Complications on Apple Watch aren’t complicated — here’s how to add them

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Apple WatchSource: Bryan M. Wolfe / iMore

Apple Watch complications are a great way to see a variety of information at a glance — and your App Store apps can have complications of their very own, too. That means you can not only keep up on all your information right on the watch face, but you can launch directly into your favorite apps with just a tap!

Naturally, the complications work on the best Apple Watches, including the Apple Watch Series 6 and Apple Watch SE.

How to find App Store apps with Apple Watch complications

If you’re looking for someplace to start on your watch face complications collection, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite complication-replete apps, including ETA, iTranslate, Carrot Weather, and more.

How to add and remove Apple Watch complications from the Customize screen

By default, third-party apps that support complications will automatically appear in your list of options. If the list starts to get too long, though, you can remove some of them.

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  1. Launch the Watch app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Complications under the My Watch tab.

  3. Choose Edit in the upper right corner of the screen.

    To add or remove complication options, launch the Watch app on your iPhone, then tap Complications. Choose Edit.

    To add or remove complication options, launch the Watch app on your iPhone, then tap Complications. Choose Edit. Source: iMore

  4. Tap the minus button (-) on the left, next to the app you want to remove from the list.
  5. Select Remove.

  6. Choose Done when finished.

    To add or remove complication options, tap the minus button, then choose Remove. Tap Done when finished.

    To add or remove complication options, tap the minus button, then choose Remove. Tap Done when finished.Source: iMore

To add a complication back in, follow the steps above, but instead tap the plus button (+) on the left next to the app under Do not include.

How to add Apple Watch complications via your Apple Watch

You can customize complications for every watch face right on your Apple Watch when you are on the go.

  1. Press the Digital Crown to navigate to the watch face on your Apple Watch.
  2. Press firmly on the watch face to enter customization mode.
  3. Select a watch face.
  4. Tap Edit.

  5. Swipe to the left until you reach the last customization option. This is the complications menu.

    To add Apple Watch complications from your Watch, navigate to the current watch face, then press firmly on the face. Select a watch face you want, then tap Edit. Swipe left until you reach the last customization option.

    To add Apple Watch complications from your Watch, navigate to the current watch face, then press firmly on the face. Select a watch face you want, then tap Edit. Swipe left until you reach the last customization option.Source: iMore

  6. Tap a complication location.
  7. Rotate the Digital Crown and scroll through complications to select one.
  8. Repeat the two steps above for each complication location.
  9. Press the Digital Crown to exit customization mode.

  10. Tap the watch face when finished.

    To add Apple Watch complications from your Watch, tap on a complication location, rotate Digital Crown, repeat as necessary. Press the Digital crown to exist customization mode. Tap the Watch face when finished

    To add Apple Watch complications from your Watch, tap on a complication location, rotate Digital Crown, repeat as necessary. Press the Digital crown to exist customization mode. Tap the Watch face when finishedSource: iMore

How to add Apple Watch complications via your iPhone

If customizing complications on your Apple Watch feels a bit awkward or uncomfortable, you can do the work on your iPhone instead.

  1. Launch the Watch app on your iPhone.

  2. Under the My Watch tab, swipe to the left or right to select a watch face.

    To add Apple Watch complications via your iPhone, launch the Watch app, select a watch face on the My Watch tab

    To add Apple Watch complications via your iPhone, launch the Watch app, select a watch face on the My Watch tabSource: iMore

  3. Tap a complication location that you want to change.
  4. Scroll through the complications to select one.

  5. Repeat the two steps above for each complication location.

    To add Apple Watch complications via your iPhone, tap a complication location, scroll and select a new one, repeat for each complication location.

    To add Apple Watch complications via your iPhone, tap a complication location, scroll and select a new one, repeat for each complication location.Source: iMore

You will immediately see the changes to the complications on the watch face on your Apple Watch.

Don’t forget to change the color and style of your Apple Watch faces

In addition to changing the complications on your Apple Watch, you can adjust your watch faces’ colors and style. Getting a few new bands is also a great way to customize your Apple Watch look.

Updated August 2021: Updated for the current watchOS.

Read more at iMore.

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