watchOS 11: Apple Cancels Apple Watch Face In Unusual Move

The range of Apple Watch faces is now well over 50, with cool extras arriving on a regular basis, including the recent—and brilliant—Pride Radiance which landed in May alongside a vibrant new Pride Edition Braided Solo Loop. As Apple giveth, now Apple taketh away, it seems.

When the next software is launched this fall, watchOS 11 will see one particular Watch face removed. As spotted by Zac Hall at 9to5Mac, the Siri Watch face is going to be retired. Of course, Apple could still reverse this decision, but I think that’s highly unlikely, and here’s why.

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This is almost certainly the first time Apple has removed a Watch face, in contrast to all the ones that have been added. I counted 63 in this list from Apple, and it doesn’t include the new Pride Radiance. Not all are available for all Watches or all watchOS versions.

So, why is the Siri face going away?

Apple’s description of the Siri face is: “This face displays information that’s timely and helpful. It might be your next appointment, the traffic on your way home, or the time the sun sets, and you can tap to get more information. Turn the Digital Crown to scroll through your day. Press the Digital Crown to return to the watch face.”

Does that description remind you of anything else? Last year, Apple introduced the Smart Stack for Apple Watch. On the Watch face, any Watch face except one, you can turn the Digital Crown to scroll down the face and a list of information in the form of widgets. It shows items like your next appointment, weather and more.

In other words, the Smart Stack does almost exactly what the Siri face does. And, as you’ll have guessed that single Watch face that doesn’t work with is the Siri face.

Nor does the double-tap mechanic which arrived with watchOS 10 for Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2. It’s a slick maneuver that launches the Smart Stack one-handed.

Now, with watchOS 11, Apple has promised us a smarter Smart Stack. At least let’s be grateful they didn’t call it Smarter Stack. The widgets will appear based on the time, location and other aspects. It can show you the Shazam widget when the Watch spots there’s music nearby.

The next OS will also auto-launch the Smart Stack when a Live Activity is happening or music is being played.

Farewell then, Siri Watch face. Long live the smarter Smart Stack.