The fastest way to change your watch face
On most smartwatches, you change the watch face by holding your finger on the current display for two to three seconds until a menu appears, then swiping left or right through available faces and tapping the one you want. The exact steps depend on whether you own an Apple Watch, Wear OS device, Fitbit, or Samsung Galaxy Watch — each uses a slightly different interface, but all follow this same basic hold-and-swipe pattern.
If the hold gesture does not work, try swiping up from the bottom of the screen or down from the top, depending on your device model. Some older watches require you to open the companion app on your phone instead of changing faces directly on the watch itself.
Key Takeaways
- Most smartwatches let you change faces by holding your finger on the watch display until a menu appears, then swiping to select a new face.
- Apple Watch, Wear OS, Fitbit, and Samsung Galaxy Watch all use slightly different button combinations and swipe directions, so check your device manual if the standard hold does not work.
- You can download additional watch faces through your phone's companion app if the built-in options do not suit you.
- Some watch faces let you customize colors, complications (small data widgets), and background images before you save them.
Apple Watch: Hold and swipe to change faces
On an Apple Watch, press and hold the watch face with your finger until the customization menu appears — this usually takes two to three seconds. The screen will show your current face with editing options at the bottom.
Swipe left to see other built-in faces, or swipe right to return to faces you have already viewed. Tap any face to select it, then use the digital crown (the knob on the side) or the plus and minus buttons to adjust colors, complications, or other settings. Press the digital crown or swipe up to save and exit.
Wear OS and Android smartwatches: Swipe and tap
On Wear OS watches (made by companies like Mobvoi, Fossil, and others), swipe down from the top of the screen to open the quick settings menu, then look for a watch face or customization option. Some Wear OS devices instead require you to swipe left from the watch face itself to cycle through available options.
If neither gesture works, open the companion app on your phone, navigate to watch faces or settings, and select a new face from there. The phone app will sync the change to your watch within a few seconds.
Fitbit: Use the phone app to change faces
Most Fitbit watches do not let you change faces directly on the device. Instead, open the Fitbit app on your phone, tap your profile picture, select your device, and look for a "Clock Face" or "Watch Face" option. Choose a new face from the list and tap "Set as Default" — the change will sync to your watch automatically.
Some newer Fitbit models do allow on-device changes: hold down the back button (or the button on the side) until a menu appears, then navigate to watch faces using the up and down buttons and press to select.
Samsung Galaxy Watch: Hold the screen or use the app
On a Samsung Galaxy Watch, hold your finger on the watch face until the customization screen appears. Swipe left or right to browse faces, tap one to preview it, and tap again to confirm your choice. You can then customize colors and complications before saving.
If the hold gesture does not work, open the Galaxy Wearable app on your phone, go to Watch Faces, and select a new one from there. The watch will update within moments.
Downloading and installing new watch faces
If you want faces beyond the ones that came with your watch, open your phone's companion app — the Apple Watch app, Wear OS app, Fitbit app, or Galaxy Wearable app — and look for a store, gallery, or download section. Browse available faces, tap to install, and the face will appear on your watch automatically.
Some watch faces are free; others cost money. Read the description and reviews before downloading to make sure the face works with your specific watch model and shows the information you care about (time, date, heart rate, steps, weather, and so on).
Customizing watch face colors and complications
After you select a watch face, most devices let you customize it before saving. You can usually change the color scheme, adjust the size or position of the time display, and add or remove complications — small widgets that show weather, calendar events, battery level, or other data at a glance.
On Apple Watch, use the digital crown to scroll through options and tap to select colors or complications. On Wear OS and Samsung, tap the face preview to open the editor, then use the on-screen buttons or swipe gestures to make changes. On Fitbit, customization options appear in the phone app after you select a face.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the hold gesture not working on my watch?
Try swiping down from the top or up from the bottom of the screen instead — different watch models use different gestures. If neither works, restart your watch by holding the power button for ten seconds, then try again. If the problem persists, open the companion app on your phone and change the face there instead.
Can I use watch faces from other brands on my watch?
No. Apple Watch faces only work on Apple Watches, Wear OS faces only work on Wear OS devices, and so on. Each platform has its own app store or gallery where you can download faces made specifically for your device.
Will changing my watch face delete my data or settings?
No. Changing the watch face does not affect your health data, activity history, or any other information stored on your watch. It only changes how the time and other information are displayed.
How often can I change my watch face?
As often as you want. There is no limit to how many times you can switch between faces or how many you can download. Many people change faces daily or by the season.
What if I want to go back to the original watch face?
Open your watch faces menu and select the default face that came with your watch — it will still be there. You can always switch back to any face you have downloaded or used before.