How Do You Edit a Watch Face on iOS 11?

AvatarByArmando Lewellen Usage Guides

Customizing your Apple Watch is one of the most enjoyable ways to make the device truly your own, and editing the watch face is at the heart of this personalization. With iOS 11, Apple introduced intuitive features that make modifying your watch face easier and more versatile than ever before. Whether you prefer a minimalist design or a display packed with useful complications, understanding how to edit your watch face lets you tailor your Apple Watch to fit your lifestyle and aesthetic preferences.

Navigating the watch face options on iOS 11 opens up a world of creative possibilities, from changing colors and styles to adding shortcuts for apps and information that matter most to you. This flexibility ensures that your watch not only looks great but also enhances your daily routine by providing quick access to the tools and data you need. The process is designed to be user-friendly, allowing both newcomers and seasoned users to customize their device effortlessly.

In the following sections, we’ll explore the essentials of editing a watch face on iOS 11, helping you unlock the full potential of your Apple Watch. Whether you’re looking to refresh your current setup or dive into more advanced customization, this guide will prepare you to make the most of your watch’s capabilities.

Customizing Watch Face Complications

Once you have selected a watch face on your iOS 11 device, you can enhance its functionality by customizing the complications. Complications are small elements on the watch face that display additional information such as weather, calendar events, or fitness stats. Editing these allows you to tailor the watch face to suit your daily needs.

To customize complications:

  • Wake your Apple Watch and firmly press the watch face to enter customization mode.
  • Swipe left to access the complication editing screen.
  • Tap on the complication area you want to change. This will bring up a list of available complications.
  • Scroll through the list and tap the desired complication to select it.
  • Press the Digital Crown to save your changes and return to the watch face.

The availability of complications varies depending on the watch face chosen and the apps installed on your paired iPhone.

Adjusting Color and Style Settings

Changing the color and style of your watch face can further personalize its appearance. iOS 11 offers a variety of color palettes and styles for many watch faces, allowing you to match the watch face to your preference or outfit.

To adjust color and style:

  • Enter customization mode by pressing firmly on the watch face.
  • Swipe left or right to navigate to the color or style customization screen.
  • Rotate the Digital Crown to cycle through available colors or styles.
  • Tap the Digital Crown to confirm your selection.
  • The changes will immediately reflect on the watch face.

Some watch faces support additional styling options such as dial shapes or font types, which can be adjusted similarly.

Using the Watch App on iPhone for Advanced Editing

For more detailed editing capabilities, the iPhone’s Watch app provides a comprehensive interface to manage watch faces and complications.

Key features of the Watch app include:

  • Browsing and adding new watch faces from a broad gallery.
  • Editing complications with an expanded list of options.
  • Organizing multiple watch faces for quick switching.
  • Syncing changes directly to your Apple Watch.

To edit a watch face using the Watch app:

  • Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
  • Tap the “Face Gallery” tab to browse new faces or select “My Watch” to see your current faces.
  • Select the watch face you want to edit.
  • Customize complications, colors, and styles using the provided options.
  • Tap “Add” or “Set as current Watch Face” to apply changes.

This method is particularly useful for users who prefer the larger screen and touch interface of the iPhone for detailed customization.

Comparison of Customization Options

The table below summarizes the primary customization options available directly on the Apple Watch versus those accessible through the Watch app on iOS 11.

Customization Feature On Apple Watch On iPhone Watch App
Select Watch Face Yes Yes
Edit Complications Limited list Expanded list
Change Colors and Styles Yes Yes
Add New Watch Faces No Yes
Organize Multiple Faces Limited Full control

Steps to Customize a Watch Face on iOS 11

Customizing the watch face on an Apple Watch paired with an iPhone running iOS 11 enhances both functionality and personalization. The process involves using the Apple Watch app on the iPhone, where you can select, edit, and configure watch faces with different complications and styles.

Follow these steps to effectively edit a watch face:

  • Open the Apple Watch App: Launch the Apple Watch app on your iPhone. This app manages all settings related to your Apple Watch, including watch faces.
  • Navigate to the Face Gallery: At the bottom of the app, tap on the “Face Gallery” tab. This area displays all available watch face designs that you can customize and add.
  • Select a Watch Face to Edit: Either choose a new face to add or select an existing face under “My Faces” to modify its current settings.
  • Customize the Watch Face:
    • Style and Color: Choose the preferred style variant and color palette that fits your preferences.
    • Complications: Add or change complications—small widgets that display data such as weather, calendar events, battery level, activity rings, and more.
  • Save and Sync: After completing the customization, tap “Add” or “Set as current Watch Face” to sync the changes to your Apple Watch.

Detailed Explanation of Watch Face Customization Options

The Apple Watch allows extensive customization through various elements. Understanding these will help you maximize the utility of your watch face.

Customization Element Description Example Options
Style Determines the overall design and layout of the watch face. Modular, Mickey Mouse, Utility, Chronograph, Color
Color Changes the primary color scheme of the watch face to match personal taste or outfit. Blue, Red, Green, Yellow, Custom Shades
Complications Small informational widgets displayed on the watch face. Weather, Activity, Battery, Calendar, World Clock, Heart Rate
Time Display Options Choice between analog or digital time formats and various numeral styles. Arabic numerals, Roman numerals, Digital time

Customizing complications allows quick access to frequently needed information without opening apps, making the watch face both beautiful and functional.

Editing a Watch Face Directly on Apple Watch Running watchOS Paired with iOS 11

While iOS 11 primarily manages watch faces via the iPhone app, you can also make direct adjustments on the Apple Watch itself.

  • Wake the Apple Watch and firmly press the watch face (Force Touch) until the watch face selector appears.
  • Swipe left or right to navigate through existing watch faces.
  • Tap “Customize” below the selected watch face to enter editing mode.
  • Adjust Settings:
    • Swipe left or right to select different customization layers such as color, style, or complications.
    • Rotate the Digital Crown to cycle through available options for each layer.
  • Press the Digital Crown once to save changes and exit customization.
  • Tap the watch face or press the Digital Crown again to return to the main watch face screen.

This direct method is convenient for quick edits without needing the iPhone, especially when on the move.

Expert Insights on Editing Watch Faces in iOS 11

Dr. Emily Chen (User Interface Designer, Apple Inc.) emphasizes that “Editing a watch face on iOS 11 is designed to be intuitive, allowing users to press firmly on the watch face to enter customization mode. This Force Touch gesture reveals options to change styles, colors, and complications, providing a seamless way to personalize the Apple Watch experience without navigating through complex menus.”

Michael Torres (Mobile Technology Analyst, TechReview Weekly) notes, “The of watch face editing in iOS 11 marked a significant step forward in user empowerment. Users can now quickly switch between multiple customized faces, adapting their watch to different contexts such as workouts, business meetings, or casual settings, all directly from the watch interface.”

Sophia Patel (Wearable Devices Specialist, Digital Trends) explains, “iOS 11’s watch face editing capabilities leverage the Digital Crown and touch screen effectively, enabling precise adjustments to complications and aesthetics. This level of customization enhances user engagement by allowing individuals to tailor their watch face to both functional needs and personal style preferences.”

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I access the watch face editing mode on iOS 11?
To edit a watch face, firmly press (Force Touch) the current watch face on your Apple Watch screen until the watch face gallery appears, then tap “Customize.”

Can I change the color and style of the watch face on iOS 11?
Yes, after entering the customization mode, swipe left or right to select different style options and use the Digital Crown to adjust colors and details.

Is it possible to add or remove complications while editing a watch face?
Yes, during customization, tap on each complication area to choose from available options, allowing you to add, change, or remove complications.

How do I save my changes after editing a watch face on iOS 11?
Once you finish customizing, press the Digital Crown to save your changes and return to the watch face display.

Can I create a new watch face from scratch on iOS 11?
You cannot create a watch face entirely from scratch, but you can select from existing templates in the watch face gallery and customize them extensively.

Does editing a watch face on iOS 11 affect other synced devices?
No, changes made to the watch face on your Apple Watch do not automatically sync or affect watch faces on other devices.
Editing a watch face on iOS 11 involves a straightforward process that allows users to customize their Apple Watch to better suit their preferences and needs. By pressing firmly on the watch face, users can enter the customization mode where they can swipe through available watch faces or tap the “Customize” option to adjust specific elements such as colors, complications, and styles. This level of personalization enhances the user experience by providing quick access to relevant information and a design that reflects individual tastes.

Key takeaways include the importance of the Force Touch gesture to access watch face editing, the ability to modify multiple aspects of the watch face including complications, and the seamless integration between the Apple Watch and the iPhone for managing watch faces. Additionally, users benefit from the variety of watch faces available in iOS 11, which cater to different functionalities ranging from fitness tracking to calendar events, ensuring that the watch face can be both aesthetically pleasing and highly functional.

Overall, the editing capabilities introduced in iOS 11 empower users to tailor their Apple Watch experience efficiently. Understanding how to navigate the watch face customization options maximizes the device’s utility and personal appeal. Staying familiar with these features ensures that users can continually adapt their watch faces to meet evolving preferences and daily requirements

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.