Select your product to confirm this information applies to you
Purchasing and Downloading a Map for My Garmin Watch
Garmin® offers a wide variety of mapping products. Selecting the correct map depends on the type of activity being done, and what features are needed for the map to support. While this article contains a great deal of information, it is best to be fully informed before making a purchase to avoid issues later.
IMPORTANT: Garmin watches do not have an SD card reader. Only downloadable connect (DLC) maps are compatible with Garmin watches.
Find a Map
You can browse available maps by going to Garmin Wearables Mapping. You can also find compatible maps for your watch by searching through the watch product page on garmin.com; see full steps in the Checking Compatibility drop down below. Many map types have different coverage regions available. The areas a map covers are shown and listed in the Coverage tab on the map product page.
Different regions of the world may have different maps available; if your desired coverage is not available in your area, you can try changing which Garmin storefront you are shopping. To change to a different country's storefront, click the country listed in the bottom left of the website and then select your desired region. Shopping from a different country site can result in international charges.
Some watches also come with access to worldwide topo map coverage. To see if you already have access to other maps with your watch, check our FAQ on Managing Maps on Garmin Devices With Garmin Express for compatibility and steps for adding mapping to your watch.
Before purchasing a map, it is important to make sure the watch is compatible and it has the available memory space needed to install the map.
Checking Compatibility
Checking if a Map Is Compatible with Your Watch
If you want to see if a map is compatible with your watch you can do that from the map product page.
Select Compatible Devices.
Locate the watch in the list of compatible devices.
If the watch is not in the list of compatible devices, it is not compatible with the map and a different map would need to be located that is compatible.
Finding a Compatible Map for Your Watch
You can search for maps that are compatible with your watch by using the steps below.
A list of compatible maps will then be shown to the right.
Select a map to be taken to the map product page. The product page will include information about coverage and space requirements for the map.
Checking Space Requirements of the Map
Select Requirements on the map product page.
Locate the space needed to download the map.
Make sure the watch has the required space needed.
Checking Available Space on the Watch
Before purchasing a downloadable map, make sure that the watch has the room needed to download the map. See the instructions below for your operating system to find the available space on your watch.
Windows® (10 & 11) Computers
Plug the Garmin in to a computer.
Open File Explorer.
Select This PC.
Open the drive for the watch.
Right-click on Internal Storage or Primary whichever shows for your watch.
Select Properties.
The free or available space will show.
Mac® Computers
Plug the Garmin in to a computer.
Open Finder.
Select Devices.
Click the drive for the watch. NOTE: Garmin devices which feature music storage will not show in Finder as a device.
Press the space bar.
The free or available space will show.
Do not manually delete files from the Garmin folder of the watch in order to make more space. This can cause loss of the current mapping, or the watch may become inoperable. If you have added audio files to a music storage capable watch, you can remove music files using Garmin Express if you need more space, see Managing Audio Content on My Watch Using Garmin Express.
Purchase a Map
Once you are ready to purchase a map you can follow the steps below.
Follow the onscreen prompts to complete the order. Verify the order and information in the order is correct at each step of the checkout process.
We recommend using the same email for the order as the one you used for your Garmin account. A confirmation screen will display when the order is complete, and an email confirmation will be received shortly thereafter. Downloadable maps are not able to be returned for a refund.
Download a Map
Some items to keep in mind when downloading a map:
Garmin watches need the appropriate amount of space to download a map to the watch. Do not delete files from the watch as this could cause loss of the current mapping, or the watch may become inoperable.
Downloadable Content (DLC) maps cannot be updated. If you need updated map content when a new version is released, a new map must be purchased.
The map must be downloaded using Garmin Express™ software and a high-speed internet connection.
The map download is available for one year via Garmin Express after the activation date of the map.
Downloaded maps may only be used with one Garmin device and cannot be transferred between devices.
When a map is purchased from the Garmin website, the confirmation page will display the option to launch Garmin Express software to install the map. If this step was not completed and the confirmation screen has been closed or the map needs to be reinstalled to an associated watch, the map can be installed with Garmin Express without launching it from the website.
What Is Needed
A Garmin watch compatible with mapping.
Watch charging/data USB cable.
A Windows or Mac computer with the Garmin Express application installed.
Recommended: DSL, Cable, or other high speed Internet connections.
Not Supported: Mobile broadband (such as MiFi, AirCard, or cell phone tethering), satellite, fixed wireless, and dial-up Internet connections.
Downloading the Map Using Garmin Express Software
Connect the Garmin watch to the computer with the appropriate USB cable.
Launch Garmin Express.
Select the desired device or select Add a Device and follow the on-screen prompts if the device is not listed.
Select Tools & Content.
Select the Purchased tab.
If the map is not listed, select Sign In and log in to the account that was used to purchase the map.
You may also need to select the refresh button if the map is not visible (see below).
Select the cloud icon to download the map.
Once the download starts, Garmin Express program will display the current progress. Map downloads can take a while to complete. Do not unplug your watch while the installation is in progress.
An Installation complete! message will be displayed when the download is finished. After that message shows, the device can be safely disconnected from the computer.
to download the map.