How to change your Google Pixel Watch theme

The Pixel Watch 3 (left) and Pixel Watch 4 (right) sitting on a green pillow. The Watch 3 shows a custom Halloween-themed watch face; the Watch 4 shows an "Applying theme" screen pulling red, maroon, and purple colors from a watch face.
(Image credit: Michael Hicks / Android Central)

Wear OS 6 is here, and for Google Pixel Watch users, it injects a pop of color into the operating system on your wrist. Like Android 16, it's inspired by Material You and Material 3 Expressive. While the bright and flashy colorways might not be for everyone, Google thought of this and made it possible for users to customize their smartwatch's color theme.

There are 10 total options for personalizing your Pixel Watch's color theme, and this guide will explain them all and how to set them up.

Pixel Watch themes and color options

A Pixel Watch 4 sitting on a scratch pad showing the Fitbit Quick Start Tile with pink theming for the buttons

(Image credit: Michael Hicks / Android Central)

Wear OS 6 is a major update for the Google Pixel Watch that adds Material 3 Expressive, a fun and colorful design language, to your smartwatch. Material You theming arrives on the Pixel Watch for the first time, giving users fine-tuned control over the entire Wear OS appearance. Customization doesn't stop at the watch face; it extends to buttons, sliders, toggles, and every part of the system.

There are two basic theming options in Wear OS 6: Match watch face and No theme. The former will automatically adjust Material You theming to match your selected watch face when enabled (not that this only applies to first-party watch faces). Every time you change watch faces, an Applying theme screen will appear as your Pixel Watch adjusts on its own. As expected, No theme simply keeps Wear OS 6 colors as standard.

Alternatively, you can pick a persistent color theme of one of the following selections:

  • Moonstone
  • Ivy
  • Porcelain
  • Iris
  • Lemongrass
  • Jade
  • Indigo
  • Peony

The color options above align with the physical colorways available on Pixel phones and watches.

How to change your Google Pixel Watch theme

The Google Pixel Watch 4 (left) showing the app drawer on display, next to the Pixel Watch 3 showing the Google Maps Tile

(Image credit: Michael Hicks / Android Central)

Setting up Material You theming on your Google Pixel Watch only takes a few taps. Here's how to do it:

1. Open the Settings app on your Pixel Watch.

2. Tap Display, then press Color theme.

3. Pick an option from the list. Choices include Match watch face, No theme, and the eight individual colors listed above.

4. Once you pick an option, you'll see an Applying theme animation.

The screenshotted steps for changing a Pixel Watch theme.

(Image credit: Future)

After that, your Google Pixel Watch's user interface will now reflect your preferred color theme. And if you change to another first-party watch face, it will automatically apply a new theme.

Why you should change your Google Pixel Watch theme

Close-up of the Google Pixel Watch 4 showing the current mileage, duration, HR, zone, and pace for a run activity.

(Image credit: Michael Hicks / Android Central)

Google is going all-in on colorful design with Material You and Material 3 Expressive. With Wear OS 6, it now extends to your smartwatch on the Pixel Watch 2, Pixel Watch 3, and Pixel Watch 4. It gives you even more control over the watch faces and interfaces you use daily.

Whether you want to match up your Pixel Watch's style to match your outfit or set a color theme that's identical to your watch and phone's physical color, Wear OS 6 color theming will do the trick. There are plenty of reasons why you'd want to make your Pixel Watch more personalized, and now you can.

Brady Snyder
Contributor

Brady is a tech journalist for Android Central, with a focus on news, phones, tablets, audio, wearables, and software. He has spent the last three years reporting and commenting on all things related to consumer technology for various publications. Brady graduated from St. John's University with a bachelor's degree in journalism. His work has been published in XDA, Android Police, Tech Advisor, iMore, Screen Rant, and Android Headlines. When he isn't experimenting with the latest tech, you can find Brady running or watching Big East basketball.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.