What Are the Most Useful Apple Watch Complications for Daily Use in 2023?

The Most Useful Apple Watch Complications

Apple Watch complications are those handy little widgets on your watch face that give you quick info or let you do stuff without opening an app. They’re super convenient, making it easy to get the info you need at just a glance. Let’s dive into some of the best ones out there:

Health & Lifestyle

• Activity: This shows how you’re doing with your daily activity rings—like steps, calories burned, and exercise time. It’s a great way to keep yourself motivated to stay active. You get it right out of the box, and it works with various watch faces.
• HeartWatch: While the standard Heart Rate app shows you your current heart rate, HeartWatch goes deeper. You get a graph of your heart rate over the last few hours and a handy gauge that shows your current rate compared to the day’s highs and lows. It’s great for keeping an eye on your heart health. It’s a third-party app that costs $5.99.
• WaterMinder: If you need reminders to drink water, this is the one for you. Its complications are like a little meter showing how close you are to your daily intake goal. It’s free to download, but there’s a $29.99 annual fee for premium features.

Productivity & Organization

• Fantastical 3: This calendar app is awesome for keeping your schedule at your fingertips. You can add events by just typing naturally (“Dinner with Tom tomorrow at 7 PM”), and it’ll show up on the complication. The app is $9.99.
• Things 3: One of the top task management apps out there. The complications look great and show your progress on tasks. It’s really focused on getting things done. The app is updated frequently and super practical.
• Tile: Ever lost your keys or phone? Tile helps you find them, and its complication shows you how close you are to your lost items. There’s a free version, but premium features require a subscription.

Travel & Weather

• Weather: The default weather app is solid, showing you things like temperature, humidity, and chances of rain. CARROT Weather kicks it up a notch with fun, snarky forecasts and detailed info (like air quality and wind speed). CARROT Premium costs $19.99 per year.
• World Clock: Perfect for travelers or anyone working with people in different time zones. It shows the current time in various locations around the world and is pre-installed on the Apple Watch.

Entertainment & Hobbies

• Spotify: Finally, Spotify users can enjoy a complication on their Apple Watch. You can download playlists, albums, and podcasts right to your watch, and control playback on wireless speakers or TVs. You’ll need a Spotify Premium subscription.
• Sports Alerts: Keep up with scores and updates for your favorite teams. The complication shows real-time scores and more details are just a tap away. It’s free to download, with some in-app purchases.

Other Useful Complications

• Battery: Keep an eye on your Apple Watch’s battery life with this pre-installed complication. No more sudden power outages.
• Timer: Set timers easily for workouts, cooking, or any task right from your watch face. This one’s pre-installed too.
• Camera Remote: Perfect for taking photos from your iPhone using your watch. It’s great for group shots or selfies and comes pre-installed.

How to Add Complications to Your Apple Watch Face

• Open the Watch app on your iPhone, select the “Watch Face” section, and pick a watch face.
• Tap on a complication slot to see the list of available options.
• Choose your complication and customize it if needed.
• Once you’ve picked and customized your complications, you can move them around by long-pressing the watch face and dragging them to where you want them.

By choosing and setting up complications that fit your needs, you can make your Apple Watch work better for you and get the most out of it.

Most Useful Apple Watch Complications

Apple Watch complications aren’t just fancy talk for widgets—they actually make your life easier by giving you the lowdown on stuff like weather, music, or your latest workout without needing to endlessly scroll and tap around. Here are some of the coolest complications you can put on your Apple Watch as of 2025. No fluff, just good stuff.

Citymapper

Ever found yourself lost in a concrete jungle with no idea where the next train is heading? That’s where Citymapper comes in. It’s a lifesaver for anyone who’s always on the move. Look down at your wrist, see your next step, and you’re golden. Seriously, it’s like having your very own pocket-sized travel guide!

Bear for Apple Watch

If notes were money, Bear would make you rich. This handy app doesn’t just let you scribble down notes—it’s all linked up with your iPhone and Mac. Think about it: Need to jot down a quick idea? Use your voice. Want to tick off tasks? Done right from your wrist. Perfect for those “oh, that’s a great idea!” moments.

Spotify

Picture this: You’re out for a run, leaving your phone behind, but still rocking out to your playlist with the Spotify complication. Okay, it might throw a fit here and there, but if you’re hooked on tunes like most of us, it’s worth the hiccups.

CARROT Weather

If quirky weather forecasts are your thing, you’ll love CARROT Weather. It’s not just about knowing if you need an umbrella; it gives the down-low on just about everything. Perfect for planning those spontaneous outdoor adventures.

Things 3

Forget forgetting. With Things 3, you’ve got your task list pretty much tattooed on your watch face. Check off tasks, see what’s up next—it’s all about getting stuff done with flair. Handy for those who love ticking things off a list.

MLB At Bat

Baseball fans, this one’s for you. The MLB At Bat complication gives game updates and scores so you’re always in the loop. No more frantic searches for scores during family dinners—like, we’ve all been there.

FITIV Pulse

Fitness buffs, FITIV Pulse takes your workouts up a notch. If you’re looking to keep tabs on your heart rate beyond what Apple Watch does out of the box, this complication’s got your back. And your heart.

PCalc

Got calculations to make but no calculator? PCalc is your best buddy. No need to reopen the app for a quick check—it’s right there on your watch face just after you close the app. A win for anyone who’s always crunching numbers.

So there you have it—the fun-sized tools that turn your Apple Watch into a powerhouse. Whether it’s navigating city streets, rocking tunes, or checking off lists, these complications bring a bit of awesome right to your wrist.

Most Useful Apple Watch Complications?

Let’s dive into the world of Apple Watch complications. These little gems on your watch face can make everyday life so much easier by giving you access to vital info or features with just a glance. What you find most useful might depend on your lifestyle, but I’ve got a few suggestions around health, productivity, and making life a tad more convenient.

Core Complications & Their Perks

Health & Fitness Tracking

• Heart Rate Monitor: Keep an eye on your ticker with real-time updates—even get alerts if something’s off.
• Activity Rings: Track how active you are through the day—are you hitting your calorie, standing, and exercise goals?
• Blood Oxygen (SpO2): Check your oxygen levels; pretty crucial if you’ve got any breathing issues.

Productivity

• Calendar/Reminders: Don’t miss a beat with a quick peek at your schedule or to-dos.
• Weather: It’s like having your personal forecaster on your wrist.

Convenience

• Battery Life: Know how much juice you’ve got left without fussing around.
• Now Playing: Control your tunes or podcast—though fair warning, some updates might mess with the volume.

Solving the Common Snags

Complications Not Updating

Sometimes things just don’t refresh right. Here’s the why and how to fix it:

• Causes: Updates might trigger software hiccups or your background refresh settings could be twisted (looking at you, watchOS 10.2).
• Fixes:
• Restart your gadgets—watch and iPhone. It’s the old “turn it off and on” trick.
• Double-check those Background App Refresh settings.
• If third-party apps are involved, you might have to reinstall them.

Missing Complications

Maybe your app’s gone AWOL or permissions got wonky. Here’s what’s happening:

• Causes: It might be an installation issue or your app doesn’t jive with your chosen watch face.
• Fixes:
• Check if the app is installed via the Watch app on your phone.
• Update your permissions under Privacy settings.

Inaccurate Data

Got weird readings? It could be due to:

• Causes: Calibration mishaps, especially when sensors interact with devices like wheelchairs, or just not keeping your system up to date.
• Fixes:
• Recalibrate your sensors—try out an Outdoor Walk or Run.
• Update to the latest watchOS to keep things running smoothly.

Best Practices for Customization

Keep things tidy with just a few key complications on your go-to watch face—no need to clutter it up. Also, third-party apps can be lifesavers: WaterMinder for hydration or CARROT Weather for pinpoint forecasts. And hey, test these out across different faces to see what clicks best for you.

Looking Ahead

Be on the lookout for new offerings from Apple, like sleep stages or integrating health metrics like glucose monitoring. If you’re up for experimenting with beta software, brace for a few bugs and don’t be shy about sending feedback to Apple.

By keeping things functional and straightforward, you can fine-tune those complications to boost your daily hustle and health smarts. If things ever get seriously frustrating, reaching out to Apple Support or checking in with user forums can often help clear up any lingering issues.

I’m glad you asked about Apple Watch complications because, honestly, they can really crank up the utility of your watch, making life a tad easier. Let’s dive into a few that are absolute game-changers in 2023:

Weather: The weather complication is a lifesaver. I mean, knowing if it’s going to rain cats and dogs helps you dodge those soggy shoes. It’s always handy to have some intel on the current conditions and what the skies are brewing for the day ahead.

Activity: Now, if you’re like me and love to keep tabs on your activity levels, the Activity complication is spot-on. It tracks your movement, exercise, and standing goals, pushing you toward a healthier lifestyle, one step at a time.

Calendar: Instant updates on your calendar right there on your wrist? Yes, please! The calendar complication keeps you in the loop with your schedule—no more double bookings or missed meetings.

Battery: Keeping an eye on the battery level with the battery complication is clutch. You wouldn’t want your watch to conk out on you mid-jog, right? Alerts for when it’s time for a charge are super helpful.

Heart Rate: For health buffs, the heart rate complication continually monitors your ticker. It’s fascinating to see how your heart responds to different activities.

Messages: Then there are Messages—a quick tap, and you’re connected to recent texts. No fumbling with your phone. Just easy peasy communication.

Reminders: If you tend to forget stuff like I do, the reminders complication comes to the rescue. It’s all about managing that ever-growing to-do list, keeping you from dropping the ball.

Fitness Tracking: Fitness enthusiasts, rejoice! With the fitness tracking complication, syncing with apps like Strava or Nike Run Club means tracking your workout performance is seamless.

World Clock: For globetrotters or those working across time zones, the world clock complication is your trusty sidekick. Knowing what time it is in Tokyo or Toronto can be a real head-scratcher otherwise.

Stocks: Investors and market watchers will appreciate the stocks complication, delivering real-time stock prices right to your wrist. It’s all about staying financially aware without the ticker-tape hassle.

So, there you have it—these complications are your little helpers, tweaking the Apple Watch into a powerhouse of productivity and efficiency. Keep everything running smoothly by updating your watch and complications regularly.