Is Your Apple Watch Face Watching You? A Closer Look at Facer's Permissions
I recently picked up an Apple Watch (yes, welcome to 2025, (traded a buddy for it, version 7), and like any tech-savvy nerd, I immediately went down the rabbit hole of customizing the face. Enter Facer, the popular app with thousands of user-submitted faces. Everything looked harmless—until it didn’t.
Here’s What I Noticed
While browsing faces, I ran into a weird trend: some of the faces, when I clicked to install them - came requirements—to download additional apps. Not companion apps that enhance the watch face. I’m talking about completely unrelated apps that have no business being on your watch… or your phone.
Ticketing apps. Train Apps. Other apps that perhaps could be related to the deisng of their watch-face, but sketchy nonetheless.
Why would a watch face want you to install a shopping app, a random weather service, or some sketchy “unknown app in a foriegn language”? Red flag city.
It’s Not Facer (Exactly)...
To be clear, the core Facer app isn’t necessarily the villain here. The issue lies with individual watch face designers who embed links or dependencies that point you toward external downloads. Some of them even include location-tracking or sensor access permissions through those third-party apps. That’s where it starts to feel less like customization and more like covert spyware installation.
Apple does allow users to control location services settings, but most folks don’t think to check when installing a cute clock.
Why It Matters
- Certain apps can include trackers, GPS sniffers, or data harvesters.
- Face designers may be making affiliate money from every install—or worse, collecting your data.
- You have no control over what permissions those extra apps request once installed.
And here’s the kicker: most users don’t realize this is happening. They just want a fun face and end up with a side of surveillance.
What You Should Do
- Stick to built-in Apple Watch faces or those that don’t require extra apps.
- Don’t download anything just because a face designer says you “need to.” You probably don’t.
- Audit your app permissions often. You’d be surprised what’s creeping in the background.
- Need help? I can set up your Apple Watch securely—in person.
Bottom line: your watch face shouldn't come with baggage. If someone’s trying to sneak apps onto your devices in the name of style, it's not worth it. Don't let a digital accessory turn into a privacy liability.
Stay skeptical. Stay secure.
—Scott Pam @ PC-ASSIST
