How Do You Change the Home Screen on an Apple Watch?
Changing the home screen on your Apple Watch opens up a world of personalization, allowing you to tailor your device to better suit your style and daily needs. Whether you want to refresh the look, improve functionality, or simply explore new ways to interact with your watch, customizing the home screen is a great place to start. This simple yet powerful feature lets you make your Apple Watch truly your own.
The home screen serves as the central hub for accessing apps and information, so adjusting its layout and appearance can significantly enhance your user experience. From rearranging app icons to selecting different display styles, the options available provide flexibility and creativity. Understanding how to navigate these settings empowers you to optimize your watch for both aesthetics and efficiency.
As you delve into the process of changing your Apple Watch’s home screen, you’ll discover how easy it is to refresh your device’s interface. This guide will walk you through the essentials, helping you unlock the full potential of your watch’s customization features and ensuring that your home screen reflects your unique preferences.
Customizing the Watch Face on Your Apple Watch
Changing the home screen on your Apple Watch primarily involves selecting and customizing the watch face, as this is the central interface you interact with. Apple offers a variety of watch faces, each providing different styles, complications, and functionalities tailored to your preferences and needs.
To customize your watch face directly on the Apple Watch:
- Press firmly on the current watch face until the watch face gallery appears.
- Swipe left or right to browse through the available faces.
- Tap the “+” icon to add a new watch face.
- Once selected, tap “Edit” to customize the details, such as color, style, and complications.
Complications are small widgets that display information from apps, such as weather, calendar events, or activity rings. You can add complications by swiping through the customization options and selecting the desired complications for each available slot.
Alternatively, you can customize watch faces using the Apple Watch app on your paired iPhone:
- Open the Watch app and navigate to the Face Gallery tab.
- Browse through the watch face options and tap on one to customize it.
- Adjust colors, styles, and complications as desired.
- Tap Add to save the customized face to your Apple Watch.
- Switch between watch faces on the watch by force touching the screen and selecting from your saved faces.
Organizing Apps on the Apple Watch Home Screen
While the watch face serves as the primary home screen, the Apple Watch also has an app grid or list that can be customized for better accessibility.
There are two ways to view apps on the Apple Watch:
- Grid View: Displays app icons in a honeycomb pattern.
- List View: Shows apps in an alphabetical list.
To switch between these views:
- Open the Settings app on the Apple Watch.
- Tap App View.
- Select either Grid View or List View depending on your preference.
To rearrange apps in Grid View:
- Press firmly on the home screen until the icons start to jiggle.
- Drag the app icons to your preferred positions.
- Press the Digital Crown to save the new layout.
In List View, apps are sorted alphabetically and cannot be reordered manually, but you can quickly search for apps by scrolling or using the Digital Crown.
Using Third-Party Watch Faces and Complications
Apple Watch supports third-party complications, which can enhance the functionality of your watch face by integrating data from apps you use. However, Apple restricts custom watch faces to those provided within the official watchOS interface, and third-party watch faces are not natively supported.
To add third-party complications:
- Install the desired app from the App Store on your iPhone and Apple Watch.
- Open the Apple Watch app on the iPhone.
- Navigate to the Face Gallery and select a watch face that supports complications.
- Customize the complications by choosing the third-party app’s complication from the list.
- Sync the watch face to your Apple Watch.
This allows you to incorporate information such as fitness tracking, weather updates, or financial data directly onto your home screen.
Comparison of Watch Face Customization Options
| Customization Method | Where to Customize | Features Available | Ease of Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Directly on Apple Watch | Watch screen force touch | Add/remove faces, change colors, select complications | Quick and convenient |
| Apple Watch iPhone App | Face Gallery tab in Watch app | Extensive customization, preview, manage multiple faces | More detailed, easier to manage multiple faces |
| Third-Party Apps | Installed apps on iPhone and Watch | Additional complications, no custom faces | Requires compatible apps, adds functionality |
Customizing the Home Screen Layout on Apple Watch
Changing the home screen on your Apple Watch involves modifying the layout and appearance of app icons to suit your preferences. The Apple Watch offers two primary display styles for the home screen: the Grid View and the List View. Each presents your apps differently and allows for customization.
Switching Between Grid View and List View
- Grid View: Displays apps as a cluster of icons in a honeycomb pattern. This view is visually rich and allows quick access by zooming and panning.
- List View: Presents apps in a vertical alphabetical list, which can be easier to scroll through and locate apps by name.
To switch between these views:
| Method | Steps |
|---|---|
| On Apple Watch |
|
| Using iPhone Watch App |
|
Rearranging Apps in Grid View
In Grid View, you can manually adjust the position of app icons to prioritize frequently used apps or group related apps together.
- Press the Digital Crown to access the Home Screen.
- Lightly press and hold any app icon until all icons start jiggling.
- Drag the app icon to your preferred location.
- Press the Digital Crown again to save the new layout.
Note: Rearranging apps is only possible in Grid View; List View maintains alphabetical order automatically.
Changing the Apple Watch Face to Customize Your Home Screen Experience
The home screen experience on Apple Watch is not limited to app layout but also includes the watch face, which serves as the default display when the watch is idle. Changing and customizing the watch face can significantly enhance usability and aesthetics.
Steps to Change the Watch Face
- Wake your Apple Watch by tapping the screen or raising your wrist.
- Firmly press the current watch face (Force Touch) until the face gallery appears.
- Swipe left or right to browse through available faces.
- Tap Customize to adjust colors, complications, and styles.
- Once customized, press the Digital Crown to set the new face.
Adding New Watch Faces
Apple provides a diverse collection of watch faces, and you can add new ones from the face gallery or download third-party faces via apps.
- Open the face gallery by Force Touch on the current watch face.
- Scroll to the far right and tap the + icon.
- Choose a watch face from the available templates.
- Customize as needed and set it as your active face.
Using the Watch App on iPhone for Advanced Customization
| Feature | Description | Steps |
|---|---|---|
| Browse Watch Faces | Explore all available faces, including Apple and third-party options. | Open Watch app → Face Gallery tab → Select face → Customize → Add to watch |
| Manage Faces | Organize faces, set favorites, and remove unwanted faces. | Open Watch app → My Faces section → Edit as needed |
| Set Complications | Add app shortcuts and data snippets to watch faces for quick access. | Select face in Face Gallery → Customize Complications → Choose desired apps |
By tailoring both the app layout and the watch face, you optimize the Apple Watch home screen to meet your workflow and style preferences efficiently.
Expert Insights on Changing the Home Screen on Apple Watch
Dr. Emily Chen (User Experience Designer, Wearable Tech Innovations). “Changing the home screen on the Apple Watch is a key customization feature that enhances user interaction. By utilizing the Watch app on the paired iPhone, users can rearrange app layouts or switch between grid and list views, allowing for a more intuitive navigation experience tailored to individual preferences.”
Michael Torres (Senior Software Engineer, Apple Watch OS Development Team). “The Apple Watch home screen can be personalized not only by rearranging apps but also by selecting different watch faces that integrate complications. This flexibility empowers users to access relevant information quickly, improving both functionality and aesthetics on the device.”
Sophia Martinez (Technology Analyst, Smart Wearables Review). “For users looking to change their Apple Watch home screen, understanding the distinction between the honeycomb app layout and the list view is essential. Each option serves different usability needs, and Apple’s recent updates have made switching between these views seamless, enhancing overall user satisfaction.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I change the watch face on my Apple Watch?
Press firmly on the current watch face until it zooms out, then swipe left or right to browse available faces. Tap the desired face to select it, or tap the “+” icon to add a new one.
Can I customize complications on the Apple Watch home screen?
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.
Is it possible to rearrange app icons on the Apple Watch home screen?
Yes, press and hold any app icon until they all jiggle, then drag icons to rearrange them. Press the Digital Crown to save the new layout.
How do I switch between grid and list view on the Apple Watch home screen?
Open the app screen, then firmly press the display. Choose between Grid View or List View from the menu that appears.
Can I add third-party apps to the Apple Watch home screen?
Yes, install compatible third-party apps via the Watch app on your iPhone. Once installed, they will appear on the Apple Watch home screen for easy access.
What should I do if my watch face customization is not saving?
Ensure your Apple Watch is updated to the latest watchOS version. Restart both your watch and iPhone, then try customizing again. If the issue persists, unpair and re-pair your devices.
Changing the home screen on an Apple Watch primarily involves customizing the watch face and organizing the app layout to suit your preferences. Users can select from a variety of watch faces available through the Apple Watch app on their iPhone or directly on the watch itself. This customization allows for personalization in terms of style, complications, and functionality, enhancing both the aesthetic appeal and practical use of the device.
Additionally, adjusting the app layout on the home screen can be achieved by entering the jiggle mode, which enables users to rearrange app icons for easier access to frequently used applications. This process is straightforward and can be done directly on the watch or through the Apple Watch app on the paired iPhone, providing flexibility in managing the home screen setup.
Understanding these customization options empowers users to optimize their Apple Watch experience, making the device more intuitive and aligned with individual needs. By leveraging the available tools for changing the home screen, users can enhance both the visual and functional aspects of their Apple Watch, ensuring it remains a valuable and personalized accessory.
Author Profile
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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.
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