Best Garmin Watch Faces For Your GPS Watch
In this digital age, there’s very little your Garmin can’t do. We runners keep these devices on our wrists and look at them constantly, even when we’re not running.
What’s great about the latest Garmin watches is that you’re able to personalize your watch. If you’re tired of seeing the same old watch face every day and want to see something new, you don’t have to get a new watch. You can change the watch face on your Garmin!
In this article, we’ll discuss everything that you need to know about Garmin watch faces.
In the first half, we’ll describe what they are, how to download them, uninstall them, and so forth. The second half will cover a few popular watch faces you might want to consider downloading.
What Are Garmin Watch Faces?
Garmin watch faces are exactly what the name suggests: basic interfaces you can install on your Garmin. They are custom watch faces typically designed by third-party developers, although there are some designed by Garmin. You can pick the watch face that best suits your personality.
You can find these watch faces on Garmin’s ConnectIQ store where you can browse, download, and rate. This gives you real-time feedback from other users to see if a watch face you’re interested in will suit your needs.
In the store, you can sort by most relevant, highest-rated, most popular, and most recent. New styles will have “new” in the right corner if you want a watch face that has just been released.
You can also easily figure out if a watch face will work for your specific device by selecting your device and then searching under watch faces. Additionally, once you click on each watch face, it has a list of compatible devices, so you can double-check that yours is on that list.
How Much Does It Cost to Download a Garmin Watch Face?
Many watch faces are free, but some cost money. Occasionally, a developer will state that the watch face is free, but if a user is interested, he or she can donate to a GoFundMe page or PayPal account that is linked out.
How Do I Download New Garmin Watch Faces?
All you need to do is go to the Garmin ConnectIQ store, select the watch face(s) that you want to download, click on them, and hit the blue download button. Some watch faces made by third-party developers will also give additional information about the download process.
Once you’ve downloaded a watch face, you’ll need to install it on the Garmin Connect app. Open the app > select More > select Connect IQ Store > select Watch Face > select Download > sync your device.
You can install up to 16 apps on your compatible device, meaning that you can have no more than 16 watch faces stored in your Garmin at a time. You even have some flexibility in how you want to customize your Garmin watch face, too.
How Do I Uninstall Garmin Watch Faces?
The process to uninstall a Garmin watch face is a little extensive and can vary by device, so you may need to play around with your watch or look on the Garmin forum to see user answers about your specific watch.
Important note: before you can uninstall a watch face, you have to change to another watch face on your Garmin watch. You cannot uninstall a watch face that is currently in use.
To uninstall, you’ll want to open the Garmin Connect App > select More > select Garmin Devices > select your device > select Activities & App Management > select Watch Faces > select the watch face you want to uninstall > press uninstall > sync your device.
What are Wired Runner’s Favorite Watch Faces?
There are thousands of watch face options to choose from, so we’ve made your job a little easier and listed our favorites below along with links to Garmin so that you can download any watch face that catches your eye.
1. Classic Sport
A classic, pro-looking analog watch face design that’s smart on your wrist and can be worn in five different colors.
What We Like
This design looks busy, but it’s actually quite simple. The time is displayed in a traditional analog style, with numbers at 3, 6, 9, and 12, and small colored blocks at every other stop.
What makes it look a bit busier is the four small circles in the middle of the watch face. These show the date, distance walked, battery life, and Bluetooth status.
Why We Like It
It’s a classic, smart watch style that doesn’t go out of fashion! We also like that you can switch from color to color without changing the watch style, if you really like it.
What to Consider
Unfortunately, you can’t customize the data shown in the four small circles. If the metrics mentioned are all you need, it’s a great choice. But if you need more info than just that, it may not be for you.
- Classic analog design is stylish and easily usable
- Available in five different colors, including bright shades and gray
- Designed for athletes who want minimal data cluttering their watch
- Data isn’t customizable
2. Data Lover
If you love having data at your fingertips, this is the watch face for you! It shows a lot of information but is still easy to read.
What We Like
This watch face is for those who like to see a lot of info at a glance. The time stands out in the middle of the watch face, easy to see at a quick look.
It also shows a variety of other data, which is determined by the capabilities of your watch. Underneath the time, you may see either a chart of your heart rate—if your watch has always-on tech—or a colorful graph showing your steps each day of the week.
On the right-hand side, if you have a Connect IQ 2 or IQ 3 device, you’ll see the temperature for the particular area you’re in. It requires an internet connection, and may take a bit of work to set up.
If you don’t have one of those devices, you’ll see “move circles” on the right of the time. These build up the longer you’re inactive, so if you see a few of them there, you know it’s time to take a break and take a walk.
Why We Like It
It’s packed with information but still easy to read and good-looking! It’s like having your smartphone on your wrist. We also love that it works with both square and round watches.
What to Consider
Although there’s quite a bit of info on this watch face, it’s not customizable. If you aren’t interested in the weather and don’t need reminders to be active, it might not be appealing to you.
The weather feature also doesn’t work unless you’re connected to the internet. So if you’re out and about, it may not work.
- Loaded with information but not overly cluttered
- Variety of features depending on your watch
- Time is large and easy to see indoors and outdoors
- Works on both round and square watches
- Not customizable and features depend on your watch
- Weather feature may not work if you’re out of the internet
3. The Universe
This beautiful watch face is a space lover’s dream. Get lost in the universe every time you look at your wrist!
What We Like
The beauty of it! You’ll be able to choose from five different, stunning space pictures here, each with its own charm and magic.
We love that the data doesn’t take up much of the picture. The time is a good size and easy to see. Underneath it, there’s two data fields that can be customized with a variety of features.
Above the time is your battery and Bluetooth status, as well as the date. All in all, it’s a very clean interface, that you may not be able to stop looking at!
Why We Like It
It’s magical, comes with 5 different choices, and has customizable data fields so you can choose what you want to see.
What to Consider
Choosing which one of these pictures you want to display on your watch is tough! We wish they had an option to cycle through them easily or change them periodically.
- Five spectacular space-themed watch faces to choose from
- 2 customizable display fields allow you to choose what you see
- Clean, bold numbers and letters make it eay to read
- No option to change between the faces easily
4. Mechanical
Sleek, classic, engineering-based design that looks great whether you’re hitting the gym or in a business meeting.
What We Like
This watch face is crisp and smart, suitable for those who wear their watch to the office and to the gym. It looks good everywhere!
Analog watch hands show the time quite clearly, and you can choose between tree colors for the second hand—red, blue, and yellow.
Behind the hands is a large circle, which include the date and day of the week, and three smaller circles, which include your calories, distance, and steps.
It’s classic but not cluttered, basic but not boring.
Why We Like It
This watch face is crisp and smart, while giving you a good amount of data in one glance. Can be worn easily in any setting!
What to Consider
It would be handy to be able to customize the data displays, but it seems they’re fixed. Although you can apparently choose to switch calories out for the year, but nobody needs reminding of what year it is!
- Classic, sleek design looks good in any situation, casual or professional
- Add some color by customizing the shade of the second hand
- Distance, steps, and calories displayed throughout the day
- Non-customizable data displays
5. Ready Set Go
If you use your Garmin Connect app daily, this watch face gives you all the info right on your wrist all the time.
What We Like
Fitness buffs will love this watch face, as you get to see all your relevant fitness activity info on your watch screen—steps, calories, distance, and even floors climbed on some models.
On the bottom right of the screen, you can see a 7-day trend chart of a fitness metric of your choice. Great if you’re focusing on one thing on particular, like a certain step count, distance, or calorie count for the day.
You can also customize the circular bar that moves around the circumference of the watch to a fitness metric of your choice.
Above and the right of the time—which is easy to see despite the busyness of the screen—you can see the date, message notifications, your heart rate, Bluetooth status, alarm, and battery.
Why We Like It
This watch face is very feature-filled and nicely customizable. It’s ideal for those who want to be able to keep track of their fitness daily.
What to Consider
There’s a lot of data on this watch face, which means it’s all fairly small. If your vision isn’t great, you might struggle to read it.
- Funky dashboard-style display holds a lot of information
- Two slightly different color themes available
- Four customizable fitness fields so you can see what you need to
- The data may be too small for some people to read easily
6. Weather Face
Who wouldn’t want to check the time and see their watch smiling back at them? This cute watch face is simple and perfect if you need to keep an eye on the weather.
What We Like
This is the watch face for weather enthusiasts. Whether your job involves the weather or you just like to know what’s going to happen on a day, the data on this face will help you out.
It’s laid out in a fun smiley-face design, which adds a bit of cheerfulness to every day. In the center of the design is a small weather icon, showing the forecast for the day.
The number on the left is the minimum temperature for the day. On the right, the maximum. In the middle, you’ll see the current temperature.
The arcs at the bottom represent—from bottom to top—chance of rain or snow, humidity, and current temperature.
It’s unclear what the circles represent… But they look cool nonetheless!
Why We Like It
It’s a great way to get a quick overview of what the weather’s doing on any given day. And it looks funky.
What to Consider
Not that many people want only weather data on their watch. If your job involves the weather it’s great, but some people may be unhappy with the lack of other features on this watch face.
- Cute smiley design puts you in a good mood when you see it
- Perfect for weather watchers as it shows various weather metrics
- Comes in 5 different colors to suit your taste and your watch strap
- Won’t be suitable for many people
7. The Temple of the Emerald Buddha
If you love the culture, architecture, and style of Thailand, this one’s for you. In terms of data, it’s basic, but the picture is worth it.
What We Like
Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, is one of Thailand’s most iconic landmarks. It has a deep meaning to it, and this watch face captures that in lovely color, complete with a sun and moon in the sky.
While it looks busy, this watch face is actually fairly easy to read. The temple fills the middle of the screen, but the time and date are easy to see at the top, even though they’re in quite fine text.
You’ll find one data field at the bottom above the battery sign, which you can set to one of a range of different things.
Why We Like It
This watch face does a stunning job of showing off one of Thailand’s most beautiful and sacred spaces.
What to Consider
This is a full-color design, and if your screen remains on, it can cause your battery to run down faster than usual.
- Four beautiful, richly-colored artworks to choose from
- Easy to see time and date at the top of the screen
- One customizable field at the bottom
- The full-color design may run your battery down if your screen is always-on
8. Super Fenix Bros
This watch face has old-school computer game vibes! Who doesn’t love Mario Bros? Now you can have it on your watch at all times.
What We Like
With close to 400,000 downloads, there’s no doubt this watch face is popular. It’s more than just a static image—every time you look at your watch face, it animates and moves Mario through the level!
The time is easy to see, on the top of the screen Mario and his world. And when you reach your step count—or other goal—you get classic Mario raccoon suit!
Why We Like It
Who doesn’t want to play a quick bit of Mario Bros every time they look at their watch? This is a unique and fun face that will definitely get attention.
What to Consider
As you can imagine, when you’ve got an old-school 8-bit game on your wrist, chances are you’re going to be checking the time more often!
The downside is that it does drain your battery quite a bit faster than usual and sometimes lags on certain watches. Worth it? You decide!
- Animated watch face is exciting and a lot of fun
- Time is displayed in an easy-to-read manner
- Suitable for watches of all shapes
- Prize for hitting your fitness goals!
- Can drain your battery quite quickly
- May lag on some watches
9. The Blueprint
Star Wars fans, this watch face has been created just for your pleasure. If you’re not a Star Wars fan, it still looks good enough to wear on your wrist!
What We Like
This watch face features a blueprint of the Millennium Falcon on your wrist. It has a stylish look, and even those who aren’t Star Wars fans will appreciate the engineering theme here.
The watch face is also fairly dark, which will please those who dislike the vibrant colors of many other faces!
A large time display is easy to take a quick glance. Unfortunately, there are no other data fields on this watch.
Why We Like It
Star Wars fans don’t need to explain why they love this watch face! It’s filled with character and a great way to carry something you love with you in an unusual way.
What to Consider
There are no data fields on this watch face other than the time and date. It may be great for those who like a classic look, but won’t suit everyone.
- Blueprint of the Millennium Falcon for Star Wars lovers
- Smart design that works well for the office as well as casually
- The time is easy to see at a glance
- No data fields on this design
10. Christmas Jumper
Who doesn’t have a love-hate relationship with that old Christmas sweater of theirs? This brings all of the holiday vibes.
What We Like
You’ll be the most Christmassy Garmin user out there when you’ve got this watch face on your wrist.
Choose from five different Christmas sweater designs—a reindeer, a snowman, Santa himself, a snowflake, or a reindeer pattern.
Whichever one you choose, it’ll display the time, date, battery, Bluetooth, and a customizable setting at the bottom.
Why We Like It
Whichever face you choose, this watch face brings the Christmas cheer! It’s a fun one to have on your watch for just a few weeks.
What to Consider
With only one customizable data field, you won’t be able to track your activities like you usually might with this watch face. It could be a disadvantage for some.
- Five different Christmas designs to bring the cheer
- Can change between designs easily so you never get bored
- You can loop the screens so it changes automatically
- Not much data shown
11. Game of Colors
A stylish and unusual watch face, Game of Colors will catch eyes and have your friends and family asking about it!
What We Like
The design uses clean lines to create a sleek and easy-to-read watch face. Your time will be shown on one half of the screen, while the other half is split into two sections for data viewing.
A small ball rolls around the outer edge of the screen, counting the seconds but also adding an element of interest.
On the right-hand side, where the time shows, your daily activity will build up in “pie charts”, which show your progress behind the clock numbers.
Why We Like It
The Game of Colors watch face is bold and exciting! If you’re a fan of the colors, you should enjoy seeing this design on your wrist every day.
What to Consider
Although the colors are unique and eye-catching on this particular watch face, you can’t change them to suit your likes or your mood. You’re stuck with these three colors for as long as you use this watch face!
- Unique, stylish, and appealing geometric design
- Bold, interesting colors stand out on your wrist
- Multiple data fields make it easy to see important information
- Progress pie charts are unobtrusive but informative
- You can’t customize the colors
12. Sweet Watermelon
Fruity and funky, this summary watch face is ideal for those who love something different that also has an element of fun to it!
What We Like
The bright colors and fruity design are fun and bold. It’s summer on your wrist! It’s easy to see the watch hands or numbers on the colorful background, and you can choose between digital and analog depending on your preference.
You’ll find the date to the right of the screen, your Bluetooth and message data to the left, and your battery up top. In the center bottom, there’s a custom data field.
Why We Like It
It’s exciting and brings an element of fun to your every day! If you’re looking for something warm and summery, this is it.
What to Consider
You can’t change the colors of this watch face, so be aware that it may not go well with colored watch straps. It looks amazing with black or white straps, though.
- Fun, funky, fruit design catches the eye and brings a summery feeling
- Choose between digital and analog styles to suit your style
- The custom data field allows you to see what you need at any time
- Easy to read indoors and outdoors
- It may not pair well with all color straps
13. Flow of Hands
This casual-style watch face would suit creatives and those who like flowing lines and artsy designs.
What We Like
The blue-purple colors of the text on this watch face bring a calming effect to the wearer. Their flowy style is modern and yet relaxed, with an easygoing feeling to the design.
You can customize the data set right beneath the time. Other than that, the time, date, battery information, Bluetooth, and message info are all fixed.
Why We Like It
This creative watch face embodies a fun-loving attitude and a carefree nature. If you’re a runner who’s also into creative design, this is a great watch face to wear!
What to Consider
Unfortunately, the data fields are quite limited, and you can’t see things like the weather or how many calories you’ve burned.
- Casual and relaxed design in cool, calming colors
- The uncluttered design looks great on the wrist
- One customizable data field underneath the time
- A stylish dark watch face
- Some may find the pills too large to be swallowed comfortably
14. Neon Nights
Bright lights and neon colors are the themes of this watch face give you an “up in lights” feeling. Fun and attention-grabbing!
What We Like
If you like the nightlife, this watch face would be one for you. A night-themed design, it’s made up of neon-colored lines in a cityscape pattern—or is it a bottlescape pattern?—overlaid on a midnight blue background, complete with moon and stars.
The thin green line running around the edge of the screen is your battery indicator, an interesting way to keep track!
Why We Like It
It’s unique, clear yet colorful, and it’s a great way to show off a bit of your personality if you enjoy the nightlife.
What to Consider
There’s a bit less information shown on this watch face than on others. You can only see the time, date, steps count, and your battery life. No messages, Bluetooth connection or anything else.
- Neon light design is colorful without being overbearing
- Unique battery tracker around the edge of the screen
- Easy to see the screen with a midnight blue background
- Limited data shown on the watch face
15. New and Old
An old stone clock showcasing classic Roman numerals, this design works best on watches with black bezels and straps.
What We Like
The white stone background looks sleek and attractive, especially with a black watch. Black numbers are easy to see no matter what the light is like, and the time-keeping hands are robust and can be spotted at a glance.
It has a minimalist layout, with Bluetooth and battery information at the top of the screen and a single customizable data field at the bottom.
Why We Like It
Show off your inner vintage geek with this stylish watch face. We love the stone background and Roman numerals that make it something special.
What to Consider
The watch face isn’t very customizable. It only has one data field, which makes it perfect for those who want a clean, minimalist design with a vintage feeling.
- Vintage stone clock design with Roman numerals
- Classy watch face works for both sporty and professional settings
- Minimalist design is ideal for those who need little data
- Not very customizable
16. Athlete
A digital, space-age watch face is ideal for the athlete who wants to track steps and calories while telling the time.
What We Like
This watch face is built with the athlete in mind. You’ll be able to track your calories burned, how many steps you’ve taken throughout the day and the altitude at which you’re training.
There’s also the usual information like date, battery life, and of course, the time. Various progress bars help you stay on track when aiming for specific daily goals.
Why We Like It
This design is modern and colorful but not overbearing. It has enough for the casual athlete to use quite adequately.
What to Consider
There’s no way to customize the data fields on this watch face. This could be a con for some, but athletes who only need the data provided will be happy with this digital interface.
- Shows calories burned, steps taken, and your altitude
- The data progress bar helps you track your activity
- Choose from a range of different colors
- No customizable data fields
17. Ocean
If you’re a water baby, you might enjoy this ocean-themed watch face that makes you feel like the sea is beside you all the time.
What We Like
This watch face has a quirky, casual design that’s layered in shades of blue and sea green. You can choose between 3 different designs: Wave, Swell, and Tsunami.
They’re refreshing and nature-based, the perfect way for a sea-lover to express one of their favorite things.
It’s quite minimalist, with a battery monitor on the top of the face, the date underneath the clock hands, and a single customizable data section underneath the date.
Why We Like It
It brings a fresh ocean feel to every day! The colors are beautiful, and the watch face is artistic and eye-catching.
What to Consider
The minute hand sometimes covers other data on the watch face, including the date. Although you should know the date on any given day, this can be an annoyance.
- Three different designs to choose from
- A casual ocean theme brings personality to your device
- One customizable data field allows you to see what you need
- The minute hand sometimes covers the data, especially the date
18. Lucky Elephant
In some countries, the elephant is a symbol of good fortune. Now you can carry that good fortune with you everywhere you go with the Lucky Elephant watch face.
What We Like
With multiple color schemes and an auto-loop function to scroll through them at random, this watch face keeps things interesting!
An artistically-rendered elephant design with a geometric pattern brings Thailand vibes to your wrist! And considering the elephant is a symbol of luck, it’s a handy thing to carry with you.
You can view the time, date, battery data, and how many steps you’ve taken. Unfortunately, there’s no customization, but it’s a lovely minimalist design if you like nature, Thai culture, elephants, or just something striking on your wrist.
Why We Like It
We love the bold, exciting design of this watch face. It’s like a piece of art on your wrist while keeping your important data at hand.
What to Consider
The elephant motif takes up most of the space on the screen, so the text is smaller than you might find on some other watch faces.
- The bold, geometric design stands out in a stylish way
- Strong design is easy to see from afar or in light
- A variety of unique color schemes to suit every outfit
- The automated color loop function keeps things exciting
- Some may find the writing to be quite small
19. Fitness
This funky watch face pairs circles with graphic data to show you all you need to know when you glance at your watch.
What We Like
You’ll find all the relevant information on this watch face inside small circles across the screen. The largest circle features a fine analog clock with the date inside the circle.
The smallest ones include a visual representation of your battery life and whether or not your Bluetooth connection is active. Other bolder rounds show your step count as a percentage of your goal and your total distance, which is convienent for running.
Why We Like It
It’s a dashing design that’s bright and easy to see. Those who like funky-looking fitness-focused watch faces that aren’t packed with data will enjoy it.
What to Consider
This is a busy watch face, which means everything is fairly small. The analog watch face can be hard to see and includes the date within the clock. Also, it’s only available in yellow, which is not everyone’s favorite color.
- Modern design with striking colors
- Total distance and step count are easy to see at a glance
- Works well on various colored watches
- Only available in yellow color
- Small, analog watch is not easy to see
20. Lachesis (Light)
With over a million downloads, it’s easy to see that this watch face is popular! Lachesis means light, and it’s a great descriptor for this design.
What We Like
Four beautiful color schemes and a light, sleek pattern make this watch face a sought-after choice.
Purple and green, nicknamed “Ocean Green”, make you feel right at home near the sea. Coral Pink might be more for you if purple isn’t your style.
Otherwise, go for Sunset Orange if you’re in the mood for something fierier. Alternatively, Sandy Gray is an all-gray design if you want a less colorful choice—which we’re pleased to see as an option.
The best part of this watch face is that you can customize all 4 data fields, so you’re always seeing exactly what you need.
Why We Like It
We love how customizable this watch face is. The combination of colors and data choices makes you feel like it truly is customized for you.
What to Consider
Some watches—including the popular vivoactive 4—show this design as very pixelated, making it impossible to read. Double-check compatibility before downloading!
- Equally suitable for smart and casual situations
- Four interesting color themes to choose from
- Totally customizable with 4 input sections
- Easy-to-see digital clock
- Very pixelated on some watches
FAQs
Which Garmin Watch Has the Biggest Face?
The Garmin Fenix 7 has the largest watch face of all the Garmins. It also has the longest battery life, which is a bonus as a large watch face takes a touch more battery to power.
Can You Make Your Own Garmin Watch Face?
If you don’t like the pre-installed watch faces on your watch even after customizing them, and you can’t find one you like in the Connect IQ store, you have the option to upload a photo as your watch face.
You will need to use the Face It app, which should be inside the Connect IQ Store. Upload the photo you like, and then you can choose from a few different overlays to show the time and date.
Once you’ve selected which overlay you like, you can customize the color and style to an extent.
How Do I Get Watch Faces for Free?
You can browse through the Facer app if you don’t want to buy expensive watch faces. It’s free and contains a large collection of watch faces created by other members of the Facer community.
