Removing or Adding a Marine Device From a Garmin Account

If a marine device registration needs removal, there are two options: the ActiveCaptain® App or Garmin Account. 

When registering or adding a marine device to a Garmin Account, there are up to two options: the ActiveCaptain App or, for SD card compatible devices, Garmin Express™.

NOTE: If transferring device registration from one user to another, charts, including built-in charts, do not transfer to the new user. New charts require a purchase. 

NOTE: The message of "Can't Unlock Maps" appears when a downloaded chart inserted into a chartplotter not registered to the Garmin Account at the time of the download. Recently registered devices to the Garmin Account may require a re-download of the chart if the chart was downloaded before adding the new device to the Garmin Account. If "Can't Unlock Maps" continues to appear on an ActiveCaptain card, it will be necessary to delete the OneChart™ folder. For more information see Updating Marine Charts on a Garmin Chartplotter.

NOTE: If access to an existing Garmin Account is attached to an email address that is no longer accessible and requires a password reset, contact Product Support. Do not create a new Garmin Account, as there is a limit of 1 email address per Garmin Account.

To remove registration using ActiveCaptain

1. Open ActiveCaptain or download ActiveCaptain; for instructions see Getting Started with Garmin ActiveCaptain

2. Select Boat Apps (bottom left)

3. Select My Marine Devices

4. Select your Marine Device

5. Select

6. Select Unregister from Account

7. The message Do you really want to unregister from account? will appear; select Yes to confirm

IMPORTANT: The device(s) deleted will be removed from the Garmin ActiveCaptain app and the Garmin account. User Data and downloaded charts on the ActiveCaptain card will need to be manually deleted. 

The Garmin device is now removed from the Garmin account.

To remove registration using Garmin Account

Sign in to the Garmin Account  select Manage Your Data >  View Your Data > Device Information > Remove under the selected device.

The selected device is unregistered.

To add a marine device to a Garmin Account

The process of adding a Marine Device to a Garmin Account is done with Android or Apple iOS devices using ActiveCaptain. Windows PC and Mac PC users will add their devices using Garmin Express. This process is also referred to as registering; see Registering Garmin Marine Devices and Charts.

NOTE: Do not use a pre-programmed chart card for ActiveCaptain as the chartplotter will prompt to format the card for use with ActiveCaptain. Charts downloaded in ActiveCaptain will layer over charts pre-programmed on the card and stored in the OneChart folder referenced in the second note of this article.

NOTE: It is not possible to register a Garmin Marine device via Garmin.com; registration must be done either via ActiveCaptain or Garmin Express.