How can I set my Apple Watch (series 8) to ONLY show the time on the always-on display when wrist is down and NOT my photo background, similar to my iPhone is set to show only the time and not its wallpaper for its AOD?

Hello DHigg21,

Thank you for reaching out in Apple Support Communities. You can have your Apple Watch display the time by adjusting the clock face in the Settings app on your Apple Watch. Here are the steps we recommend for you to follow:

Return to the clock face

You can choose how long before Apple Watch returns to the clock face from an open app.

1. Open the Settings app  on your Apple Watch.

2. Go to General > Return to Clock, then scroll down and choose when you want your Apple Watch to return to the clock face: Always, After 2 minutes, or After 1 hour.

3. You can also return to the clock face by pressing the Digital Crown.

By default, the setting you select applies to all apps, but you can choose a custom time for each app. To do so, tap an app on this screen, tap Custom, then choose a setting.

This information is outlined in this helpful article: Turn on and wake Apple Watch - Apple Support

Kind regards.