How can I make an Apple Watch complication?

To create an Apple Watch complication, you can leverage the expanded capabilities of widgets in watchOS 11. Here are the steps and key points to consider:

1. Use Existing APIs: You can bring your interactive widgets to watchOS using the same APIs you're currently using on iOS and macOS. This includes using App Intents to create widgets with multiple interactive areas that perform actions and update state directly in the widget.

2. Accessory Widget Group Layout: Utilize the new Accessory Widget Group layout to provide more information and interactivity. This layout accommodates three separate views and supports deep linking to different parts of your app, as well as button and toggle initializers to perform actions without leaving the widget. For more details, you can refer to the session What’s new in watchOS 11.

3. Relevant Contexts: Specify one or more relevant contexts (such as time of day, AirPods connection, location, and routine) to ensure that your widgets appear when they are most useful. This helps the system insert them into the smart stack at the right time. This is discussed in the Platforms State of the Union.

4. Live Activities: If you have an existing live activity on iOS, it will automatically appear in the smart stack on Apple Watch. You can customize this by using the small supplemental activity family to tailor the content for watchOS. For more information, you can check out the session Bring your Live Activity to Apple Watch.

5. Design Guidelines: Follow the design guidelines to make the most of the limited space on the Apple Watch screen. Use standard margins and text styles to ensure your live activity fits well with the visual language of the smart stack and remains legible at a glance. For detailed guidelines, refer to the session Design Live Activities for Apple Watch.

Relevant Sessions

1. Platforms State of the Union
2. What’s new in watchOS 11
3. Bring your Live Activity to Apple Watch
4. Design Live Activities for Apple Watch

By following these steps and utilizing the provided resources, you can create a functional and engaging Apple Watch complication.