Watch face vs widget vs data field

Garmin uses a few different terms that are easy to mix up. Here is the plain difference between a watch face, a widget, a data field and an app — and when each one shows up.

Watch face

The main screen you see when you look at the watch — the time, date and whatever stats the face shows. You have one active at a time, and you can swap it. Everything on this site is a watch face.

Widget (glance)

A glanceable screen you swipe to from the watch face — weather, Body Battery, calendar, notifications. Widgets are not the main screen; they are quick panels next to it.

Data field

A single metric shown inside an activity — for example a custom field during a run or ride (power zone, lap pace). You only see data fields while recording an activity, not on the watch face.

App

A full standalone app you open and run — maps, structured workouts, games. It takes over the screen until you exit.

So which do I want?

If you want to change how your watch looks and what it shows at a glance, you want a watch face — browse the collection or see the best Garmin watch faces.