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Delete Preloaded Geocaches

The eTrex® Touch series, GPSMAP® 64, 64s, 64st, 64sc, and Montana® 610 and 680 series outdoor handhelds come preloaded with 250,000 geocaches from Geocaching.com.

If you do not want these geocaches, they can be removed via a computer from the handheld's internal GGZ folder. Steps for this can be found below.

Deleting Preloaded Geocaches

IMPORTANT: Use caution when deleting. Do not delete unknown files outside of the GGZ folder; deleting the wrong files from your handheld can cause it to malfunction. Files in the GGZ folder are not recoverable once deleted. Prior to deletion, you can make a copy if you ever want to restore the geocaches at a later date (explained within the Windows and Mac instructions below).

Windows

  1. Plug the handheld into the computer.
  2. Open (My) Computer or This PC.
    • Windows 8 and newer: Press and hold Windows Key + E, then select This PC.
    • Windows 7 and older: Press and hold Windows Key + E to open (My) Computer.
  3. Open the Garmin device drive.
  4. Open the Garmin folder.
    • NOTE: If you want to back up the files, follow below, otherwise skip to step 5.
      1. Right-Click the GGZ folder and select Copy.
      2. Right-Click an empty space on the desktop and select Paste.
      3. Return to the Garmin folder window.
  5. Open the GGZ folder.
  6. Select both the preload.ggz and preload.ver.
  7. Press Delete on the keyboard.
  8. Confirm that the selected file(s) wish to be deleted.
  9. Right-click the Garmin device drive.
  10. Select Eject.
  11. Unplug the handheld from the computer.

Your handheld will no longer display the data you have deleted.

Restoring Preloaded Geocaches

If you saved a copy of the GGZ folder before deleting files from the handheld, data can be restored by simply copying and pasting the preload.ggz and preload.ver files back into the GGZ folder on the handheld.

Mac

  1. Plug the handheld into the computer.
  2. Open the Garmin device drive from the desktop.
  3. Open the Garmin folder.
    • NOTE: If you want to back up the files, follow below, otherwise skip to step 4.
      1. Control-click (or right-click) the GGZ folder and select Copy "GGZ".
      2. Control-click (or right-click) an empty space on the desktop and select Paste.
      3. Return to the Garmin folder window.
  4. Open the GGZ folder.
  5. Select the preload.ggz and preload.ver.
  6. Drag the selected files to the Trash.
  7. Select Trash.
  8. Select Finder.
  9. Select Empty Trash.
  10. Confirm you wish to permanently remove these items.
  11. Drag the Garmin device drive to the Trash.
  12. Unplug the handheld from the computer.

Your handheld will no longer display the data you have deleted.

Restoring Preloaded Geocaches

If you saved a copy of the GGZ folder before deleting files from the handheld, data can be restored by simply copying and pasting the preload.ggz and preload.ver files back into the GGZ folder on the handheld.

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