Select your product to confirm this information applies to you

Obtaining Garmin Marine Logs

Garmin Product Support agents may request files to troubleshoot an issue during the troubleshooting process. Directions on getting the required files for each chartplotter are listed below.

NOTE: Do not use a preloaded chart card that may not have enough storage space left to download all the files, and delete the map to make room. 

NOTE:  Not all devices offer support for 1TB capacity cards. To verify your device's compatibility, refer to New exFAT support on Garmin Marine Devices

Troubleshooting Tip: The best recordings are from multiple occasions. First, when the anomaly occurs and again when the issue is not happening on the vessel. Different recordings will aid in investigating the problem.

GPSMAP Series


GPSMAP® 74xx chartplotter | GPSMAP® 76xx chartplotter |GPSMAP® 7x2 chartplotter |GPSMAP® 7x3 |GPSMAP® 9x2 chartplotter | GPSMAP® 9x3 chartplotter | GPSMAP® 12x2 touch chartplotter | GPSMAP® 12x3 chartplotter | GPSMAP® 16x3 chartplotter | GPSMAP® 8xxx chartplotter | GPSMAP® 90xx chartplotter| GPSMAP® 92xx chartplotters

The device needs to be in "Diagnostic" mode to get access to the files. Insert a 1TB or smaller SD card into the device to copy the files.

How to enter Diagnostic mode


GPSMAP® 7x3 chartplotter | GPSMAP® 9x3 chartplotter | GPSMAP® 12x3 chartplotter | GPSMAP® 16x3 chartplotter | GPSMAP® 12x2 Touch chartplotter |  GPSMAP® 84xx chartplotter | GPSMAP® 86xx chartplotter | GPSMAP® 90xx chartplotter | GPSMAP® 92xx chartplotter

Power on all Garmin devices and third-party devices connected to the NMEA 2000 network.

From any page Options > Settings > System > System Information > press and hold the Garmin Devices button until Field Diagnostics appears.


GPSMAP® 7x2, and GPSMAP® 9x2, and GPSMAP® 74xx. and GPSMAP® 76xx


Power on all the Garmin devices and third-party devices connected to the NMEA 2000 network. To access Diagnostics on a GPSMAP  7x2, 9x2, 74xx and 76xx using software version 20.40, go to Settings > System > System Information > Software Information. At the top left-hand side of the Software Information page, press and hold the in-between gap, between "GPSMAP" and "Software Version" (as shown in the photo below).  In 5-10 seconds, a new page appears. Do not select anything on this page!

    Software Information Page                                                                   

NOTE: Follow the steps below to collect the specific files required.

Marinedevices.xml & Debug.xml


From any page press, Options > Settings > System > System Information > Garmin Devices 

  1. Save Garmin Devices > Say No to the HIN Not Entered Message

  2. Save Error Logs > Say No to the HIN Not Entered Message

NMEA 2000 Logs


From any page press, Options > Settings > System > System Information > Field Diagnostics (after setting to field diagnostics) > NMEA 2000 Diagnostics- Recording ON  - turn off recording after 10 seconds.  


J1939 Log Data


From any page press, Options > Settings > System > System Information > Press and Hold Down "Garmin Devices" button for 2-8 seconds > Field Diagnostics (after setting to field diagnostics) > J1939 Diagnostics - Recording ON, turn off recording after 10 seconds. 


GPSMAP 10x2xsv, and GPSMAP® 12x2xsv (non-touch) chartplotters

Marinedevices.xml & Debug.xml


From the main screen press, Home > Settings > System > System Information > Highlight Reset with the rotary knob. Press and hold the rotary knob until Diagnostics appears at the bottom of the Menu


NMEA 2000 Logs


From the main screen press, Home > Settings > System > System Information > Hight Garmin Devices with the rotary knob. Press and hold the rotary knob until Field Diagnostics appears at the bottom of the menu. Select Field Diagnostics > NMEA 2000 Diagnostics > turn Recording on and record 10 seconds. 




Discontinued GPSMAP Devices


GPSMAP® 7x0 chartplotter | GPSMAP® 4xxx chartplotter |  GPSMAP® 42xx chartplotter | GPSMAP® 5xxx chartplotter | GPSMAP® 6xxx chartplotter | GPSMAP® 70xx chartplotter | GPSMAP® 72xx chartplotter


Marinedevices.xml & Debug.xml


From the main page press, Home > Configure > System > System Information > Garmin Devices > Save to Card 


NMEA 2000 Logs (not applicable for the GPSMAP 7x0 series)


From the main page press, Home > Configure > System > System Information > Press and Hold the bottom right corner of the white box until Diagnostics appears. Press Back twice, select Communications > NMEA 2000 Setup > Diagnostics > turn on Recording, record for 10 seconds. 


GPSMAP® 4x0 chartplotter | GPSMAP® 5x0 chartplotter | GPSMAP® 5x5 chartplotters

From the main page press, Home > Configure > System > System Information > Save to Card


GPSMAP® 4x1 chartplotter | GPSMAP® 5x1 chartplotter | GPSMAP® 5x6 chartplotters

Marinedevices.xml & Debug.xml


From the main page press, Home > Configure > System > System Information  > Garmin Devices > Save to Card


NMEA 2000 Logs


From the main page press, Home > Configure > System > System Information > Press and Hold the MARK button until the unit beeps. Press the HOME button > Configure > Communications > Diagnostics > NMEA 2000 > highlight Recording and press the Select button to begin recording, record for 10 seconds. 


GPSMAP® 5x7 chartplotters

Marinedevices.xml & Debug.xml


From the main page press, Home > Settings > System > System Information > Garmin Devices > Menu > Save to Card


NMEA 2000 Logs


From the main page press, Home > Settings > System > System Information > Software Information > Press and hold MARK button, press the Back button twice > Communications > NMEA 2000 Setup > Diagnostics > Menu > Start Recording, record for 10 seconds.


GPSMAP® 7x1 chartplotters

Marinedevices.xml & Debug.xml


From the main page press, Home > Settings > System > System Information > Garmin Devices > Menu > Save to Card


NMEA 2000 Logs


From the main page press, Home > Settings > System > System Information > Software Information press and hold the bottom right corner of the window. Press the Back button twice, select Communications > NMEA 2000 Setup > Diagnostics > Menu > Start Recording, record for 10 seconds


GPSMAP® 8xs chartplotter | GPSMAP® 10x0xs chartplotters

Marinedevices.xml & Debug.xml


From the main page press, Home > Settings > System > System Information > Garmin Devices > Menu > Save to Card


NMEA 2000 Logs


From the main page press, Home > Settings > System > System Information > Software Information > Press and hold the MARK button, press Back twice, select Communications > NMEA 2000 Setup > Diagnostics > Start Recording, record for 10 seconds





ECHOMAP Series


Push Button echoMAP™ chartplotters


Marinedevices.xml & Debug.xml


From the main page, press Home > Settings > System > System Information > Garmin Devices > Menu > Save to Card


NMEA 2000 Logs


From the any page press, Home > Settings > System > System Information > Software Information, press and hold the MARK button. Press the BACK button, twice. Select Communications > NMEA 2000 Setup > Diagnostics > Menu > Start Recording, record for 10 seconds


Touchscreen ECHOMAP™ chartplotters


Marinedevices.xml & Debug.xml


From any page, press Home > Settings > System > System Information > Garmin Devices > Menu

  • Save Garmin Devices > Say No to the HIN Not Entered Message

  • Save Error Logs > Say No to the HIN Not Entered Message

NMEA 2000 Logs


From the main page press, Home > Settings > Systems > System Information > Software Information > press and hold the lower right corner of the dialogue box for three seconds. Press the Back button twice. Select Communications > NMEA 2000 Setup > Diagnostics > Menu > Start recording, record for 10 seconds. Press Menu, stop recording. 


Touchscreen ECHOMAP™ UHD2 chartplotter | ECHOMAP™ Ultra 2 chartplotters


How to enter Diagnostic mode


Power on all Garmin devices and third-party devices connected to the NMEA 2000 network.

From any page Options > Settings > System > System Information > press and hold the Garmin Devices button until Field Diagnostics appears.


Marinedevices.xml & Debug.xml


From any page, press Home > Settings > System > System Information > Garmin Devices > Menu

  • Save Garmin Devices > Say No to the HIN Not Entered Message

  • Save Error Logs > Say No to the HIN Not Entered Message


NMEA 2000 Logs


From the main page press, Home > Settings > Systems > System Information > Software Information > press and hold the lower right corner of the dialogue box for three seconds. Press the Back button twice. Select Communications > NMEA 2000 Setup > Diagnostics > Menu > Start recording, record for 10 seconds. Press Menu, stop recording. 


ECHOMAP™ UHD2 Keyed chartplotters


Menu > Settings > System > System Information > Garmin Devices 
 1. Save Garmin Devices > Say No to the HIN Not Entered Message
 2. Save Error Logs > Say No to the HIN Not Entered Message



ActiveCaptain


Garmindevice.xml files can be uploaded from ActiveCaptain by compatible devices. This will only upload the Garmindevice.xml from the device that is connected with ActiveCaptain.


Garmin Helm Controller


GHC™ 50 Helm Controller

From the main page press Home > Options > Autopilot Setup > Diagnostics > Save to Card



Location of these files/logs on the micro/SD card:


  • Using a computer, open the removable disk drive for the micro/SD card

  • Open the Garmin folder

    • The Garmin folder contains Marinedevices.xml and Garmindevices.xml files

    • The Diagnostic folder contains NMEA 2000 logs

    • The Debug folder contains debug.xml files

Send the files using the Secure File Upload directions found here Sending a File, Folder, Photo or Video to Garmin Product Support