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Activating the Subscription on a New Garmin Navionics+ Card, Garmin Navionics Vision+ Card or Garmin Navionics+™ built-in Subscription Chart

Garmin Navionics+™ and Garmin Navionics Vision+™ chart subscriptions on a microSD / SD card come preloaded with the chart.  Users can not access and download daily updates until the chart is activated.

Chartplotters with built-in Garmin Navionics+™ chart subscriptions come pre-loaded but must be activated to access any updates to the charting.


NOTE : Prior to chart activation there must be a registered compatible chartplotter on the account.  For Garmin Navionics+  built-in subscriptions the chartplotter registration activates and registers both the unit and built-in map.


To activate the a Garmin Navionics+™ chart card, Garmin Navionics Vision+™ chart card or Garmin Navionics+™ built-in subscription chart using the ActiveCaptain® app:


    1. If needed, remove the micro/SD card from the SD adapter

    2. Insert the card into a memory card slot on the chartplotter or compatible SD card reader (Garmin USB Card Reader with USB - C Adapter Cable)

    3. Open the ActiveCaptain App on the mobile device, and connect it to the internet (cellular data or Wi-Fi)

    4. Disconnect the app from the internet, and connect it to the chartplotter; see Connecting the ActiveCaptain App with a Compatible Garmin Device for instructions

The ActiveCaptain App registers and activates the subscription automatically after it connects to the internet and then to the chartplotter. The ActiveCaptain App displays the new subscription in the My Charts list.


NOTE: New subscriptions may take up to 24 hours to become visible to the account.


To activate a Garmin Navionics+™ chart card, Garmin Navionics Vision+™ chart card or built-in Garmin Navionics+ subscription™ using the Garmin Express™ program:


Registering a chartplotter and activating a new Garmin Navionics+ subscription™

    1. Registering Garmin Marine Devices and Charts under Garmin Express™  Software Instructions will register a new device and activate a new Garmin Navionics+™ built-in chart subscription

    2. To activate the new Garmin Navionics+™ chart card or Garmin Navionics Vision+™ chart card after registering the unit, follow steps for Preprogrammed Chart Cards under Registering Garmin Marine Devices and Charts and Select View All Products Found to find and activate the new chart card subscription

Activating a new Garmin Navionics+™ chart card or Garmin Navionics Vision+™ chart card with an existing registered compatible chartplotter

    1. If the unit was registered prior and the Garmin Navionics+™ chart card or Garmin Navionics Vision+™ chart card has already been inside of the chartplotter delete the GarminDevice.XML from the Garmin folder.
    2. Insert the new Garmin Navionics+™ chart card or Garmin Navionics Vision+™ chart card into the computer or an attached card reader
    3. Launch Garmin Express™
    4. Select Vessel
    5. Select +Add to add the chart to the account and activate the preloaded chart subscription


There are 2 options for downloading the latest chart updates once activation is complete:

NOTE : To avoid seeing an Activate Subscription message on the chartplotter the chart must be downloaded via Garmin Express and transferred back to the chartplotter unless using ActiveCaptain to activate the subscription.

1. Garmin Express™ computer application:   Downloading Marine Charts to a Chartplotter with Garmin Express™

2. ActiveCaptain® mobile app:   Downloading Charts with ActiveCaptain® app


The Garmin Navionics+ cartography subscription expires after one year. After the subscription expires the downloaded charts can still be used but it will not be possible to download the latest chart updates or additional content. For steps to renew the subscription, see Garmin Navionics+ and Garmin Navionics Vision+ Subscription Renewal or Managing Garmin Navionics+ Subscriptions


NOTES: If the device shows the subscription is still inactive after registering and syncing with the ActiveCaptain app:
1.) Remove the SD card from the chartplotter containing the ActiveCaptain information and reformat that card.
2.) Resync the mobile device with the chartplotter and newly reformatted SD card. 

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