How to Edit Garmin Watch Face | Customize Any Model

Editing a Garmin watch face lets you adjust data fields, colors, fonts, and backgrounds — but not all built-in or third-party designs support customization.

The face on your Garmin wrist is the thing you glance at most, and the stock layout rarely shows everything you actually want. The good news is that nearly every modern Garmin watch — from the fēnix 8 to the Venu 4 and Forerunner 165 — lets you swap in different data fields, change accent colors, or build a completely custom face. The one catch is that the menu path changes depending on whether your watch uses a 5-button layout, a 2-button layout, or a touchscreen. Below is the exact sequence for each.

Which Garmin Models Can Edit Watch Faces?

Every Garmin watch released in the last few years supports at least some degree of face customization. The fēnix 8, fēnix 7, Instinct 2, Forerunner 165, Venu 4, and Forerunner 255 all let you edit data fields, colors, and backgrounds through the on-device menu. A few older or entry-level models may restrict edits to only preloaded designs, but the watches listed above offer full control. No subscription or paid plan is required — the built-in editor is free for every Garmin owner.

How to Edit Your Watch Face: Button Models Compared

The button you press to open the watch face menu depends on your model’s hardware layout, but the steps after that are nearly identical across the lineup.

5‑button watches (fēnix 8, fēnix 7, Instinct 2). From the watch face, hold the middle‑left button (labeled MENU) for about two seconds. Select Watch Face, then use the UP/DOWN buttons to scroll through available designs. When you land on one you want to edit, press START and choose Edit or Customize. Make your changes and press Apply to save.

2‑button watches (Forerunner 165, Venu 4). Hold the UP button (top button) from the watch face. On some 2‑button models you can also long‑press the bottom button for two seconds. Select Watch Face, swipe or use the buttons to scroll, then tap the Edit symbol (the pencil icon) or select Customize. Adjust the fields and colors, then press Apply.

Touchscreen‑only navigation. If your watch supports a touchscreen alongside buttons, you can swipe directly into the Watch Face menu after holding the proper button. Tap Customize → Data, then select each field to change what it displays.

Step‑by‑Step: Creating a Custom Watch Face

Building a face from scratch gives you the most control over what appears on screen. Start by holding the correct menu button for your model, then select Watch Face and choose Add New.

Pick Analog or Digital as your base layout. The watch will then walk you through each element: choose a Background, then a Dial style (for analog) or Hand style. Next, tap each Data field and select what it shows — heart rate, calories, GPS, battery, or any other metric your watch tracks. After that, set an Accent Color and a Data Color, and finally pick a Bkgd. Color (background color). Press Apply to save and activate the new face immediately.

When the face appears on screen with your chosen data visible and colors matching what you selected, the process worked.

Editing an Existing Watch Face

If you already have a face installed and just want to tweak it, hold your watch’s menu button, select Watch Face, and scroll to the face you want to change. Tap the Edit symbol (the pencil icon) or select Customize. You’ll see options for Data, Accent Color, Styles, and Bkgd. Color. Change as many as you like, then press Apply. The watch updates immediately with no restart needed.

Can You Edit Any Watch Face?

No — and this is the most common point of frustration. Some built‑in default faces are locked by Garmin and don’t show an Edit option at all. Third‑party faces downloaded from the Connect IQ Store may also restrict editing if the developer chose to lock the design. If you hold the menu button, select Watch Face, and don’t see a pencil icon or a Customize button for a particular face, that face is not editable. The workaround is to pick a different face — either a built‑in one that supports editing or a third‑party face that the developer made customizable.

Adding Third‑Party Watch Faces from Connect IQ

The Connect IQ Store inside the Garmin Connect app gives you access to thousands of free and paid faces made by other developers. Open the Connect IQ app on your phone, tap My Device → Watch Faces, and browse or search for a design you like. When you find one, tap Install and confirm the license. The face syncs to your watch automatically over Bluetooth within a few seconds.

Garmin’s own FaceIt app is another option: it lets you turn any photo from your camera roll into a watch face. Open FaceIt, select Camera or Photos, add your image, adjust the data fields and colors, then Save and Install. The photo face appears on your watch just like any other downloaded design.

Making Your Watch Face Look Its Best

The fastest way to a clean, readable face is to pick your most‑used metrics first (heart rate, time of day, battery) and assign them to the largest data slots. Use contrasting accent colors against the background — light text on a dark background for low‑light runs, and dark text on a light background for bright outdoor conditions. If a custom face drains battery faster than expected, switch back to a simpler built‑in design; animated or high‑contrast third‑party faces have a minor but noticeable effect. For the best results, stick with faces from the official Connect IQ Store, where Garmin vets for compatibility and bugs.