iPhone. This flexibility enhances both the aesthetic appeal and functionality of the device, ensuring it meets individual needs and style preferences.

Additionally, Apple Watch offers features like Always-On display settings and Night Mode, which can be adjusted to optimize battery life and viewing comfort. Users can also enable or disable wrist detection and raise-to-wake features to further customize how and when the display activates. Understanding these options empowers users to maximize their Apple Watch experience while maintaining efficient power management.

Overall, the ability to change the display on an Apple Watch is straightforward and user-friendly, supported by intuitive interfaces both on the watch itself and within the companion iPhone app. By exploring and utilizing these customization options, users can ensure their Apple Watch not only looks unique but also functions in a way that best suits their daily routines and preferences.

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.