In this tutorial, we’ll cover the basics of sharing an Apple Watch face from your Watch or iPhone, uploading it online, and using a shared face yourself.
You can share an Apple Watch face with all of the visual elements as well as the complications. So, if you create the most amazing face that you know your bestie would love, share it! Along with that, you can share your Apple Watch face online. So, if you add it to your blog or show it off on social media, others can see it and then download and use it, too!
Also see: How to create custom Apple Watch faces to match your style
Note:
- If you share a face with a complication for an app the other person does not own, they will be prompted to install that free or paid app on their Apple Watch. They can then tap to purchase or download the app or select Continue Without This App.
- Sharing watch faces requires watchOS 7 and later on Series 3 and newer models.
You can do this directly from your Apple Watch or the iPhone Watch app.
From your Apple Watch
1) Make sure you’re viewing the face you want to share on Apple Watch.
2) Touch and hold the watch face and then tap the share button.
3) Decide if you want to share all complications with or without data. The default is to share complications with data. Note that you won’t see this option if the watch face does not have a complication.
4) Next, choose a suggested contact or tap Messages or Mail under it. If you selected Messages or Mail, tap App Contact and choose one by tapping the people icon.
5) You can now create a message, and when you finish, tap the Send button from the bottom.
From iPhone
If you are putting together a face on your iPhone, you can share it from there, too.
1) Open the Watch app and select the face you want to share from the My Watch or Face Gallery tab.
2) Tap the Share button. Depending on the type of face you’re sharing, you may have an additional step. For example, if you’re sharing a Photo face, you’ll be prompted to select the photos you want to share with the face.
3) At the top of the Share sheet that displays, tap Options under the number of complications on the face if you’d like to adjust them. You can then choose to Include with data or Include without data, depending on the complication, or Don’t include. Tap Done when you finish.
4) Choose your method of sharing from the iOS Share Sheet and follow the prompts.
Save the watch face file to a service like Google Drive, and it will upload the watch face file to that service. Now, share its link as you normally do for other file types.
If you see a Watch face online or receive a link from a pal, you can add the face to your available options easily. On the iPhone that’s paired with your Watch, tap the link for the face and select Add to My Faces.
Then, when you open the Watch app, you should see the newly added face in that section of the My Watch tab. Tap the face to apply it to your Watch. And remember, if the face includes a complication for an app you don’t own, you’ll have the option to get the app or continue without that complication.
If you do not get the option to Add to My Faces, tap the shared watch face and select the Watch app icon from the iOS Share Sheet. If even the Watch app option does not appear, show it in the Share Sheet first.
On a related note: How to automatically change your Apple Watch face based on time or location