After WatchOS 10 update I cannot swipe between watch faces

100% agree that this feature should not have been removed. I prefer the option of changing the watch face with a quick swipe.

I have also noticed that the ping phone feature was also removed? Is that correct?

You are claiming that [tapping, holding, swiping, tapping] is just as easy as [swiping]? And to observe the data presented on numerous watch faces, repeating this process over and over and over is just as easy as flicking your finger tip?

I'm going to firmly disagree with you and present scientific data to support that four actions take longer than one action. Furthermore, having to repeat these four actions numerous times to observe information takes substantially longer and cripples use of the device.

I don't understand how people are okay (some seem pleased!) with Apple increasing the difficulty of using something that's primary purpose is to present information quickly and effortlessly.

Update available 12/11/23

just downloaded. Swipe does work now

from watch not phone

select settings

scroll to clock click

click swipe to switch

On the watch open the Settings app!

Settings > Clock > Swipe to Switch Watch Face

Tip: read the last page of a thread before posting.

It is a tradition of very long standing that watchmakers take advertising photos of their watches showing 10:08, 10:09 or 10:10, including Apple. This is a play off of that tradition.

https://www.menshealth.com/style/g33807469/best-watch-brands-for-men/

Absolutely, I have a series 6 and was just about to press the button on an Ultra 2 then realised that it too would not have the faces swipe. I use 6 faces and swipe between each - one for fitness, one for health, one for weather etc. Stacks and widgets are of no use to me. I don’t buy the excuse that it stops accidental swipes, so what swipe back.

It has rendered the watch unusable, and every time I look at that time I now curse Apple. For that reason I took my Apple watch off this morning and will use my analogue watch.

A real own goal for Apple, make a useful watch pretty much unusable. Just arrogance on their part.

No, it's a new animation. It appears to happen with all watch faces. The faces start showing 10:09 and then immediately change to the current time. But it takes a fraction of a second. If it's an analog face with hands, they go sweeping around the face at high speed.

It's funny on the Snoppy face!

Starla55 wrote:

I hate this new update. I like to be able to switch back-and-forth to different Watch faces because each one did something to make my life easier. Now I have to go on the phone to switch watch faces. At least give us an option undo this new update.!

You DO NOT need to use your iPhone to switch watch faces

You can press your finger on the middle of the current watch f face until it shrinks, and then you can swipe left and right to change watch faces.

If that is not good enough, then in watchOS 10.2 you can enable left/right watch face swiping:

• Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
• Scroll down and choose “Clock” under Settings.
• Toggle on the “Swipe to Switch Face” setting.

You should tell Apple what you would like to see in a future watchOS update

Feedback - Watch - Apple

If enough users send feedback, then it is more likely to reach a decision maker.

Thank you, finally Apple listened to this request. Watch Settings > Clock > Toggle On. All user defined Watch Faces can be swiped left and right.. Phew no more long press....such a non-user friendly choice it was.

Northern-Survivor wrote:

It amazes me that someone thought the user would like to see a half-second glimpse of the Face Gallery as they swipe to a different face.

Apple has a long history of doing things like that. Little flourishes that some of us really do appreciate. Sadly, they've gotten much more serious lately. I wish they'd do more like this.

You are waaayyy late to the party.

That is discussed throughout this entire thread. However, had you read at least the last few pages you would have discovered that Apple has restored the simple swipe from before as an option.

ElasmoB8 wrote:

I looked for the setting to be able to simply swipe without having to long press and I cannot find it -- it does not appear to be under the clock setting as noted above. Can you please tell me exactly where to find this setting? I also use multiple faces with difference complications for an easy glance and I prefer the old swipe. Thank you.

First, make sure you have updated your Watch to the latest version of watchOS (watchOS 10.2 at the time of this writing). Then, on the watch, go to Settings>Clock and enable "Swipe to Switch Face".

As an alternative I have a collection of Siri-enabled shortcuts for changing the Watch face. Made them a few years ago but never used them much. Now I will.

By no longer swiping to other watch faces It looks like Apple is pushing us towards using the new Smart Stack….. all part of the “information at a glance” in the New Design Language as espoused by Kevin Lynch in the June preview of Watch os10.