How to Change Moto 360 Watch Bands

There are several watch bands that Motorola offers for its Moto 360 smartwatch. Here’s how to change Moto 360 watch bands if you’re going for a different look.

While you can choose which color watch band you want for your Moto 360 with Moto Maker, you might decide later on that you want to switch things up a bit and go for a new look. Or you might be wearing brown shoes and want a brown watch band to match. Changing out watch bands on your Moto 360 lets you do this.

While you can’t change the color of the Moto 360 watch case, you can at least change the color of the watch band. Technically, the Moto 360 can accept any 22mm watch band, but it’s a bit proprietary in the sense that some watch bands may not fit into the slots, which is why it’s a good idea to go ahead and just buy an official Moto 360 watch band or search carefully for watch bands that are made to fit the Moto 360.

In any case, when you get a new watch band, here’s how to change out your current Moto 360 watch band for a new one.

Before You Begin

Before you get your hands dirty, there are a couple of things that you’ll want to do first.

It’s best to turn off your Moto 360, that way you don’t accidentally activate the screen and tap something that could mess something up. It’s also a good idea to place a cloth underneath the watch since you’ll have the screen facing down — you don’t want the display getting scratched.

You’ll also need a small flat-head screwdriver, otherwise known as a precision screwdriver. Ideally, you want a spring bar jeweler tool, which you can buy for less than $10, but you most likely have a precision screwdriver lying around somewhere that you can use instead.

Changing Moto 360 Watch Bands

The process for changing out your Moto 360 watch band is pretty simple, and it works exactly like other traditional watches.

There’s a spring-loaded rod that’s fed through the end of the watch band and is connected to the watch case. To remove a watch band, you simply take your jeweler tool or screwdriver and place it in between the watch band and the watch case so that you can compress the spring in the rod and pry it out to remove the watch band.

The video above shows you visually how the process is done. It may take a few tries to finally get it, but it’s pretty easy once you get the hang of it.

Now, remove the rod from the watch band that you removed and put it in the new watch band just like how it was in the old one, making sure that the ends of rod stick out evenly on both sides.

From there, slide one end of the watch band into place in the watch case, and then using your tool or screwdriver, compress the other end of the rod as you push it into the watch case at the same time. It’ll slide in and all you have to do now is push it in the whole way until you hear it snap into place.

Do this for the other end of the watch band and you’ll now have a completely new look for your Moto 360. Make sure that you’re putting the watch band on the correct way so that it’s not backwards. A good way to know if your watch band is on correct is if the buckle end of the watch band is one the opposite side of the Moto 360’s “flat tire,” also known as the black section where the screen is cut off.

As aforementioned, any 22mm watch band should technically work, but sometimes one may not work if it’s too thick. If you want to get a third-party watch band, at least make sure that it’s listed as Moto 360-compatible. Finding third-party Moto 360 watch bands shouldn’t be too difficult, though, as there is a large community around that specific smartwatch.