Express cannot see my SD card

[bikerider60]

Hi. New to this forum and was directed here from Garmin Forums. Following is what I posted there - and it got me directed here. Following that is an update.

I recently installed Express 7.24.0.0 on my new Windows 11 machine. It will not install a new map because I don't have enough memory and suggests that I install a card. I have a 16G card installed. The card is formatted Fat32.

Basecamp sees the card and can read from it and write to it. The Navigator V sees the card and can read/write. Windows Explorer sees the card and can read/write.

This morning I tried my old Windows 7 machine with Express 7.20.3.0. It recognized the card and loaded the new map (City Navigator 2026.1, US version).

Most of the discussion on this topic suggests faulty card, not formatted correctly, not fully installed. Clearly, this is something else.

P.S. I have a BMW Navigator V which is no longer supported by Garmin so I cannot ask them.

Now here is the update. I uninstalled Express and then reinstalled it. Now I know it sees the card because at the bottom of the display (under tools and utilities I think) it shows the red horizontal bar indicating that the device memory is nearly full, and the another bar indicating the card is 7% full. I do not know if it showed the card there before so I do not know if this represents a change. Also, I cannot try to install the map because it is already installed. Maybe I could delete the map but I think I will leave well enough alone.

So in sum, I think I am done with this for now and am hoping that when the next map comes out I can install it. But I would be interested in hearing from anyone else who might have had a similar experience.

[khunpaul]

I have experienced the same for ages now. Again I have followed all the advice regarding the sd card. It looks like there is something on the sd card, maybe an old mainland European map so I haven’t dared delete it so I can hopefully use in Europe.

[twowheelstom]

first test the sd on the computer without Garmin Express running,
connect your Zumo to your computer, and using File Explorer see if your computer can recognize that there's an SD card available,

[jfheath]

Welcome to the forums @bikerider60

You are sorted for now. I've just checked with my 590 (which is broadly similar to the Nav V I think, although obviously not the same). I don't get the option to install on the card - but there is room on internal storage and the card is only 8Gb - so I am not surprised. Possibly not enough room left on the card ? My installation - that I have just done - there is an 8Gb card in the slot, but Express doesn't show it.

I'm wondering why you are installing the maps on the card rather than internal storage ?

Once a particular map is installed, Express gives the option to Re-Install it and to Install it on the computer - if you didn't choose that option first time.

[bikerider60]

Thanks all for considering my problem.

I do know that the computer can see the card that is installed in the Navigator. I can see it in Windows File Explorer, and I can also see it in Basecamp. I can load a route on to the card in Basecamp, and then download that route to the device memory - so all that is working.

And I do know that I can install the map on the computer as well as on the Navigator - I always select that option.

The reason I am trying to install it on the card is that Express says that there is not enough memory in the device. Even when the device was new, when I installed a map Express told me the memory was nearly full. I deleted everything I could and still keep functionality, but that did not make a dent. So now Express says there is not enough memory to install the current map (larger file I guess) and it tells me to install a card.

Anyway, for now I have the current map on the Navigator (and overflow on the card I believe) and on the computer. All is well. When a new map comes out I may be back with the same question.

Thanks again

[jfheath]

Just wondered about the size of the sd card, and found this.

https://support.garmin.com/en-GB/?faq=7 ... kzLvOOWQo9

[twowheelstom]

Greetings, maybe what I will post here is about my 396 and maybe this will applie to the XT or not, dunno, but I think I can put my 32GB microSD in a sd card reader, (I just have mp3 files on it now) and insert the card into a card reader in the usb port on my windows11 PC, then using windows11 file explorer do the following with the sdcard, start up MapInstall and select the maps just for EastCoast Canada from my 2025.2 maps that are on my PC, and after selecting just the East Coast of Canada, install that set of maps onto that microSD in the card reader. This is all while the Zumo is not connected to my Computer. Now I haven't tried this yet, but I think I can then insert that microSD card into my 396 slot and use those selected maps I did using MapInstall. I'm going to try doing this soon, and if it works, then it might be a way to do new Garmin Map Updates to the Computer, then use MapInstall to put selected maps you want on a SD card and then insert the card into the Zumo. What do you think?

[bikerider60]

So, to jfheath, my SD card is 16G so that should be OK according to the Garmin Support instruction - and it is formatted Fat32.

And to twowheelstom, About using Map Install without the Zumo (Navigator in this case): I might be able to do as you say. I am not familiar with Map Install. I do know that I can write to the card with Windows File Explorer and a card adapter in the USB slot. I think I could also write to the card via Windows File Explorer with the card installed in the Navigator and the Navigator connected to the USB port. One question would be will the Navigator respond to (use) the map if it is installed that way - and not via Express and the Navigator. As I understand it the map that I have installed is in the device memory with some amount of overflow onto the card. Another question (problem) is the Navigator comes with lifetime map updates. As far as I know I cannot get the update without the Navigator.

If you try that technique to install a map I would like to hear the result. I think maybe I can figure a way to get a new free map onto my PC without the Navigator.

[twowheelstom]

One question would be will the Navigator respond to (use) the map if it is installed that way - and not via Express and the Navigator.

I don't know if using MapInstall to put the maps on the sd card in the card reader will work yet, I haven't tried it. I would like to try it soon to see if it works. The reason I want to disconnect the Zumo from the Computer and use MapInstall for the sd card is because I want to force the Garmin maps to definitely go onto the sd card, because with the Zumo installed to the Computer, I don't know if the maps will go onto the sd card or go into Zumo Internal Storage. I wanted to see if I could use the sd card for the map storage updates and not use up Zumo Internal storage. I have yet to try it.

[twowheelstom]

Finished and it worked, installed new maps onto Zumo 396 microSD card.
here is what I did.
-connected Zumo 396 via usb to Computer (Windows 11 PC)
-Opened Garmin Express program
-Express sees the 396
-clicked on install options in Express
-Express says CNNA 2026.10 maps available, 7.11GB of maps
-in Express, selected Install 2026.10 maps to Computer Only
-completed new 2026.10 maps confirmed on my computer
-ended Garmin Express
-opened up Basecamp to confirm the 2026.1 maps are on my computer
-all ok so far
-started up MapInstall program on my computer
-inserted the microSD card into a card reader
-connected the reader to computer via usb
-on MapInstall, clicked on Find Device
-MapInstall found (Zumo 396 (E:\) that's the name of my sd card, Zumo 396
-396 not connected to computer
-on MapInstall, clicked Continue to next screen
-at the bottom of MapInstall, select map version, i selected 2026.1 maps
-using the MapInstall mouse pointed, clicked on map areas I wanted
in my case I clicked on 13 maps, for East Coast Canada
-clicked on Install on MapInstall
-maps completed the install to card,
-used windows file explore to check the sd card, say a new Folder named Garmin
-in Garmin folder on the sd card, 2 new files with endings (.gma) and (.img)
-removed card reader from my computer
-ended MapInstall program
-installed the microSD (32GB) into the 396
-connected 396 via usb to computer
-just to check in windows exporer file transfer mode on 396 to confirm maps are on the sd card
-with 396 disconnected from computer, check 396 settings
-looked under myMAPS, and it saw a new map available and checked it
actually it was already checked, I just unchecked the other maps CNNA and Foursquare, don't need to see those now
-all worked out well