A common question asked by all Garmin owners is “How do I update my GPS unit?” Well, first of all we need to remember that there are two parts to any GPS. The GPS unit itself and the operating system of that unit, also called the GPS Hardware (in the USA this is also called the ‘unit software’), and then there is the detailed GPS map software that is loaded either onto the unit or onto a memory card inserted into the unit.
Hardware Updates:
Hardware updates are free for all Garmin GPS units and the update files are available for download off the Garmin.com website. Garmin also have a download utility program called WebUpdater that you download once onto your computer and which you then run directly from your computer while your GPS unit is connected to your PC. The program will automatically identify your GPS unit, log itself into the Garmin database and download all the relevant update files directly to your connected Garmin GPS unit. These hardware updates also include any new or updated voice files, Bluetooth software (if your Garmin GPS unit is Bluetooth enabled), vehicle icons, hardware improvements and bug fixes for your unit. Once the program has run, you simply disconnect your GPS unit from your PC and let it reboot and update itself (this can take a minute or two depending on the unit).
Important Note: ALWAYS remove any memory cards from the unit BEFORE doing a hardware update.
Map Software Updates:
Now this is a tad more complicated. The detailed map software used on, and sold with, all South African Garmin units is not produced by Garmin International themselves. A local company has been licensed to produce the Garmap range of maps specifically for the South African market. The Garmin International “City Navigator SA” map product is still produced and sold by Garmin International to the overseas market but it is by far inferior to the locally produced Garmap maps (and it is anyway not available through any of the authorised South African Garmin dealers).
Garmap SA Map Updates - Garmap SA map software updates are now also available as downloads. The updates themselves are not just a few roads to be added to your existing mapset, they are complete new mapsets built from scratch each time. They are made available twice per year and you will need to download them or purchase the latest Garmap Africa Series DVD from your local dealer each time. These maps must then be loaded onto your PC, unlocked and then uploaded to your GPS unit via USB cable.
Unlocking the half yearly update is free for registered users of the previous edition and the end of year update is a discounted rate for existing users (the discounted rate varies depending on which edition you are upgrading from and when you purchased your GPS).
Even if the Garmin GPS unit that you purchased is/was a “Plug-and-Play” model (i.e. the maps came preloaded on a memory card or preloaded onto the internal memory of the unit), you will need to buy the DVD and go through the process of loading the maps to a PC first before transferring them to your unit.
Garmin Map Updates - Garmin International map product updates (for European, USA, Australian, Middle East and New Zealand maps) are also obtained on Update DVD’s from your local Garmin dealer. These DVD’s are generally free but will sometimes need to be ordered from overseas and can sometimes take three to four weeks to be delivered. Unlocking these updates requires an unlocking fee to be paid (in US$) via credit card payment online, directly to Garmin International, at the time of unlocking. These unlocking fees also depend on which edition you are upgrading from and when you purchased your existing map software.
We obviously recommend that you keep both your GPS hardware and your detailed maps up to date at all times.
Well I hope this info was useful to you. Please leave a comment below and let me know how it goes…
I found your site on technorati and read a few of your other posts. Keep up the good work. I just added your RSS feed to my Google News Reader. Looking forward to reading more from you.
Aaron Wakling
Thanks for the usefull info. Could you maybe inform me if there is a 2008 map of Southern Africa available for the nuvi 200?
I saw the new nuvi 250 today and it contains all the new street names as well as some towns not available on my nuvi 200. Can I buy the same map for my 200.
Hi Paul
Yes the new Garmap Africa Series 2008 DVD is available for purchase from the Garmap website.
Oh dear!!! I didn’t know that the memory card needed to be removed from the unit before updating the firmware …. maybe that is why I am now unable to install the maps onto my computer …
Have I deleted all the pre-installed maps off the memory card?
Liz, it is deemed “best practice” to remove the memory card before doing a firmware update. Although it is possible to corrupt the maps on a preloaded memory card when doing an update, it happens only very rarely.
If you have corrupted the preloaded Garmap memory card then it would indeed cause problems when trying to initially register and unlock the Garmap maps that you are trying to download from the Garmap DVD onto your PC.
Although we have already sorted your problem out over the phone
, if this happens to anyone else I would advise that you call the dealer that you purchased the unit from or Garmin SA (on 011 – 251 9999) directly to sort this problem out for you.
i would like to change the operating system on my thai version nuvi 310 as it looks like there are better updates on the european model operating systems.
is this possable and if so how is it done.
Thank you.
Hi Gavin
You cannot “change” the operating system, you can only update it. The WebUpdater program will update all Nuvi models (no matter where it was purchased or what country version it is) as per the above article. As far as I know, there is only one update “version” for each unit type (i.e. Nuvi 310) and not different ones for each country/language.
thanks for your reply.
I have the webupdater etc and the software version i have is version 3.10 which is the latest version for the nuvi 310 thai version. There is now a version 5.0 for the nuvi 310 acording to the garmin website but this is not compatible with the thai version.
I have been in contact with garmin and they put me in contact with esri thailand who develop the software for the thai version. They have not replied to my email yet but i think they are going to tell me that i have the latest software already – ie. version 3.10.
When i read the changes that have been made with the updates for the non thai versions i can see that i still have the problems with my gps that the updates are suppose to correct as they have not updated the thai version. I live in Thailand which is why i bought the thai version. Surely there is a way to change operating systems?? My gps came with a note in the box telling me not to install the english operating system as i would not be able to revert back to the thai system later. It did not however tell me how to do this.
Hi Gavin
I have had a chat to some of our local (South African) Garmin Tech guys and unfortunately it seems that you are pretty much stuck with waiting for Esri Thailand updates.
Even the Garmin Tech Centers, when reloading the operating system from scratch, of a crashed unit for example, use the WebUpdater program (obviously using a specific method which is limited to qualified/certified technicians). But either way, the WebUpdater program is simply going to reload the Thai version onto your unit.
About the note telling you not to install the english operating system… Sorry, I have no answer to that one
thanks anyway.
I should have just got an english one sent over to me.
Half the price of the Thai one too.
How can I update my nuvi 850 to tell me my travelling speed when driving to a programmed destination?
Hi Sheldon
We do not get the Nuvi 850 in South Africa but it shouldn’t be too different from the Nuvi 860 units that we do get.
On your main “view map” screen your speed will be shown in the bottom right hand corner unless you are in routing mode (i.e. following a route) – this panel changes to show your ETA (estimated time of arrival) when following a route. Unfortunately this seems to be an automatic changeover and not user selectable.
I have got a problem with my Nuvi 710. It was working fine then while driving along it suddendily said upgrading bluetooth firmware and it froze at 48%. and that were it has stayed for the last two days I have switched it on and off. Ive reset the garm my holding down the screen. still no joy – your help and comments are required
Thanks
Hi Mike
Can you connect the unit to your PC and do a Firmware Update (as per the Nuvi 200 update instructions here)?
If so, do it… If not then your best bet would be to contact your local Garmin tech center (Gauteng, SA: 011 – 251 9999) and have them give the unit a quick “once over”
Hi
How can i update a garmin XT Ver 10
Hi
I have a Garmin Nuvi 710 and would like to know if there is a more advanced version of the firmware available? I would like to display more info on the main map screen and configure more and more advanced settings.
I have a Garmin Nuvi 710 and would like to know how will I update my GPS Firmware and the maps. I have purchased my GPS Nuvi 710 last year and now I’m not satisfied using it because it only contains the old road maps.
Right now, I am here in the Middle East country and most of the local Garmin Dealer here don’t have the Update DVD’s. If I order this UpdateDVD online how much it will cost including the unlocking?
I have a Nuvi 860 and cannot transfer routes from PC to the device, one has to do it physically on the device and save. What am I doing wrong here.
I have a Nuvi 200 it started automatically downloading firmware update. It completes to 100% and the minute you search for a location to acquire satellites, it starts the download process all over again.WTF cant use it..frustrated
I’m a Luddite, so bear with me. I found your directions very good, but am still confused about updating the firmware for my 755t. Does it take a long time to update? I downloaded the WebUpDater; after completion of that, I plugged in the UBS cable to my PC and 755, but the only thing that’s happened is the little “trans-
fer” icon is showing at the bottom of my GPS screen. Nothing has popped up on my Mac; is that alright and is it downloading the firmware updates? My problem is that I have no voice function on my GPS, no TTS or any other voice. Best Buy said it may not have been included when they refurbished the unit and suggested down-
loading the firmware to see if that would correct the problem.
Appreciate your site and will subscribe. Thanks, Garrett
I have Garmin Nuvi 680. For some reason the touch screen
stopped working. I tried reset, but no luck. The unit
starts as normal, goes to main screen but can’t
do anything because the screen acts like it’s been locked.
This morning I did update on Garmin’s site, with no
problem the site found my device prompted for
update, I installed the update, followed all the
instructions, the unit restarted its self,
updated all firmware, Bluetooth, MSN, etc. But still
touch screen wont work.
Any suggestions or is there a screen lock that I don’t
know about?
Thank you! Gary
the erase is running 12 hours and i can’t get it to quit