This skill provides Apple Human Interface Guidelines for Apple Watch. Load it when working on watchOS apps, complications, workout features, or any wrist-based interaction design.
watchOS Design Guidelines
Purpose
This skill provides Apple Human Interface Guidelines for Apple Watch. Load it when working on watchOS apps, complications, workout features, or any wrist-based interaction design.
When to Use
Building or reviewing watchOS app interfaces
Designing complications for watch faces
Implementing Digital Crown interactions
Creating workout or health tracking features
Designing notifications for Apple Watch
Evaluating glanceability of Watch UI
Working with Always On display states
File Structure
File
Contents
SKILL.md
Complete design rules, specifications, and evaluation checklist
rules/_sections.md
All rules organized by category with IDs for cross-reference
metadata.json
Version, references, and abstract
Key Principles
Glanceable first -- every screen must communicate its purpose within 2 seconds
Respect the wrist -- interactions should be brief; avoid complex multi-step flows
Digital Crown is primary -- scroll, select, and adjust values with the Crown
Complications drive engagement -- keep watch face data fresh and useful
Always On awareness -- dim gracefully, hide sensitive content
Rule Categories
#
Category
Priority
1
Glanceable Design
CRITICAL
2
Digital Crown
HIGH
3
Navigation
HIGH
4
Complications
HIGH
5
Always On Display
MEDIUM
6
Workouts & Health
MEDIUM
7
Notifications
MEDIUM
8
Accessibility
CRITICAL
Priority Reference
Level
Meaning
CRITICAL
Glanceable design, accessibility -- violations make the app unusable on Watch
HIGH
Digital Crown, navigation, complications -- core Watch interaction patterns
MEDIUM
Always On, workouts, notifications -- important but context-dependent
Never Do
Never place primary information off-screen (requires scrolling to see)
Never ignore the Digital Crown for scrollable or value-picking content
Never override system Crown behaviors (volume, Time Travel)
Never support only one complication family
Never use deprecated ClockKit APIs -- use WidgetKit complication families
Never show sensitive health data in the Always On dimmed state
Never omit accessibility labels on image-only interactive elements
Never use laggy or batched responses to Crown rotation