Now that Google has released the Pixel Watch, you might be wondering about what different features and settings are available to tinker with. While the old Wear OS app won’t work with the new Pixel Watch, Google is taking a different approach by releasing a standalone app for its new smartwatch. Just for reference, this will be the same situation you’ll find if you check out any other Wear OS 3-powered wearable, with the manufacturer releasing their app onto the Play Store or Apple App Store.
How to Change Watch Faces on Pixel Watch
As is the case whenever a major change happens in the tech space, you might be trying to figure out how to use different watch faces on Pixel Watch. Thankfully, you’re in luck, as Google offers a total of 18 different watch faces for you to choose from out of the box. You also have the added benefit of changing and customizing different watch faces right from the Pixel Watch, removing the need to do so from whatever phone is paired to the Watch.
- Wake your Pixel Watch by tapping the screen or pressing either the side button or the crown.
- Press and hold on your current watch face.
- Swipe to the left and tap the Add + button.
- Select one of the following pre-loaded watch faces:
- Concentric
- Ink
- Index
- Everyday
- Dial
- Pacific
- Pilot
- Pilot Bold
- Prime
- Utility
- Track
- Shapes
- Radial
- Vista
- Abstract
- Analog
- Big Time
- Classic
- Swipe left and right to scroll through the various styles and complication layouts.
- Once complete, push the crown to save the changes.
From there, the newly-added watch face will appear on your Pixel Watch. And in the event that you want to switch between different downloaded watch faces simply, just long-press on your screen. Then, swipe left or right and tap the watch face you wish to use.
How to Change Pixel Watch Watch Faces from Your Android Phone
As you likely expected, you can also add, customize, and change Pixel Watch watch faces from your Android phone. This is helpful for those who prefer to work with the bigger screen real estate offered by your phone. Here’s how you can do so:
- On your paired Android phone, open the Google Pixel Watch app.
- Tap the Watch faces button.
- If editing the current watch face, tap the Edit button below the preview.
- If adding a new watch face, tap the + Add new button.
- Select a watch face to add.
- Make any changes to the various styles and complications.
- Tap the Add button below the watch face preview.
- In the top right corner, tap the back arrow.
- Swipe left or right to locate the newly-created watch face.
- Tap the Use on watch button.
After just a moment, you can tap the display on your Pixel Watch, and the new watch face will appear, replacing the “old” one.
How to Customize Watch Face on Pixel Watch
As we mentioned previously, Google has released the Pixel Watch with a total of 18 different in-house developed watch faces for you to choose from. For the most part, all of these are customizable in various ways.
- Wake your Pixel Watch by tapping the screen or pressing either the side button or the crown.
- Press and hold on your current watch face.
- Tap the Edit button to personalize the color, layout and to select complications (if applicable).
- Swipe left and right to scroll through the various styles and complication layouts.
- Push the crown on your Pixel Watch when finished to save any changes.
These customizations include basic things like changing the color of the clock, while others allow for complications (shortcuts) that you can view at a glance or interact with.
You Can Still Download Third-Party Watch Faces
Unlike the Apple Watch, Wear OS smartwatches can use third-party watch faces. In some instances, you might come across a watch face that a single developer created and released onto the Play Store. But then there are apps and services such as Facer, which include an incredible number of watch faces, complete with collaborative options and more. And with Facer Premium, you’ll gain access to even more options if you want truly deck out and personalize your new Pixel Watch.
