This article explains how to get the AQI complication on your Apple Watch using two different methods. The AQI is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 0-500 index for reporting air quality. The lower the number, the better the quality of air.

What to Know

  • Use the built-in AQI: Choose a watch face, tap Customize, and use the Digital Crown to scroll and find AQI. Put it where you want it.Press the Digital Crown to go back to the watch face screen, then again to go back to the watch face. You’ll see the AQI complication.Or, add a third-party AQI: Find one on the App Store on your Apple Watch, then install, launch, and configure it. Add it to a watch face.

Add Apple Watch AQI as Part of Another App

Your Apple Watch already has an AQI complication built into the basic Weather app installed on your device. You’ll need a watch face that has a spot for it, first.

  • With watchOS, force press the watch face, and then swipe left or right to select a new one. Infograph, Infograph Modular, Explorer, Activity Digital, and many others have the ability to add an AQI complication to their faces.
  • Choose a watch face with an area for a small, circular complication, then tap Customize.
  • Swipe left or right to highlight the circular space you want to put the AQI complication in. Some watch faces have more than one.
  • Use the Digital Crown to scroll through the available complications until you find AQI. Generally, the complications are listed in alphabetical order.
  • Once AQI is in the spot you want, press the Digital Crown once to go back to the watch face selection screen, then press it again to go back to the watch face itself. You should see the AQI complication where you placed it.

Add an App for a Dedicated AQI on Apple Watch

If the basic weather app doesn’t have your location’s AQI available, or if you just want a dedicated AQI app, you can use a third-party AQI app like AirMatters. Other AQI apps for the Apple Watch include AirVisual Air Quality Forecast and Air Quality Index. 

With watchOS, force press the watch face, and then swipe left or right to select a new one. Infograph, Infograph Modular, Explorer, Activity Digital, and many others have the ability to add an AQI complication to their faces.

Choose a watch face with an area for a small, circular complication, then tap Customize.

Swipe left or right to highlight the circular space you want to put the AQI complication in. Some watch faces have more than one.

Use the Digital Crown to scroll through the available complications until you find AQI. Generally, the complications are listed in alphabetical order.

Once AQI is in the spot you want, press the Digital Crown once to go back to the watch face selection screen, then press it again to go back to the watch face itself. You should see the AQI complication where you placed it.

For more information about this air quality index, visit the EPA’s Air Quality Index (AQI) Basics page.

  • Find your chosen AQI app on the App Store on your Apple Watch (or the iOS app store).
  • Install your chosen AQI app on your Apple Watch.
  • Launch the app on your Apple Watch and configure it for your own needs.
  • Force touch your watch face as above.
  • Choose a watch face that supports the circular complication.
  • Swipe left or right to highlight the complication space, then use the Digital Crown to scroll to the third-party app’s complication.
  • Once AQI is in the spot you want, press the Digital Crown once to go back to the watch face selection screen, and then press it again to go back to the watch face itself. You should see the third-party AQI complication where you placed it.

Find your chosen AQI app on the App Store on your Apple Watch (or the iOS app store).

Install your chosen AQI app on your Apple Watch. 

Launch the app on your Apple Watch and configure it for your own needs.

Force touch your watch face as above.

Choose a watch face that supports the circular complication.

Swipe left or right to highlight the complication space, then use the Digital Crown to scroll to the third-party app’s complication. 

Once AQI is in the spot you want, press the Digital Crown once to go back to the watch face selection screen, and then press it again to go back to the watch face itself. You should see the third-party AQI complication where you placed it.

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