How to change your Garmin watch face
Switching the face on a Garmin takes a few seconds once you know where the control lives. Here is how to do it from the watch and from your phone, plus the exact steps for the most popular models.
The quick way, from the watch
On almost every modern Garmin, you change the face without opening any menu:
- Press and hold the center of the current watch face for a second or two.
- The face picker appears — swipe left or right through your installed faces.
- Tap (or press the select button) on the one you want. It applies instantly.
On button-only watches you can also go to Settings → Watch Face → (your face) and scroll through the list there.
From your phone (Garmin Connect / Connect IQ)
To add a new face first, use the Connect IQ Store app: find a face, tap Download, then open Garmin Connect and let it sync over Bluetooth. The new face then shows up in the on-watch picker. Our install guide walks through the whole flow.
By model
- Fenix 8 / Fenix 9 / tactix 8 / Epix: touch-and-hold the face, swipe, tap to select. Button route: hold UP → Watch Face. Model pages: Fenix 8, Fenix 9.
- Fenix 7 / Enduro 3 / Fenix 6 (MIP, no touch on some): hold UP → Watch Face, scroll with UP/DOWN, press START. Fenix 7 touch models also accept touch-and-hold.
- Forerunner 70 / 170 / 165 / 265 / 570 / 965 / 970: hold UP → Watch Face, or touch-and-hold the face on AMOLED models, then press START on your choice.
- Venu 3 / Venu 4 / Venu Sq / Venu X1: touch and hold the face, swipe, tap the one you want.
- vívoactive 5 / 6: touch and hold, swipe through, tap to choose. Model pages: vívoactive 5, vívoactive 6.
- Instinct 3 / Instinct 2: hold MENU → Watch Face, then UP/DOWN to scroll and GPS (top right) to select. Model page: Instinct 3.
Tip: the steps are the same across the line — hold the face, browse, select. If your watch has a touchscreen, touch-and-hold; if it is button-only, use the menu.
If a face will not appear
- Not synced yet: open Garmin Connect and pull to sync; keep the watch nearby with Bluetooth on.
- Model not supported: re-check the face listing for your exact model.
- Face slots full: remove an unused face in the Connect IQ app, then sync again.
Once you have switched it, you can usually fine-tune colours and data fields too — see how to customize a Garmin watch face.
Changing the watch face — FAQ
Why can’t I find the Watch Face menu?
On button-only watches it sits under the controls menu: hold UP (or MENU on Instinct) and pick Watch Face. On touch models simply press and hold the current face. Settings → Watch Face works on every model.
How do I remove a watch face I no longer use?
Open the Connect IQ app on your phone, go to your device’s watch faces and remove it there; the watch drops it on the next sync. On most models you can also pick the face on the watch and choose Delete.
Can I use a different face for always-on mode?
No. Always-on shows the low-power layout of the face you selected, so choose one whose always-on view you like — see Garmin always-on display explained.
How many watch faces can I install?
It depends on the model and on how much memory each face uses. When the slots are full, Connect IQ tells you so: remove one you do not wear and sync again.