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Did you know you can add complications to your Apple Watch face and access your favorite apps with a single tap? If you use an app regularly, a shortcut on your watch screen may come in handy. Here's how to change your Apple Watch complications to include a shortcut to an app on your watch face. We'll use the Workout app as an example.
Why You'll Love This Tip:
- Add a complication to your watch face to access your favorite apps the fastest way.
- Customize your Apple Watch face to include only those apps you use most.
How to Add Complications to Apple Watch Face
System Requirements
This tip works on Apple Watches running watchOS 10 and later.
What are Apple Watch complications? Formally, "complication" is a word taken from the trade of watch-making, where it means any function of a watch face other than time-keeping. In the context of your Apple Watch, complications are one-tap shortcuts to access apps from your watch face. They're extremely handy, and one of the most popular features of Apple Watches. To learn more about using your Apple Watch and other Apple devices, check out our Tip of the Day newsletter. You can only do this if you have a watch face that allows for complications, such as Infograph or Modular, but there are many other options. Once you have set an Apple Watch face that allows complications, here's how to add a complication. For this article, we'll be using the Workout app as an example.
- On your Apple Watch, long press the watch face.
![On your Apple Watch, long press the watch face.]()
- Tap Edit.
![Tap Edit.]()
- Swipe left until you see the Complications menu. Depending on the watch face you are using, it may take one swipe or several.
![Swipe left until you see the Complications menu.]()
- Tap one of the complication nodes on the watch face to select it. You'll see that each node is surrounded by an outline to make it easier to identify. When you tap on your chosen complication node, that outline will briefly turn green before the screen changes to the next menu.
![Tap one of the complication nodes on the watch face to select it.]()
- Swipe up and down or turn the Digital Crown until you find the Workout complication.
![Swipe up and down or turn the Digital Crown until you find the Workout complication.]()
- Tap on Workout.
![Tap on Workout.]()
- You'll be shown a preview of what that complication node will now look like with the Workout app icon. Tap it to replace the existing complication.
![Tap it to replace the exiting complication.]()
- Press the Home button on the Digital Crown to exit the Complications menu, then press it again to finish. You should see that your watch face is updated to include the Workout app icon.
![Press the Digital Crown twice to finish]()
Pro tip:
If you love complications, you may be on the hunt for the Apple Watch face with the most complications. This would be Infograph face, which allows up to eight. You can add other app complications to your Apple Watch face as well; check them out! There are also third-party Apple Watch faces apps that allow for even more complications.
Related: The Ultimate Fitness-Tracking Guide: 16 Best Apple Watch Workout Tips
Now you can go straight to the Workout app from the watch face! For me, it makes accessing my workouts much faster, which is ideal when I'm in a hurry to get moving. You can have several watch faces saved for different purposes. Next, learn how to change your Apple Watch faces by swiping on your display.
