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Formatting a USB Drive for a Honda Navigation System

A USB drive may require formatting before it can be used with a Honda navigation system. Follow the instructions at https://honda.garmin.com/honda/ before formatting. Format the USB flash drive and try again if an issue is experienced during the update. 

Note: A 16GB USB flash drive is required for the Honda Navigation System update. Using a USB flash drive smaller or larger than 16GB can cause the map update process to be unsuccessful. 

To Format the USB Drive: 

Windows

1. Insert the USB drive into the computer

2. Press the Windows key + E

 

3. Click This PC (Windows 10 or newer)

 

4. Locate the drive representing the USB drive

5. Right-Click on the USB drive, then click Format

 

6. Verify the File System is FAT or FAT32

7. Change Allocation unit size to Default allocation size

8. Ensure Quick Format is checked

9. Click Start

These steps will format the USB drive to be readable by the Honda navigation system.  

Try another 16GB USB flash drive if an error is received or formatting the USB drive fails to resolve the issue.

Mac

1. Insert the USB drive into the computer

2. Open Spotlight by clicking the  search icon in the upper right corner of the screen, or by ⌘ CMD + SPACE on the keyboard

3. Type Disk Utility into the Spotlight search box

Spotlight Mac M1

Disk Utility:

Spotlight Mac M1-1

4. Press Return

5. Click the parent icon for the USB drive in the sidebar on the left under External

  • This USB drive may be named or show as NO NAME or UNTITLED.

  • This is not necessary on Mac OS X 10.12 and newer.

  • To determine which drive is the USB drive:

    • Remove the USB drive from the computer.

    • Observe which drive disappears from the list.

    • Insert the USB drive again.

  • See Honda Map Update USB Not Detected by Garmin Express on a Mac if the computer does not recognize the USB drive.

Garmin Drive Mac M1

6. Click Erase at the top of Disk Utility

Erase Garmin Drive Mac M1

7. Select MS-DOS (FAT) in the Format drop-down menu

Mac Format 

8. Type a name/title for the USB drive

  • Do not leave the name as "UNTITLED" or "NO NAME".

Mac Name

9. Click Erase

Mac Format Erase

These steps will format the USB drive to be readable by the Honda navigation system. 

Try another USB flash drive if an error is received or formatting the USB drive fails to resolve the issue.