Honestly, if you’re still using the Astronomy or Mickey Mouse faces as your daily driver, you’re missing the point of having a computer on your wrist. The modular face apple watch users swear by isn't just a design choice. It’s a workflow. Most people pick it because it "looks techy," but they end up cluttering it with useless data that just drains the battery and their focus.
I’ve been wearing these things since the "Series 0" days in 2015. Back then, the original Modular face was revolutionary because it was the first time we weren't limited to just two or three tiny circles. You had that big, chunky middle slot. It changed everything. But fast forward to 2026, and the landscape is way more complex. We have the standard Modular, the Infograph Modular, and the beastly Modular Ultra.
Getting it right is harder than it looks.
The Massive Split: Modular vs. Modular Ultra
If you’re rocking an Apple Watch Ultra or the newer Ultra 3, you have access to the Modular Ultra face. This is arguably the most powerful real estate Apple has ever put on a screen. Why? Because of the bezel.
On the standard modular face apple watch models (like the Series 10 or the older Series 9), the edges of the screen are basically dead space. But on the Ultra, that outer ring is a live complication. You can set it to show your depth if you’re diving, your elevation if you’re hiking, or just a ticking seconds counter.
- Standard Modular: Great for clean lines and high contrast.
- Modular Ultra: Best for "data nerds" who want 7+ complications at once.
- Infograph Modular: The middle ground that introduced rich, multi-colored gauges.
One thing people get wrong? The "Zenith" font. That’s the internal name for the tall, skinny numbers on the Ultra face. If you use third-party complications that don't match that font, the whole face looks like a mess. Developer David Smith actually wrote about this—he had to tweak his apps to match the specific "straightened" tails of the 6s and 9s on the Ultra face just so they didn't look out of place.
Stop Using "Useless" Complications
Here is a cold truth: you do not need the Battery complication.
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Seriously. Swipe up to see your battery percentage. Putting it on your main face is a waste of a prime slot. If you're using a modular face apple watch setup, that bottom row of three small circles should be for "one-tap actions," not just static information.
I see people putting the Moon Phase in the big middle slot. Unless you’re a werewolf or a professional photographer, why? That middle complication is the heart of the watch. It’s the only spot that can show you a multi-line preview of your next meeting or a detailed heart rate graph.
A Pro-Level Setup for 2026
If you want to actually be productive, try this layout:
- Top Left: Date (The "Day/Date" combo is best).
- Middle Big: Calendar (Specifically "Up Next"). Seeing where you need to be is better than just seeing the time.
- Bottom Left: WaterMinder or your favorite hydration tracker.
- Bottom Middle: Messages. A quick tap to see who is bugging you.
- Bottom Right: Workouts.
The "Smart Stack" Changed the Game
We have to talk about how watchOS 10 and 11 changed how we use the modular face apple watch. Since you can now just scroll the Digital Crown to see a "Smart Stack" of widgets, some people argue the Modular face is overkill.
I disagree.
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The Smart Stack is reactive—it shows you what the watch thinks you need. The Modular face is intentional. It shows you what you know you need. If you're a developer, you might want a complication for Jira or GitHub. If you're a parent, maybe it's a shortcut to a specific contact. You can't rely on the Smart Stack to always have those ready.
The Hidden Power of Color and Focus
Did you know you can link your watch face to your iPhone Focus modes? This is the ultimate "modular face" hack.
I have a "Work" focus that automatically switches my watch to a monochromatic Modular face with my Outlook calendar in the center and my Tasks app at the bottom. The moment I leave the office, my "Personal" focus kicks in, and the watch switches to a more colorful face with my activity rings and a podcast shortcut.
It keeps the watch from being a source of stress. When I'm at the gym, I don't want to see my emails. The modular face apple watch allows for that level of surgical precision.
Quick Customization Tips
- Long Press: Don't bother with the iPhone app for small changes. Long press the face, hit edit, and use the Crown. It’s faster.
- Swipe to Switch: Make sure this is turned on in your settings. It lets you flick between different Modular setups (like one for "Weather" and one for "Fitness") in half a second.
- Monochrome Mode: In the "Color" settings, scroll all the way to the top. Going black and white makes the watch look way more expensive and less like a toy.
What Most People Miss: Third-Party Data
The native Apple complications are... fine. But the modular face apple watch truly shines when you bring in the heavy hitters.
Apps like CARROT Weather allow you to customize exactly what strings of data show up in that big middle slot. You can have it show the "Feels Like" temperature, the wind speed, and the chance of rain all in one sentence. Apple’s default weather complication usually just says "Cloudy."
If you're into fitness, Livity or Athlytic can put your "Recovery Score" right in the center. This is huge for 2026. Instead of just seeing how many steps you took, you're seeing if your body is actually ready for a workout today. That’s the difference between a gadget and a tool.
Technical Limits to Keep in Mind
Look, the Modular face isn't perfect. If you have an older Series 4 or 5, the "rich" complications can sometimes feel a bit laggy when they refresh. And honestly, the "Modular Compact" face is kinda the ugly stepchild of the group—it tries to be analog and digital at the same time and usually fails at both.
Also, keep an eye on your "Always On" display settings. Some third-party complications for the modular face apple watch don't update every second when your wrist is down to save power. If you need a live-ticking second hand for your job (like if you're a nurse or a pilot), you're better off using a face with a dedicated analog dial or the Modular Ultra’s outer ring.
Summary of Actionable Steps
Stop settling for the default "out of the box" look. To get the most out of your watch:
- Audit your complications: If you haven't tapped a complication in three days, delete it. Replace it with something you actually use, like a Timer or a specific HomeKit scene.
- Utilize the Middle Slot: This is the most valuable piece of digital real estate you own. Use it for "Time-Series" data—things that change over the course of the day like your Calendar, Heart Rate, or a weather graph.
- Match your bands: Use the "Multicolor" or "Custom Color" options to match your watch band. It sounds vain, but it makes the device feel cohesive.
- Link to Focus: Set up an automation in the Shortcuts app to change your modular face apple watch layout based on time of day or location.
Your watch shouldn't just tell you the time. It should tell you what's next.
Next Steps for Your Setup
Go to your iPhone's Watch app right now. Create three versions of the Modular face: "Deep Work," "Active," and "Relax." Assign them to your Focus modes and see how much less you pick up your phone over the next 24 hours.