How to Select Only Dial in Fossil Smart Watch

This guide walks you through the process of selecting and customizing only the dial (watch face) on your Fossil smart watch. You’ll learn how to access settings, choose from built-in or downloadable faces, and personalize colors and complications. Whether you’re new to smartwatches or upgrading your style, this tutorial makes it simple.

Key Takeaways

Access Watch Face Settings: Use the Fossil Smartwatches app or long-press the current dial to enter customization mode.
Choose from Built-in or Custom Faces: Fossil offers a variety of pre-installed dials, plus downloadable options from the Wear OS store.
Customize Colors and Complications: Personalize your dial by changing colors, adding widgets like weather or steps, and adjusting layout.
Sync Changes via Bluetooth: Ensure your watch is connected to your phone so changes apply instantly.
Use Third-Party Apps for More Options: Apps like Facer and Watch Face Studio expand your design choices beyond Fossil’s defaults.
Save and Switch Between Multiple Dials: Create a collection of favorite faces for different occasions—work, workout, weekend.
Troubleshoot Common Issues: If changes don’t appear, restart the app, reconnect Bluetooth, or update your watch software.

Introduction: Why Customizing Your Fossil Smart Watch Dial Matters

Your Fossil smart watch isn’t just a timepiece—it’s a personal statement. While it tracks your steps, monitors your heart rate, and delivers notifications, one of its most visible features is the dial, or watch face. The dial is what people see first, and it sets the tone for your entire wearable experience. Whether you prefer a classic analog look, a modern digital display, or something bold and colorful, selecting the right dial can transform how you interact with your device.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about how to select only dial in Fossil smart watch. You’ll learn how to access customization settings, choose from a wide range of built-in and downloadable options, personalize colors and complications, and even troubleshoot common issues. By the end, you’ll be able to switch up your watch face as easily as changing your outfit—giving your Fossil smart watch a fresh look whenever you want.

This guide is perfect for new Fossil users who are still getting familiar with their device, as well as experienced wearers looking to unlock more customization features. No technical expertise is required—just your Fossil smart watch, your smartphone, and a few minutes of your time.

Step 1: Understand What “Selecting Only Dial” Means

Before diving into the steps, it’s important to clarify what we mean by “selecting only dial.” In the context of Fossil smart watches, this refers to changing or customizing the watch face—the visual display that shows the time and other information—without altering other settings like notifications, apps, or system preferences.

Visual guide about How to Select Only Dial in Fossil Smart Watch

Image source: fossil.com

The dial is the central visual element of your smart watch. It can display time in analog or digital format, show battery life, weather, step count, heart rate, and more. “Selecting only dial” means you’re focusing solely on this visual layer, leaving the rest of your watch’s functionality intact. This is useful if you want a fresh look without disrupting your current setup.

For example, you might love your current notification settings and fitness tracking features but feel your watch face looks outdated. By selecting a new dial, you can give your Fossil a modern upgrade without reconfiguring everything else.

Step 2: Ensure Your Fossil Smart Watch Is Set Up Properly

Before you can customize your dial, your Fossil smart watch must be properly paired with your smartphone and running the latest software. Here’s how to make sure everything is ready:

Check Bluetooth Connection

Your Fossil smart watch communicates with your phone via Bluetooth. If the connection is weak or lost, changes to the dial may not sync. To check:

Open the Fossil Smartwatches app on your phone (available on iOS and Android).
Tap on your watch name to open the device menu.
Look for a green or blue connection icon indicating an active Bluetooth link.
If disconnected, tap “Reconnect” or go to your phone’s Bluetooth settings and reconnect manually.

Update Your Watch Software

Fossil regularly releases software updates that improve performance and add new watch faces. To update:

In the Fossil app, go to Device Settings > Software Update.
If an update is available, follow the on-screen instructions to install it.
Ensure your watch is charged above 50% and connected to Wi-Fi for a smooth update.

Install the Latest Fossil App Version

Using an outdated app can limit your customization options. To update:

Open the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android).
Search for “Fossil Smartwatches.”
If an update is available, tap “Update.”

Once your watch and app are up to date and connected, you’re ready to start selecting your dial.

Step 3: Access the Watch Face Customization Menu

There are two main ways to access the dial selection menu on your Fossil smart watch: directly on the watch or through the Fossil app on your phone. Both methods are simple and effective.

Method 1: Long-Press on the Watch

This is the quickest way to change your dial:

Wake up your Fossil smart watch by tapping the screen or raising your wrist.
Press and hold anywhere on the current watch face for 2–3 seconds.
A carousel of available watch faces will appear.
Swipe left or right to browse options.
Tap on the one you like to apply it instantly.

Tip: Some Fossil models allow you to swipe up from the bottom of the screen to access the watch face menu directly.

Method 2: Use the Fossil Smartwatches App

If you prefer using your phone for more control:

Open the Fossil Smartwatches app.
Tap on your watch name at the top of the screen.
Select Watch Faces from the menu.
Browse the gallery of available faces.
Tap on a face to preview it, then tap “Apply” to sync it to your watch.

The app method is especially useful when you want to see larger previews or access downloadable faces not yet on your watch.

Step 4: Choose from Built-In Watch Faces

Fossil smart watches come with a variety of pre-installed dials designed to match different styles and needs. These are organized into categories such as Classic, Sport, Modern, and Minimalist.

Browse by Category

In the watch face menu (either on the watch or in the app), you’ll see categories like:

Classic: Traditional analog designs with Roman numerals or sleek hour markers.
Sport: Bold, high-contrast faces with fitness metrics like step count and heart rate.
Modern: Digital or hybrid designs with clean lines and customizable colors.
Minimalist: Simple faces with just the time and subtle details—great for formal occasions.

Preview and Select

Tap on any face to see a live preview. Some faces show dynamic elements like moving hands or changing weather icons. Once you find one you like, select it to apply.

Example: If you’re heading to the gym, choose a Sport face that displays your heart rate and step goal. For a business meeting, switch to a Classic analog face with a leather strap look.

Step 5: Download New Watch Faces from the Wear OS Store

While Fossil’s built-in faces are great, the real fun begins when you explore third-party designs. Thanks to Wear OS (the operating system used by Fossil smart watches), you can download thousands of custom watch faces from the Google Play Store.

Access the Wear OS Watch Face Store

To browse and download new faces:

Open the Google Play Store on your smartphone.
Search for “watch faces” or “Wear OS watch faces.”
Filter results by “Top Free” or “Top Paid” to find popular options.
Look for highly rated faces with good reviews (4+ stars).
Tap on a face to view screenshots, descriptions, and compatibility.
Tap “Install” to download it to your watch.

Sync Downloaded Faces to Your Watch

Once installed, the new face will appear in your Fossil app’s watch face gallery:

Open the Fossil Smartwatches app.
Go to Watch Faces.
Scroll down to find your newly downloaded face.
Tap to preview and apply.

Popular third-party apps for watch faces include Facer, Watch Face Studio, and Pujie Black. These offer advanced customization like animated backgrounds and interactive elements.

Step 6: Customize Your Selected Dial

Many Fossil watch faces allow further personalization. This is where you can truly make the dial your own by adjusting colors, complications, and layout.

Change Colors and Themes

After selecting a face, look for a “Customize” or “Edit” option (usually a pencil icon or gear symbol). Here, you can:

Change the background color (e.g., black, blue, rose gold).
Adjust hand or numeral colors.
Switch between light and dark themes.
Apply seasonal or gradient effects.

Add or Remove Complications

Complications are small widgets that display extra info like weather, battery, or calendar events. To customize:

In the customization menu, tap on a complication slot (e.g., top-left corner).
Choose from options like “Steps,” “Heart Rate,” “Weather,” “Next Meeting,” or “Battery.”
Some faces allow multiple complications—fill them based on your priorities.

Example: Set the top complication to show the weather so you can check if it’s raining without unlocking your phone.

Adjust Layout and Style

Some advanced faces let you change the position of elements:

Move the date to the bottom instead of the top.
Switch from 12-hour to 24-hour time format.
Choose between analog, digital, or hybrid displays.

Experiment with different combinations until the dial feels perfect for your lifestyle.

Step 7: Save and Switch Between Multiple Dials

One of the best features of Fossil smart watches is the ability to save multiple watch faces and switch between them easily. This is ideal for matching your dial to your daily activities.

Save Favorite Faces

Whenever you apply a new dial, it’s automatically saved to your watch. To access your collection:

Long-press the current face to open the carousel.
Swipe to see all saved faces.
Tap any to switch instantly.

Create a Rotation for Different Occasions

Plan ahead by setting up a rotation:

Workdays: Use a clean, professional face with calendar and email complications.
Workouts: Switch to a sporty face with heart rate and timer.
Weekends: Try a fun, colorful face with weather and music controls.
Evening Events: Choose a sleek, minimalist face with a dark background.

Over time, you’ll develop a personal library of dials that reflect your mood, schedule, and style.

Step 8: Use Third-Party Apps for Advanced Customization

If you’re ready to go beyond Fossil’s built-in options, third-party apps offer even more creative freedom.

Facer Watch Faces

Facer is one of the most popular apps for custom watch faces. It offers:

Thousands of free and premium designs.
Animated and interactive faces (e.g., moving planets, live weather maps).
Full customization: upload your own photos, adjust fonts, and add animations.

To use Facer:

Download the Facer app from the Google Play Store.
Create an account and browse the gallery.
Select a face, customize it, and sync to your Fossil watch via the app.

Watch Face Studio

This app lets you design your own dial from scratch:

Choose a template or start blank.
Add elements like hands, numbers, and complications.
Import images or use built-in graphics.
Export and install directly to your watch.

While these apps require a bit more effort, they’re perfect for users who want a truly unique look.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Sometimes, dial changes don’t appear as expected. Here’s how to fix the most common problems.

Watch Face Doesn’t Change After Selection

If you select a new dial but it doesn’t update:

Check your Bluetooth connection—reconnect if needed.
Restart the Fossil app and try again.
Restart your watch by holding the side button for 10 seconds.
Ensure the face is compatible with your watch model.

Downloaded Face Doesn’t Appear in the App

If a face from the Play Store doesn’t show up:

Open the Fossil app and go to Watch Faces.
Tap the refresh icon (usually a circular arrow).
Wait a few minutes—some faces take time to sync.
Reinstall the face if the issue persists.

Customizations Don’t Save

If your color or complication changes reset:

Make sure you tap “Apply” or “Save” after editing.
Some third-party faces don’t support full customization—check the description.
Update your watch software to the latest version.

Watch Freezes or Lags After Changing Dial

Complex or animated faces can slow down older models:

Switch to a simpler face.
Close unused apps running in the background.
Restart your watch to clear memory.

Conclusion: Make Your Fossil Smart Watch Truly Yours

Selecting only dial in Fossil smart watch is more than just a cosmetic change—it’s a way to personalize your device and enhance your daily experience. Whether you’re switching to a sleek analog face for a meeting or a vibrant digital display for a run, the right dial can make your watch feel like an extension of your personality.

By following this guide, you’ve learned how to access customization settings, choose from built-in and downloadable faces, personalize colors and complications, and troubleshoot common issues. You now have the tools to create a collection of watch faces that match every moment of your life.

Remember, your Fossil smart watch is designed to evolve with you. Don’t be afraid to experiment—try new styles, mix and match complications, and update your look as often as you like. With just a few taps, you can transform your watch from functional to fabulous.

So go ahead—select that perfect dial, and wear your style with confidence.