Apple released watchOS 11 this week, bringing new features and improvements to the Apple Watch. However, some users are upset that the update removed several popular watch faces. The missing faces include Chronograph, Explorer, and Numerals.
Users expressed frustration at losing their favorite faces. One user said, “I’m super disappointed that they’ve taken away both the Explorer and the original Chronograph faces. These were my two favorites and were quite a bit more functional than most of the new faces introduced over the last couple of years.”
While variations like Numerals Mono, Numerals Duo, and Chronograph Pro are still available, many feel they are not the same.
Some users dislike being forced to switch faces or having an unwanted face automatically applied by the update.
Apple Watch face removal backlash
watchOS 11 did introduce some new features and faces.
These include an updated Photos face that uses AI to suggest images, the dynamic Flux face that leverages the new 1Hz display, and the analog-style Reflections face designed for the titanium finish. Many in the Apple Watch subreddit are encouraging others to visit Apple’s feedback page to voice their displeasure about the removed faces. There appears to be no technical reason behind their removal, leading some to speculate it was an aesthetic choice by Apple.
Regardless, many users are unhappy about losing beloved faces. A similar situation occurred in July with the Wear OS 5 release. Some older watch faces disappeared as Google shifted focus to the new Watch Face Format launched in 2023, which rendered certain faces incompatible.
For now, fans of the Chronograph, Explorer, and Numerals faces are hoping Apple will allow them to download these legacy faces again, seeing it as the easiest way to address their concerns.
