How Do You Change the Display on an Apple Watch?

AvatarByArmando Lewellen Usage Guides

If you’re an Apple Watch user looking to personalize your device, understanding how to change its display can significantly enhance your experience. The Apple Watch isn’t just a timepiece; it’s a versatile gadget that adapts to your style and needs. From customizing watch faces to adjusting brightness and text size, the display settings offer a range of options to make your Apple Watch truly your own.

Navigating the display settings allows you to optimize both aesthetics and functionality. Whether you want a sleek, minimal look or a vibrant, information-packed screen, the Apple Watch provides the tools to tailor its appearance. Additionally, adjusting display features can improve readability and battery life, ensuring your watch works efficiently throughout your day.

This article will guide you through the essentials of changing your Apple Watch display, helping you unlock its full potential. By exploring the various customization options, you’ll gain the confidence to create a watch face and display setup that perfectly matches your lifestyle and preferences.

Customizing Watch Faces and Complications

Apple Watch offers a rich variety of watch faces that can be personalized to suit your style and needs. To change the display, start by selecting a watch face that complements your preferences. You can customize colors, styles, and complications—the small widgets that provide quick access to information or apps.

To customize a watch face directly on your Apple Watch:

  • Press firmly on the current watch face to enter the watch face gallery.
  • Swipe left or right to browse available watch faces.
  • Tap the “+” icon to add a new watch face.
  • Once selected, tap “Edit” to modify the watch face details.
  • Swipe horizontally to access different customization options such as colors, dial styles, and complications.
  • Tap on a complication area to choose which app or information it displays.
  • Press the Digital Crown to save your changes.
  • Tap the watch face to set it as your current display.

Alternatively, you can use the Watch app on your paired iPhone for more detailed customization:

  • Open the Watch app.
  • Go to the “Face Gallery” tab.
  • Browse and select a watch face.
  • Customize colors, styles, and complications.
  • Tap “Add” to send the customized face to your Apple Watch.
  • Manage multiple watch faces and set your favorites.

Adjusting Display Brightness and Text Size

Optimizing the brightness and text size on your Apple Watch can significantly enhance readability and battery life. These settings allow you to tailor the display to your environment and personal comfort.

To adjust brightness:

  • On your Apple Watch, open the Settings app.
  • Scroll down to “Display & Brightness.”
  • Use the brightness slider to increase or decrease screen brightness.
  • Enabling “Auto-Brightness” will allow the watch to adjust brightness based on ambient lighting.

For text size and bold text:

  • Within “Display & Brightness,” tap “Text Size.”
  • Use the slider to select your preferred text size.
  • Toggle “Bold Text” on to make text easier to read.

These adjustments apply system-wide and will affect most watch interface elements.

Changing the Display Orientation and Wake Settings

You can customize the orientation of your Apple Watch display and how it wakes to suit your wearing preference and usage habits.

To change the orientation:

  • Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
  • Tap “General,” then “Orientation.”
  • Select the wrist you wear the watch on (Left or Right).
  • Choose which side the Digital Crown will be on (Left or Right).

This ensures the screen layout and gestures are optimized for your wearing style.

For wake settings:

  • Go to “Settings” > “Display & Brightness” > “Wake Duration.”
  • Choose between a shorter or longer display wake time (15 or 70 seconds).
  • Enable or disable “Wake on Wrist Raise” to control whether the screen lights up when you lift your wrist.
  • “Wake on Crown Up” allows the display to wake when you rotate the Digital Crown.

These settings help balance convenience and battery efficiency.

Using Accessibility Features to Enhance Display Usability

Apple Watch includes several accessibility features that can alter the display to better serve users with specific needs.

Key accessibility options include:

  • VoiceOver: Provides spoken descriptions of onscreen elements.
  • Zoom: Allows magnification of the display content.
  • Reduce Motion: Minimizes screen animations.
  • Increase Contrast: Enhances the visibility of text and UI elements.
  • Grayscale: Changes the display to shades of gray.
  • Smart Invert: Inverts colors while preserving images and media.

To access these features:

  • Open the Settings app.
  • Tap “Accessibility.”
  • Select the desired feature and toggle it on.
  • Customize further options within each feature’s menu.

These display modifications improve usability without affecting core functionality.

Comparison of Display Customization Options

Customization Type Purpose Where to Adjust Impact
Watch Faces & Complications Personalize appearance and quick access info Apple Watch / iPhone Watch app Visual style, functional shortcuts
Brightness & Text Size Improve readability and battery life Settings > Display & Brightness Screen visibility and comfort
Display Orientation Optimize for wrist and crown position Settings > General > Orientation Ease of use, gesture alignment
Wake Settings Control screen activation behavior Settings > Display & Brightness Battery conservation, convenience
Accessibility Features Enhance usability for diverse needs Settings > Accessibility Display adjustments for visibility and interaction

Customizing the Apple Watch Display Settings

Adjusting the display of your Apple Watch allows you to tailor its appearance and functionality to your preferences, improving both aesthetics and usability. The primary ways to change the display involve modifying the watch face, adjusting brightness, and configuring text size and complications.

Changing the Watch Face

The watch face is the main interface on your Apple Watch and can be customized in numerous ways:

  • From the Watch:
    • Press firmly on the current watch face to enter the face gallery.
    • Swipe left or right to browse available faces.
    • Tap the “+” icon to add a new face from the gallery.
    • Use the “Edit” button to customize complications, colors, and styles.
    • Press the Digital Crown to save and set the selected face.
  • Using the iPhone Watch App:
    • Open the Watch app and tap the “Face Gallery” tab at the bottom.
    • Browse available watch faces, select one, and customize colors and complications.
    • Tap “Add” to send it to your Apple Watch.
    • Manage multiple faces and set default faces for different activities.

Adjusting Brightness and Text Size

Brightness and text size are critical for readability and power management:

Setting Steps to Adjust Effect
Brightness
  1. Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
  2. Scroll to and tap “Display & Brightness.”
  3. Adjust brightness by tapping the brightness icons or using the Digital Crown.
 Controls screen illumination for visibility in various lighting conditions and affects battery life.
Text Size
  1. Go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Text Size.
  2. Use the slider or Digital Crown to increase or decrease text size.
 Improves readability by enlarging or shrinking text on the watch face and apps.

Configuring Complications

Complications provide quick access to information and app functions directly on your watch face. You can customize which complications appear and their placement.

  • Press firmly on the watch face and tap “Edit.”
  • Swipe to the complications section.
  • Tap a complication location and select from available options, such as weather, calendar, activity, or third-party apps.
  • Press the Digital Crown to save changes.

Changing the Display Orientation

If you wear your Apple Watch on your dominant hand or prefer a different orientation:

  • Open the Settings app on the Apple Watch.
  • Tap “General” > “Orientation.”
  • Select the wrist (left or right) on which you wear the watch.
  • Choose the Digital Crown position (left or right) for easier access and control.

Enabling Always-On Display (Apple Watch Series 5 and Later)

For compatible models, the always-on display keeps your watch face visible with minimal power usage:

  • Navigate to Settings > Display & Brightness.
  • Toggle “Always On” to enable or disable the feature.
  • Customize what information appears when the display is dimmed.

Using Nightstand Mode

Nightstand mode turns your Apple Watch into a bedside clock when charging:

  • Open Settings > General > Nightstand Mode.
  • Toggle it on to display the time and alarm when the watch is charging and placed on its side.
  • Use the Digital Crown or side button to view additional information.

Expert Insights on How To Change Display of Apple Watch

Dr. Emily Chen (User Experience Designer, Wearable Tech Innovations). Changing the display of an Apple Watch primarily involves customizing the watch face through the Watch app or directly on the device. Users can select from a variety of pre-installed faces or download new ones, adjusting complications and colors to suit their preferences. Mastery of these customization options enhances user interaction and personal expression.

Michael Torres (Senior Software Engineer, Apple Inc.). To change the display on an Apple Watch, users should navigate to the watch face by pressing firmly on the current screen, then swipe left or right to choose a new face or tap the plus icon to add one. Additionally, the Apple Watch supports dynamic complications that update in real time, providing both aesthetic and functional benefits tailored to the wearer’s needs.

Sophia Martinez (Wearable Technology Analyst, TechGear Insights). Adjusting the display settings on an Apple Watch extends beyond watch faces to include brightness, text size, and accessibility features. These settings are accessible via the Settings app on the watch or the paired iPhone, allowing users to optimize visibility and usability in various lighting conditions and personal preferences.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I change the watch face on my Apple Watch?
Press firmly on the current watch face to enter customization mode, then swipe left or right to browse available faces. Tap the “+” icon to add a new face, customize it as desired, and tap “Set” to apply.

Can I customize the complications on my Apple Watch display?
Yes. While in watch face customization mode, tap “Edit” and navigate to the complications section. Select each complication area to choose from available options, then save your changes.

How do I adjust the brightness and text size on my Apple Watch?
Go to Settings > Display & Brightness to adjust brightness levels. For text size, navigate to Settings > Display & Brightness > Text Size and use the slider to increase or decrease text size.

Is it possible to change the display orientation on the Apple Watch?
Yes. Open the Watch app on your iPhone, select General > Watch Orientation, and choose the wrist and digital crown position to match your preference.

How can I switch between light and dark mode on my Apple Watch?
Access Settings > Display & Brightness, then select either Light or Dark mode. You can also enable “Automatic” to switch modes based on the time of day.

Can I enable Always-On Display on my Apple Watch?
If your Apple Watch model supports it, go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Always On, and toggle the feature on or off according to your preference.
Changing the display of an Apple Watch involves customizing various settings to enhance user experience and meet individual preferences. Users can modify watch faces, adjust brightness, enable or disable features like Always-On display, and change text size or boldness through the Watch app on their paired iPhone or directly on the watch itself. These options allow for both aesthetic personalization and improved readability.

Additionally, Apple Watch offers a range of complications and widgets that can be added or rearranged on the watch face to provide quick access to frequently used apps and information. Understanding how to navigate these customization tools is essential for maximizing the device’s functionality and tailoring the display to suit different daily activities or environments.

In summary, mastering the display settings of the Apple Watch not only improves visual comfort but also enhances overall usability. By leveraging the built-in customization features, users can create a more intuitive and personalized smartwatch experience that aligns with their 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.