Best watch faces for Garmin Instinct 2
The Instinct 2, 2S and 2X pair a rugged case with Garmin's monochrome-friendly MIP display, so they suit bold, legible, dashboard-style faces above all. Here are our picks — running live.
Note: these target the MIP Instinct 2 / 2S / 2X. The newer Instinct 3 AMOLED has an OLED screen — see its own guide.
Instinct 2, 2S, 2X Solar and Instinct E: one screen family
All of these use the same monochrome MIP screen with the round subscreen, so they share the same faces:
- Instinct 2 / 2 Solar — 45 mm, 176 × 176 monochrome MIP.
- Instinct 2S — 40 mm, the compact one with a 163 × 156 screen.
- Instinct 2X Solar — 50 mm, the big solar model with the LED flashlight.
- Instinct E — 40 and 45 mm, the 2025 budget model — same screen, same faces.
Colour faces from our AMOLED catalogue do not run here. The AMOLED Instinct 3 has its own guide.
Our picks for the Instinct 2
New to installing faces? See how to install Garmin watch faces, step by step.
Instinct 2 watch faces — FAQ
Are there free watch faces for the Instinct 2?
Yes. The Instinct 2 runs Connect IQ, so free faces work on it. Browse our free Garmin watch faces, then try each one live.
Does the Instinct 2 have an AMOLED screen?
No — the Instinct 2 uses a MIP (transflective) screen: sunlight-readable and battery-first, so it suits bold, high-contrast faces. See AMOLED vs MIP.
How do I change the watch face on the Instinct 2?
Install a face from the Connect IQ Store, then set it from the watch (hold UP/MENU, then Watch Face) or in the Garmin Connect app. Step by step: how to change your Garmin watch face.