watchOSApple WatchDevelopment

watchOS Complications Explained: How They Work and Why They Matter

AdsWatch Blog June 2026 5 min read

Complications are the small information elements on your Apple Watch face. In watchOS they are powerful data surfaces that can show any information at a glance.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
  1. What Are watchOS Complications
  2. Types of Complications
  3. How Complications Update
  4. Adding AdsWatch as a Complication
  5. Best Watch Faces for Complications

What Are watchOS Complications

A complication in watchOS is a widget that appears directly on your watch face. Unlike launching an app complications show information instantly without any taps.

AdsWatch uses complications to show your Google Ads spend, CTR, and campaign status directly on your watch face.

Types of Complications

watchOS supports several complication sizes depending on the watch face:

1
Modular Large: Full-width complication showing more data like a mini dashboard
2
Graphic Circular: Circular with progress ring, icon and text combined
3
Graphic Rectangular: Wide complication showing multiple data points in one view

How Complications Update

Complications update through Background App Refresh. watchOS allocates a refresh budget to each app — typically 50 to 60 refreshes per day. This means a complication updates roughly every 15 to 30 minutes.

For time-sensitive data like Google Ads spend AdsWatch uses the iPhone to push updates to the Watch via WatchConnectivity when new data is fetched, rather than relying solely on background refresh.

Adding AdsWatch as a Complication

To add AdsWatch to your watch face:

1
Long press on your watch face to enter customization mode
2
Tap Customize then tap a complication slot
3
Scroll to find AdsWatch in the app list
4
Select which metric to display: spend, CTR, or campaign status
5
Tap the crown to save

Best Watch Faces for Complications

Not all watch faces support the same number of complications. For maximum data density:

1
Modular face: Up to 5 complications, best for pure data utility
2
Infograph: Up to 8 complications including large graphic ones, best for Apple Watch Ultra and 44mm plus
3
Utility: Classic look with 3 complications, good balance of aesthetics and function
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