Wear (formerly Android Wear and Wear OS) is Google’s smartwatch operating system, helping users handle notifications, apps, and more all from their wrist. Wear devices come from many manufacturers with many designs, but it’s also easy to customize your Wear device with a unique watch face. Here’s a look at some of the most unique, popular, functional, and fun Wear watch faces. Check them out and see which is suitable for your wrist.

If you have an Apple Watch, it’s easy to switch up your watch faces there, as well.

Best for Personalization: PhotoWear Watch Face

PhotoWear Watch Face uses your favorite images as your watch face. Choose one image or create a photo grid with up to nine shots. The app pulls your photo options from your camera roll or your most recent Instagram uploads.

  • Lets you display up to nine photos at a time.

  • Pulls recent images directly from Instagram.

  • Crop photos and apply filters.

  • Not all features are free.

  • No automatic refresh to pull images from your smartphone.

The app has some image-editing features for photo customization, including crop, contrast, and brightness tools. It also has an array of image filters to play with, so you can give all your photos a specific look or customize one.

PhotoWear Watch Face is free to download and use, and there’s a paid pro version that unlocks more customization options.

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Best for Simple, Stunning Images: ustwo Watch Faces

Some users appreciate a wide array of complications or rapid access to their apps and contacts, but others want something that looks clean and fresh on their wrist. ustwo Watch Faces offers a stunning collection of watch faces with personalization options and an easy-to-use interface.

  • Huge collection of beautiful watch faces.

  • Simple interface that’s easy to use.

  • Free to download and use.

  • Fewer features than other watch face apps.

From the contrasting colors of Invert to the minimalist Stadium, there’s a style for everyone. While the focus is on beautiful design, some of the watch faces do offer a few extras. For example, Zodiac gives you dual time zones, and Museum also displays the date.

ustwo is free to download and use.

Best for Features and Functionality: Bubble Cloud Wear Tile Launcher/Watchface

Bubble Cloud Wear Tile Launcher/Watchface is an excellent product with tons of features and great manufacturer support, helping you stay in touch with your contacts while having quick access to all your Wear apps.

  • Fast access to settings, messages, and more.

  • Most frequently used bubbles get greater on-screen prominence.

  • Supports countless complications.

  • Use it in “app drawer” mode or “interactive watch face” mode.

  • Select what stays on the ambient face.

  • Not all features are free.

  • The layout can be overly complex at times.

The watch face lets you create a slew of pages where you can pin your apps and contacts. This is especially useful for creating groups of complications, such as tasks and note-keeping apps, as well as clusters of friends, such as frequent contacts and family members.

If you already have a watch face you like, use Bubble Cloud as a launcher only. Slide it in from the side and replace your smartwatch’s standard launcher.

This app is free to download and use, but you need to pay for some features through an in-app purchase.

Best for Time-Tracking: Timr Face

At first glance, this is a nice-looking, minimalist watch face that seems to have limited functionality. But if you take a closer look, you see a moving ruler in the bottom half of the display, closely tracking each passing second. If you’re somebody who needs to watch the seconds as well as minutes and hours (think interval training or cooking), this may be exactly what you need.

  • Minimalist but colorful design.

  • Useful for monitoring seconds, minutes, and hours.

  • Easily change background colors and scale animation rate.

  • Limited functionality.

  • You need to pay for some features.

Additionally, there are options to change the color swatch with 11 variations for the slider and three options for the background display. Timr Face blends simple design with rich time-tracking functionality. This app is free to download and use, with additional features available as in-app purchases.

Best for Runners and Hikers: GPS Tracker

As the name suggests, this is a GPS tracking app for your Wear device that can also serve as a watch face. Aimed at those with walking or running in mind, GPS Tracker helps users see how many miles they’ve covered at a glance. It also offers quick complications to view your current location, launch a map, check travel speed, and more. Quick functions for music playback and sharing stats add to the feature set.

  • Dedicated features for runners and hikers.

  • Helpful integration with Google Maps and Google Earth.

  • Works as a watch face, standalone app, or complication.

  • Not all features are free.

  • May be a bit complicated.

If you’re happy with your current watch face, add GPS Tracker as a complication, and you’ll get easy access to all its features. This app is free to download and use, with additional features available as in-app purchases.

Best for Nostalgic Nerds: DosFace Watch Face

What better way to dress up your modern smartwatch than to give it a 1981 theme? This DOS-inspired look is retro and fun for nostalgic nerds or anyone who appreciates its cool feel. There are several to choose from, including the classic terminal and the infamous blue screen of death.

  • Nerdy (in a good way) and retro-cool.

  • Variety of themes to choose from.

  • Simple interface that’s easy to use.

  • Not the most glanceable watch face.

Opt to display time in 24-hour or 12-hour formats, and tap the display to show your smartwatch battery level. The app is $0.99 to download and use with no other purchases needed.

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