- Disconnect the Garmin from the computer and ensure the Garmin is powered off.
- Press and hold START/STOP.
NOTE: Press and hold GPS if you have an Instinct. - Plug the Garmin into the computer.
- Wait until the Garmin is recognized by the computer, it may take up to 45 seconds for the device to be recognized as a drive.
- If prompted, install USB device drivers.
- Release START/STOP.
NOTE: Release GPS if you have an Instinct.
Select your product to confirm this information applies to you
Outdoor Watch is Not Recognized by Computer or Garmin Applications
Garmin outdoor watches can mount as a separate drive to a computer, allowing Garmin applications to see the device or access data on the watch. If your Garmin application is not seeing the Garmin device, verify that it is mounting properly as a drive. This can be checked by looking through File Explorer on Windows, or Finder on Mac.
Checking if Your Garmin is Mounted as a Drive
Use the key commands below to view your available computer and removable drives to see if the Garmin is properly mounted.
- Windows 8 and newer: Windows(
) key + E and select This PC. - Windows 7 and older: Windows() key + E.
- Mac: Shift + Command + C.1
NOTE: If you see your Garmin watch shown listed it has mounted properly. If the watch is not recognized properly, Garmin applications will not see the device and/or an error message(s) may occur.
My Garmin Watch is Not Recognized Properly
- Clean the charging contacts on the watch.
- Restart the watch. See your owner's manual for steps for your specific watch.
- Try a different USB cable if available.
- Try a different USB port.
- Ensure you are plugged directly into the computer or laptop and not a USB hub.
- Restart the computer.
If it is still not recognized after one minute, follow the steps below to force the Garmin to mount as a drive.
1 Garmin watches that support music storage use Media Transfer Protocol (MTP) and will not mount as a drive on a Mac computer. They can still be used with Garmin programs and applications on a Mac.