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Garmin Camera Options When Connected to a Computer

You have several options when connecting your Garmin camera to a computer, including updating your device software and copying or viewing videos and pictures.

Update Garmin Camera Software

Garmin often releases updates for devices to improve performance, correct bugs or add new features.

To update your camera’s software, use the Garmin Express application on your Windows or Mac computer, or the Garmin Drive app on your paired and connected smartphone.

For details:

  1. Navigate to the Garmin Support Center
  2. Enter your product name or serial number
  3. Select Software in the left column to view instructions for updating your Garmin camera

Copy Videos and Pictures

When you want to copy videos and pictures from your Garmin camera to your computer, choose one of the options below:

Expand the Windows or Mac section below for additional steps to copy all videos and pictures on the microSD card.

Windows

  1. Press Windows key + E on the keyboard to open Windows/File Explorer.
  2. Select This PC (Windows 10 and Windows 11 only).
  3. Under Devices and drives, double-click to open the drive letter representing the microSD card.
  4. Right-click the DCIM folder and select Copy.
  5. Locate the Videos folder (or folder of your choice) under This PC.  Right-click and select Paste.
  6. After pasting is complete, locate and right-click on the drive letter representing the microSD card and select Eject.  
  7. If using Option 1, unplug the Garmin camera from the computer.
  8. If using Option 2, remove the microSD card from the computer's card reader, and with the Garmin camera turned off, reinsert the microSD card into its card slot.

Mac

  1. Open Finder.
  2. Select Go in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
  3. Select Computer.
  4. Click the name representing the microSD card.  It may show as Untitled if not named.
  5. Click to select the DCIM folder within.
  6. In the Finder menu bar, click Edit > Copy DCIM.
  7. Within Finder, click the destination folder (for example, Documents or Downloads).
  8. In the Finder menu bar, click Edit > Paste Item. 
  9. After pasting is complete, locate the name representing the microSD card within Finder and click the Eject symbol to the right.
  10. If using Option 1, unplug the Garmin camera from the computer.
  11. If using Option 2, remove the microSD card from the computer's card reader, and with the Garmin camera turned off, reinsert the microSD card into its card slot.

Related Content

Refer to your device owner's manual for steps such as connecting the camera to your computer and viewing videos and photos on your computer.

View Videos and Pictures

Videos saved by Garmin Dash Cam™ X210, Garmin Dash Cam™ X310 , and Garmin Dash Cam™ Live driving recorders are in an MP4 format that uses a video compression standard called HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding), also known as H.265. 

It is often referred to as an HEVC “codec” -- a term used to describe software that can encode and decode data. 

HEVC allows video to be saved at up to half the file size while maintaining the captured image quality.

Does your phone, tablet or computer support HEVC?  Refer to the chart below.

Android

iOS

Linux

Mac

Windows

Yes

Yes

Add-In Required

Yes

Add-In Required

Supported in Android 5.0 and higher.

Supported in iOS 11.0 and higher.

Due to licensing reasons, an external plugin has to be installed to enable HEVC playback on Linux.

Supported in macOS 10.13 High Sierra and higher.

Due to licensing reasons, an external plugin has to be installed to enable HEVC playback on most video software installed on Windows 10 and higher.


If you want to playback or edit HEVC video, any HEVC-compatible media player can be used.

If you do not have a compatible player, options are available.  For example,

  • The HEVC Video Extensions add-in for Windows can be purchased from the Microsoft Store for a nominal fee. 
    • Once installed HEVC playback will be enabled on the default media player app Microsoft Movies & TV and  many other photo editing and video creation apps, both free and paid (such as Microsoft Photos and Adobe Premiere).
    • If the HEVC codec is not installed and you try to play an .mp4 video from the Garmin camera’s microSD card on your Windows computer, you may see this or a similar error message:

Windows Media Play Error HEVC

  • A free open source, cross-platform software, VLC media player, can be downloaded from http://www.videolan.org/vlc.
    • Includes options for Windows, Linux, and other operating systems.
    • Note: VLC media player provides HEVC video playback only when using VLC. It does not provide HEVC compatibility for other installed software.

VLC media player is not compatible with all hardware; if this is the case for your computer, try alternative media players.

Some websites provide free HEVC playback for uploaded video, including Garmin Vault and YouTube.

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Disclaimer:  Garmin has not independently verified any media player.  Reference to media players provided by third parties does not imply any endorsement by Garmin or its affiliates or any affiliation with the providers of such media players.  Accordingly, Garmin does not guarantee the suitability of any of the media players referenced in this article.  If you choose to download and use any of the media players referenced in this article, then you do so at your own risk.  Garmin will not be responsible for any damage or loss related to your download or use of any media player or your reliance on any instructions provided by such media player.

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