Verify the Physical Connection of a USB GPS Device to a Mac

If an attached GPS device is not recognized by any of Garmin's Mac-compatible software, or a mass storage device is not showing as a mounted drive in Finder, see the support video below for troubleshooting information.

Support: Troubleshooting the Connection from an Automotive Device to the Computer - YouTube

The System Information application can be used to verify a connection between the device and the Mac.

To check whether the system recognizes a connected Garmin USB device:

1. Click the Apple icon at the top left-hand corner of the screen
2. Hold the Option key on the keyboard
3. Click System Information
4. Release Option
5. Click USB in the left column of the System Information window

Once USB is highlighted, the upper and lower boxes on the right will show USB information. The upper right-hand box shows devices attached while the lower box displays detailed information about the device selected in the upper box.  

The System Information applications will not automatically refresh when a device is connected or disconnected. To refresh the display, select Refresh Information from the File menu or press Command + R.

• A mass storage device appears as a Composite Device.
• A Garmin Mode device appears as a Vendor-Specific Device.

If neither of the entries listed above is showing, then there may be a hardware problem.

For example:

• Faulty USB cable
  • Try a different USB cable if available
• Faulty USB port
  • Test the USB port with another USB device (if possible)
  • Try a different USB port on the Mac
• The USB cable is plugged into the charging cradle for the device instead of the device
• The device is plugged into a USB hub or one of the ports on the Mac keyboard
  • Avoid connecting the device to a USB hub, USB extension cable, keyboard, or monitor
• Restart the Mac or try a different computer

The attached GPS device should now be detected by Garmin software.