Roughly, the time in words app for iPhone and iPad

"Roughly" is a Watch complication, for Modular and many other watch faces, that tells you the approximate time, in words. Times are given to the nearest five minutes: "its about ten to six", "its about quarter past three", or "its about five oclock". Accurate but imprecise, its a "fuzzy clock".

Roughly is meant to be fun, but can also be useful for those with dyscalculia (numeric dyslexia) or for the lazy. When youre asked what the time is, you can just read it out.

Roughly can be shown in the large central area of any Modular watch face, and in a single line of text on many other watch faces, including Activity Analog, Utility, Motion, Photo, Mickey or Minnie. Please note that on the single line complication, the hour may be shown as a digit if there is insufficient space for a word. For example, "TWENTY FIVE PAST 12" may be shown rather than "TWENTY FIVE PAST TWELVE". This is more common on a smaller Watch, and if its an issue for you, please use a Modular face instead.



The iPhone app only displays an image. To load Roughly, install the iPhone app, then wait for it to install on your paired Apple Watch, or install it manually through the Watch app on your iPhone.

Force Touch (hard press) on the watch face to change it, then switch to the Modular face, or a face which supports a single line of text. Press Customize, then activate the Middle complication on Modular or the Bottom or Below Time complication on another face. Choose Roughly from the list there, then press the digital crown twice to return to the watch face.

On your iPhone, you can also use the Watch app to install Roughly, and to choose a language. After changing languages, tap on the complication to update it.


Also, sincere apologies if youre unable to change languages, which should work for most but may fail for some. There have been many changes in the way Settings are accessed since Roughly was first written, and the method currently used has been deprecated. As Im more of a video editor and Final Cut Pro trainer than a coder, it may take a little while to bring the app up to date. (But hey — if you are interested in video editing, please check out my book at fcpefficientediting.com?)

Mohammed Al-Noury @momo_alnoury
Leo Hans @twleohans
Felix Schenk
Michael Kurath @michaelkurath
Tom K
Dave @Deloextra
Tom Schrier @Fantazy_cow
Matyáš Strelec @matyasstrelec
Du The Hao (Kelvin Du) [email protected]
Oros Imre