How to Change Apple Watch Face At Time of Day

Introduction

How to Automatically Change Your Apple Watch Face Based on Time of Day

Are you someone who loves customising your Apple Watch to match your mood, schedule, or style? One of the coolest features of the Apple Watch is the ability to switch between different watch faces. Whether you're heading to the gym, focusing on work, or winding down for the evening, there's a watch face for every occasion. What if I told you that you could automate these changes throughout the day? Yes, you can create shortcuts that will automatically switch your watch face based on the time of day.

In this blog post, we'll walk you through how to set up these automations using the Shortcuts app on your iPhone. It’s an easy process and once set up, you'll never have to worry about manually switching your watch face again!

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Why Automate Watch Faces?

Apple Watch faces offer more than just aesthetic variety. They are a great way to tailor your device to suit your needs throughout the day. For example, you might prefer a data-heavy face during work hours to track meetings and appointments, a fitness face when you're at the gym, and a more relaxed, simplified design when you're home.

The benefits of automating these changes include:

- Convenience: You won’t need to manually switch between faces during the day.

- Efficiency: The right information will always be available when you need it.

- Customization: Personalize your watch experience even more by aligning faces with your daily routine.

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Setting Up Your First Shortcut to Change Your Apple Watch Face

Before diving into multiple automations, let’s start with a single shortcut that changes your Apple Watch face based on the time of day. Follow these easy steps to set up your first automated watch face:

1. Open the Shortcuts App on Your iPhone

The Shortcuts app is your gateway to automating tasks across all Apple devices. If you don’t already have it, download it from the App Store.

2. Tap the "+" Button to Create a New Shortcut

At the top right corner, you'll find the "+" symbol. Tap on it to start creating a new shortcut.

3. Add the "Set Watch Face" Action

Now that you're creating a shortcut, you need to assign an action.

- Tap "Add Action" at the bottom.

- In the search bar, type "Set Watch Face."

- Select it when it appears in the list.

- Choose the watch face you want to set for this shortcut.

4. Save the Shortcut

Once you've chosen the desired watch face, tap "Done" to save the shortcut. You’ve now successfully created the first step of your automation.

Automating the Watch Face Change Based on Time of Day

The second half of the process involves setting a trigger that will prompt the watch face to change at a specific time. Follow these steps to make it happen:

5. Navigate to the "Automation" Tab in the Shortcuts App

At the bottom of the Shortcuts app, you'll find tabs. Select the "Automation" tab.

6. Tap "Create Personal Automation"

This option allows you to create triggers based on various conditions, such as time, location, or even iPhone usage.

7. Choose "Time of Day" as the Trigger

Since we want to change the watch face based on time, select "Time of Day" from the list of triggers.

8. Pick the Time You Want the Face to Change

A prompt will appear, allowing you to select the exact time for the watch face switch. This could be at the start of your workday, workout session, or any other event in your day. If you are like me, you’d rather not be reminded about your work calendar on a weekend you could set the Repeat to just Weekly and set the days of the week you’d like this automation to action.

9. Tap "Next" and Then "Add Action"

After setting the time, tap "Next" to proceed. On the following screen, tap "Add Action."

10. Search for the Shortcut You Just Created

Since you've already created a shortcut to change your watch face, search for it by name and select it as the action.

11. Turn Off "Ask Before Running"

To ensure your watch face switches automatically without any pop-up asking for confirmation, toggle off the "Ask Before Running" option.

12. Save the Automation

Finally, tap "Done" to save your new automation. Now, your watch face will automatically change at the time you’ve specified.

Setting Up Multiple Watch Face Automations Throughout the Day

Now that you've set up one automated watch face change, you can repeat this process to create multiple automations based on different times of the day. Here's an example of how you could schedule your watch faces to change throughout the day:

- 6:00 AM – A workout face that shows your fitness metrics for a morning run or gym session.

- 9:00 AM – A work-focused face displaying your calendar, reminders, and weather for a productive day.

- 5:00 PM – A casual, minimalist face when you're winding down after work.

To set up multiple automations, follow the same steps outlined above for each watch face and time of day. Create a new shortcut for each different watch face, and a new automation for each time you want to trigger a switch.

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Tips for Smooth Automation

- Keep Devices Updated: Ensure that both your Apple Watch and iPhone are running the latest OS versions. Compatibility issues can arise if you're using outdated software.

- Stay Connected: Your Apple Watch must be connected to your iPhone for these automations to run smoothly. Without this connection, the automations won’t trigger.

- Customise Watch Faces: Don’t just stick to default watch faces! Explore custom options that offer different complications (like weather, calendar events, or health metrics) to get more value out of your automations.

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Final Thoughts

Automating your Apple Watch face changes is a game changer for anyone looking to streamline their day. Whether you want to stay focused at work, track your fitness goals, or simply have a watch face that matches your current mood, automations make it easy. It only takes a few minutes to set up, but the benefits are endless. So go ahead, give it a try, and elevate your Apple Watch experience!

By setting up these automations, you can truly optimise your Apple Watch to fit every part of your daily routine effortlessly.

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References:

1. idownloadblog

2. youtube

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4. reddit

5. routinehub

6. support.apple

7. support.apple

8. youtube