Thought I’d ask the collective for a little help since I haven’t really seen a similar question to my issue.
A friend mailed me his ole Zumo 550 that appears in pretty good shape a couple of days ago. Fires up okay, but he didn’t include the SD card that went with it, so it’s basically useless. I installed a new formatted 8 gig card and was hoping to load the necessary files using Garmin Express, but it tells me that the device doesn’t have the necessary internal storage because the newer files are too large. Recommended I use their chat function to try and resolve the issue, but that didn’t work too well.
If someone could provide me with a workaround, it’d be most appreciated. I may need the same procedure for my own original 550 so I can update the map files, but I’m hesitant to try anything with it because it’s still working well (even after 2 screen/digitizer replacement) and I don’t want to screw it up with Garmin’s questionable update procedures.
TIA
"Files Too Large" for update
"Files Too Large" for update
'95 Kaw Concours (207K), '02 Kaw KLR (60K), '67 Honda CL77 305 Scrambler (15K), '22 900 Ace Ryker Sport (5K and counting)
Re: "Files Too Large" for update
See here https://support.garmin.com/en-GB/?faq=y ... tab=topics
Use Express to update the maps, but don't insert the sd card until Express asks for it. I've always found Express reliable but come back if you still have problems. Ensure though before you start that the Zumo is fully charged.
Failing that use Express to install the map to your PC then use BaseCamp to transfer the portion of the map you want to your Zumo.
Note too that the Zumo 550 is on the list, in the link, for which no further map updates will be available
Use Express to update the maps, but don't insert the sd card until Express asks for it. I've always found Express reliable but come back if you still have problems. Ensure though before you start that the Zumo is fully charged.
Failing that use Express to install the map to your PC then use BaseCamp to transfer the portion of the map you want to your Zumo.
Note too that the Zumo 550 is on the list, in the link, for which no further map updates will be available
- twowheelstom
- Posts: 379
- Joined: Tue May 29, 2018 7:00 pm
- Location: Nova Scotia
- Has liked: 100 times
- Been liked: 40 times
Re: "Files Too Large" for update
what you can do is connect your Zumo to computer, open Garmin Express, and select the option to download new maps to Computer Only, then when that is complete, end Express and open Garmin MapInstall, and in mapinstall make sure you have the new Maps open, then begin to use the mouse pointer to select/click on specific map sections/areas that you need on the Zumo, then select install those specific maps to your Zumo, and if you keep the total storage size needed low, there should be room on your Zumo
2005 Kawasaki 800B cruiser
Zumo 396 Cardo Spirit HD headset, not installing the microphone

Zumo 396 Cardo Spirit HD headset, not installing the microphone
-
- Posts: 214
- Joined: Tue May 05, 2020 1:02 pm
- Has liked: 15 times
- Been liked: 36 times
Re: "Files Too Large" for update
I have a 550 also and have updated it with "too big" maps several times.gbyoung2 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 17, 2025 8:21 pm Thought I’d ask the collective for a little help since I haven’t really seen a similar question to my issue.. I installed a new formatted 8 gig card and was hoping to load the necessary files using Garmin Express, but it tells me that the device doesn’t have the necessary internal storage
If someone could provide me with a workaround, it’d be most appreciated. I may need the same procedure for my own original 550
Load the maps with Express using the computer only option. Connect the 550 to the computer and run the computer only option again. This will only take a minute or two and it will load the map unlock data file onto the 550.
Use Mapinstall to select the map segments that you want to load, and install them to the SD card. The SD card must have been formatted to FAT32.
The connection from your computer to the Garmin Z 550 is horribly slow. It will take hours to install the map segments if you are selecting large volumes of data. There is a workaround for this. You have to copy certain files to the SD card so that the software thinks it is talking to a Zumo 550. Your computer has to have an SD card port for this to work. Remove the card from the Garmin and connect it directly to the computer. Now, Mapinstall should run in 30-40 minutes for the entire USA-Canada maps instead of hours and hours. There are files that have to be copied and files that have to be deleted. If you want the step by step, say so, and I will copy it over to here.
Michael S.
Trinity, North Carolina
Zumo 590LM, 396LM, 550 BMW R1100RT, R100, R60/6
Trinity, North Carolina
Zumo 590LM, 396LM, 550 BMW R1100RT, R100, R60/6
Re: "Files Too Large" for update
Many thanks. (fingers crossed) We'll give it another shot.
Guy
Guy
'95 Kaw Concours (207K), '02 Kaw KLR (60K), '67 Honda CL77 305 Scrambler (15K), '22 900 Ace Ryker Sport (5K and counting)
Re: "Files Too Large" for update
The "Computer Option" doesn't appear in my version of Garmin's Express, version 7.24.0.0,and that appears to be the latest version. FWIW, I'm running Win 11MSTOCK27370 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 19, 2025 2:08 amI have a 550 also and have updated it with "too big" maps several times.gbyoung2 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 17, 2025 8:21 pm Thought I’d ask the collective for a little help since I haven’t really seen a similar question to my issue.. I installed a new formatted 8 gig card and was hoping to load the necessary files using Garmin Express, but it tells me that the device doesn’t have the necessary internal storage
If someone could provide me with a workaround, it’d be most appreciated. I may need the same procedure for my own original 550
Load the maps with Express using the computer only option. Connect the 550 to the computer and run the computer only option again. This will only take a minute or two and it will load the map unlock data file onto the 550.
Use Mapinstall to select the map segments that you want to load, and install them to the SD card. The SD card must have been formatted to FAT32.
The connection from your computer to the Garmin Z 550 is horribly slow. It will take hours to install the map segments if you are selecting large volumes of data. There is a workaround for this. You have to copy certain files to the SD card so that the software thinks it is talking to a Zumo 550. Your computer has to have an SD card port for this to work. Remove the card from the Garmin and connect it directly to the computer. Now, Mapinstall should run in 30-40 minutes for the entire USA-Canada maps instead of hours and hours. There are files that have to be copied and files that have to be deleted. If you want the step by step, say so, and I will copy it over to here.
???????
'95 Kaw Concours (207K), '02 Kaw KLR (60K), '67 Honda CL77 305 Scrambler (15K), '22 900 Ace Ryker Sport (5K and counting)
-
- Posts: 167
- Joined: Wed Apr 25, 2018 11:47 am
- Location: Iowa
- Has liked: 1 time
- Been liked: 36 times
Re: "Files Too Large" for update
With 7.24, Garmin removed the option to install to the computer UNTIL the map is installed to the device 1st.
Once the map is on the device, it can then be "reinstalled" to the computer.
Or you can uninstall 7.24 and install the previous 7.23 release.
Once the map is on the device, it can then be "reinstalled" to the computer.
Or you can uninstall 7.24 and install the previous 7.23 release.
Re: "Files Too Large" for update
After reading the release notes and their history of “improvements”, that’s exactly what I was thinking but had no idea if it was even available. Found and downloaded it earlier this morning. Will go through the delete and re-install later today after I get back from an appointment.electro_handyman wrote: ↑Thu Mar 20, 2025 1:51 am With 7.24, Garmin removed the option to install to the computer UNTIL the map is installed to the device 1st.
Once the map is on the device, it can then be "reinstalled" to the computer.
Or you can uninstall 7.24 and install the previous 7.23 release.
Much thanks and hope I can get this “new” puppy up and running.
'95 Kaw Concours (207K), '02 Kaw KLR (60K), '67 Honda CL77 305 Scrambler (15K), '22 900 Ace Ryker Sport (5K and counting)
- twowheelstom
- Posts: 379
- Joined: Tue May 29, 2018 7:00 pm
- Location: Nova Scotia
- Has liked: 100 times
- Been liked: 40 times
Re: "Files Too Large" for update
here's the post for going back to Garmin Express version 7.23.0electro_handyman wrote: ↑Thu Mar 20, 2025 1:51 am Or you can uninstall 7.24 and install the previous 7.23 release.
https://www.zumouserforums.co.uk/viewto ... 473#p24473
2005 Kawasaki 800B cruiser
Zumo 396 Cardo Spirit HD headset, not installing the microphone

Zumo 396 Cardo Spirit HD headset, not installing the microphone
-
- Posts: 214
- Joined: Tue May 05, 2020 1:02 pm
- Has liked: 15 times
- Been liked: 36 times
Re: "Files Too Large" for update
I am running 7.24.0.0 and the Computer Only option is there. I thought that issue only applied to the XT2. ]
Michael S.
Trinity, North Carolina
Zumo 590LM, 396LM, 550 BMW R1100RT, R100, R60/6
Trinity, North Carolina
Zumo 590LM, 396LM, 550 BMW R1100RT, R100, R60/6