How to change your Garmin watch face
Switch the face from the watch or the app, on any model.
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Guides
Garmin watch face guides
Plain-English answers to the common questions, with exact steps for your model. After face picks instead? They all live in the best-of hub.
Change, install and customize
New to Connect IQ? Start with how to install a Garmin watch face.
Change the watch face on Fenix 9
Exact touch and button steps for the new Fenix 9.
Read guideChange the watch face on Fenix 8
Exact touch and button steps for the Fenix 8.
Read guideChange the watch face on Vivoactive 5
Touchscreen steps for the Vivoactive 5.
Read guideChange the watch face on Vivoactive 6
Touchscreen steps for the Vivoactive 6.
Read guideChange the watch face on Instinct 3
Button-by-button steps for the Instinct 3.
Read guideHow to customize a Garmin watch face
Accent colours, data fields and complications — where the settings live.
Read guideHow to put your own photo on a Garmin watch face
Install a photo face, scan the QR, frame the picture on your phone — step by step.
Read guideWhy a free watch face suddenly asks for payment
What changed in the Connect IQ Store, and how to keep the free version you already have.
Read guideManaging watch faces
How to delete a watch face on Garmin
Delete faces you do not use and free places for new ones.
Read guideMaps, routes and music
Put your own files on the watch, with or without the phone app. On a Mac, the browser tool does what Finder cannot.
Put a GPX route on your Garmin watch
Three ways to get a GPX route onto a Garmin watch: through Garmin Connect, by cable from Windows, or from a Mac in the browser.
Read guideFree maps on your Garmin watch
Put a free OpenStreetMap map on a Garmin watch with map support: where to download gmapsupp.img, why BaseCamp map sets do not work, and how to copy it from Windows or a Mac.
Read guideYour own music on your Garmin watch
Copy your own MP3 and M4A files to a Garmin watch with music storage: with Garmin Express, by cable from Windows, or from a Mac in the browser.
Read guideUSB file transfer for Mac
Drop a map, route, MP3 or watch face onto the watch from Chrome or Edge.
Open USB file transferUnderstand watch faces
What is Garmin Connect IQ?
Garmin's app platform — watch faces, widgets, data fields and apps.
Read guideWatch face vs widget vs data field
The terms that are easy to mix up, made simple.
Read guideDo Garmin watch faces drain battery?
What actually costs power, and how to keep a face battery-smart.
Read guideAMOLED vs MIP: which screen do you have?
The two Garmin display types and what they mean for faces.
Read guideGarmin always-on display, explained
What always-on does, the battery trade-off, and how faces handle it.
Read guideFree vs paid Garmin watch faces: how it works
Where to look and what to check before you install.
Read guideWhich Garmin to buy
Comparing models? Use the Garmin watch finder, or the buyer guides for running, hiking, cycling and triathlon.
New Garmin watches in 2026
Just got a Forerunner 70/170, Venu 4 or vívoactive 6? Our faces already fit.
Read guideBest faces by model
Picks by model, style and price live in the best-of hub; every model guide is one click away:
Best faces by model
Fenix & outdoor: Fenix 9Fenix 8Fenix 8 Protactix 8quatix 8Fenix 7Fenix 6EpixEnduro 3
Forerunner: Forerunner 970Forerunner 965Forerunner 570Forerunner 265Forerunner 165Forerunner 170Forerunner 70Forerunner 255Forerunner 955all Forerunners
Venu: Venu 4Venu 3Venu 2Venu Sq 2 / X1 (square)
vívoactive: vívoactive 6vívoactive 5
Instinct: Instinct 3Instinct 3 SolarInstinct 2Instinct E
Faces by activity: hiking24-hour / military