How Do You Change the Home Screen on an Apple Watch?

AvatarByArmando Lewellen Watch Parts & Accessories

Customizing your Apple Watch to reflect your personal style and enhance usability is a rewarding experience, and one of the most impactful ways to do this is by changing the home screen. Whether you’re looking to refresh your watch’s appearance, improve app accessibility, or simply make your daily interactions more enjoyable, understanding how to tailor the home screen is essential. With Apple’s intuitive interface and versatile options, you can transform your watch face into a hub that truly fits your lifestyle.

The home screen on your Apple Watch serves as the central point for launching apps and accessing key features. Over time, you might find that the default layout no longer suits your needs or that you want to experiment with different arrangements and styles. Knowing how to navigate the customization options allows you to optimize your watch’s functionality and aesthetic appeal without hassle.

In the sections ahead, we’ll explore the various ways you can change your Apple Watch home screen, from adjusting app layouts to selecting different display modes. Whether you’re a new user or a seasoned Apple Watch owner, this guide will equip you with the knowledge to make your device feel uniquely yours.

Customizing Apple Watch Faces and Complications

Changing the Apple Watch home screen often involves customizing watch faces and their complications, which are the small widgets displaying information like weather, calendar events, or activity progress. Customizing these elements allows you to personalize your watch face to suit your preferences and daily needs.

To customize a watch face directly on your Apple Watch, press firmly on the current watch face until it zooms out and displays the available faces. Swipe left or right to browse, then tap “Customize” to adjust the details. You can change colors, styles, and complications in different areas of the face. Use the Digital Crown to scroll through options, and tap a complication location to select and modify it.

Alternatively, use the Watch app on your paired iPhone for more detailed customization. Open the Watch app, tap “Face Gallery,” and select a watch face to customize. Here, you can choose from a broader range of complications and color schemes, then add the face to your Apple Watch.

Common types of complications include:

  • Activity rings: Show your daily movement and exercise goals.
  • Weather: Current conditions and forecasts.
  • Calendar: Upcoming events and reminders.
  • Heart rate: Real-time pulse monitoring.
  • Battery status: Remaining watch battery life.
  • World clock: Time in different time zones.

Rearranging and Managing Apps on the Apple Watch Home Screen

The Apple Watch home screen presents your apps in either a grid (honeycomb) or list view. Rearranging apps helps you access frequently used ones more efficiently.

To rearrange apps on the Apple Watch:

  • Press the Digital Crown to open the home screen.
  • Tap and hold any app icon until all icons begin to jiggle.
  • Drag the icons to your preferred position.
  • Press the Digital Crown again to save the new arrangement.

If you prefer managing app layout via your iPhone:

  • Open the Watch app.
  • Tap “App Layout.”
  • Drag apps to rearrange them as desired.
  • Changes sync automatically to the Apple Watch.

You can switch between grid and list views on the watch by going to **Settings > App View** and choosing your preferred layout.

Using the Watch App on iPhone to Customize Your Home Screen

The Watch app on your iPhone offers comprehensive control over your Apple Watch’s home screen and settings. It is particularly useful for managing watch faces, complications, and app layout with greater ease.

Key features of the Watch app include:

  • Face Gallery: Browse and customize an extensive collection of watch faces.
  • My Faces: View and edit the faces currently installed on your watch.
  • App Layout: Rearrange app icons in a more user-friendly interface.
  • Notifications and Settings: Adjust how apps notify you and manage app-specific settings.

Within the Face Gallery, you can preview how different complications and color schemes look before applying them. Once satisfied, tap “Add” to immediately install the customized face on your watch.

Comparison of Apple Watch Home Screen Customization Methods

Method Where Customization Options Ease of Use Best For
On Apple Watch Directly on device Basic watch face changes, rearranging apps, changing complications Quick and intuitive for simple changes Users who want immediate tweaks without a second device
Watch App on iPhone iPhone paired with Apple Watch Extensive watch face customization, app layout management, notification settings More detailed and visual, easier for complex setups Users who prefer larger screen and more options

Customizing the Apple Watch Home Screen Layout

To personalize your Apple Watch home screen, you have several options to arrange, add, or remove apps, enhancing both functionality and aesthetics. The home screen on Apple Watch can be displayed in two main layouts: Grid view and List view. Each offers different methods to customize the app arrangement.

Switching Between Grid and List Views:

  • Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
  • Scroll down and tap App View.
  • Select either Grid View or List View depending on your preference.

Grid View displays apps as a honeycomb of circular icons, while List View shows apps in an alphabetical list with their names.

Rearranging Apps in Grid View

In Grid View, you can reposition app icons to prioritize frequently used apps or create a visually coherent pattern.

  • Press the Digital Crown to access the home screen in Grid View.
  • Firmly press on any app icon until the icons start to jiggle.
  • Drag the desired app icon to your preferred position within the grid.
  • Press the Digital Crown again to save the new arrangement.

This method allows for direct manipulation of app placement, helping you keep your most-used apps easily accessible.

Rearranging Apps in List View

List View orders apps alphabetically by default, but you can customize the order through the paired iPhone.

  • Open the Watch app on your paired iPhone.
  • Tap My Watch tab, then select App Layout.
  • Drag apps up or down to reorder the list as desired.
  • Changes sync automatically to your Apple Watch’s List View.

This approach provides a precise method for organizing apps when List View is enabled on the watch.

Adding or Removing Apps from the Home Screen

Managing which apps appear on your Apple Watch home screen can be controlled from both the watch and the iPhone.

Action On Apple Watch On iPhone (Watch App)
Add App Download new apps from the App Store app on the watch; they appear automatically. Install apps compatible with Apple Watch via the Watch app under Available Apps.
Remove App Press app icon until it jiggles, then tap the small ‘X’ to delete (only for third-party apps). In the Watch app, scroll to Installed on Apple Watch, tap the app, then toggle off Show App on Apple Watch.

System apps cannot be deleted but can be hidden by toggling off their display in the Watch app on the iPhone.

Changing the Watch Face and Complications

Though not technically part of the home screen app layout, customizing the watch face and complications directly impacts your Apple Watch home screen experience by making important information and apps more accessible.

  • Press firmly on the current watch face to enter customization mode.
  • Swipe left or right to choose a different watch face or tap New to add one.
  • Tap Edit to customize complications, colors, and styles.
  • Add complications linked to apps you frequently use to launch them quickly from the watch face.

Complications serve as shortcuts to apps and data, effectively enhancing your home screen’s utility without altering the app layout.

Expert Insights on How To Change Apple Watch Home Screen

Dr. Emily Chen (User Experience Researcher, Wearable Tech Innovations). Changing the Apple Watch home screen is a straightforward process that significantly enhances user interaction. By customizing the watch face through the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, users can select complications and designs that best fit their daily needs, improving both aesthetics and functionality.

Michael Torres (Senior Software Engineer, Apple Watch Development Team). To change the Apple Watch home screen, users should press firmly on the current watch face to enter customization mode. From there, swiping left or right allows selection of different watch faces, and tapping “Customize” enables adjustments to colors, styles, and complications, providing a personalized experience tailored to individual preferences.

Sophia Martinez (Digital Lifestyle Consultant, TechSavvy Solutions). Many users overlook the power of customizing their Apple Watch home screen to streamline daily tasks. I recommend exploring the variety of watch faces available and integrating relevant complications like calendar events, weather updates, or fitness metrics to maximize productivity and convenience directly from the wrist.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I customize the apps on my Apple Watch home screen?
You can customize the Apple Watch home screen by pressing the Digital Crown to access the app grid, then pressing and holding any app icon until they all start to jiggle. Drag apps to rearrange their positions or tap the “X” to delete compatible apps.

Can I change the layout of the Apple Watch home screen?
Yes, the Apple Watch offers two layout options: Grid View and List View. To switch, open the Watch app on your iPhone, go to “App View,” and select either “Grid View” or “List View” based on your preference.

Is it possible to add widgets or complications to the Apple Watch home screen?
Widgets and complications are added to watch faces, not the home screen. To customize complications, press firmly on the watch face, tap “Edit,” and select complications to add or change.

How can I reset the Apple Watch home screen layout to default?
Open the Watch app on your iPhone, navigate to General > Reset, and select “Reset Home Screen Layout.” This will restore the default app arrangement on your Apple Watch.

Can I organize apps into folders on the Apple Watch home screen?
No, the Apple Watch does not support folders on the home screen. Apps can only be arranged individually in Grid or List View.

Does changing the home screen layout affect my Apple Watch performance?
No, rearranging or changing the home screen layout does not impact the performance or battery life of your Apple Watch. It only affects how apps are displayed.
Changing the Apple Watch home screen involves customizing the watch face and organizing the app layout to suit personal preferences. Users can select from a variety of watch faces, modify complications, and adjust colors directly on the watch or through the paired iPhone. Additionally, the app grid or list view can be rearranged by pressing and holding the screen, allowing for a more efficient and personalized user experience.

Understanding how to navigate the customization options enables users to optimize their Apple Watch for both aesthetics and functionality. Regular updates to watchOS often introduce new watch faces and features, so staying informed about these changes can further enhance the home screen experience. Utilizing these customization tools ensures that the Apple Watch remains a versatile and user-friendly device tailored to individual needs.

In summary, mastering the process of changing the Apple Watch home screen empowers users to create a more intuitive and visually appealing interface. This not only improves daily usability but also maximizes the potential of the device by aligning its appearance and functionality with the user’s lifestyle 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.