NAV 5 wont update

[Bobhudak]

I recently tried to update my NAV 5 GPS. I got the message that it was connected to Garmin express but that a memory card was needed. I have a memory card in the GPS but it was not recognized. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance. By the way, the GPS is 11 years old.

 

[omega man]

See if anything in this thread helps-

Size Matters with Garmin Nav V 2025.20

I've discovered the hard way that the latest map 2025.20 download for the Nav V is too large for the unit's internal memory. I've been going back and forth with Garmin tech support for a few days, with no success. Long story short: Garmin has a created a map for the Nav V that is too big for...

forums.bmwmoa.org

Good luck.

OM

 

[lee]

I updated both of ours last week.
Maybe you need a new card?
I only update ours once or twice a year and I hold my breath each time

 

[rogerc60]

I had the same issue a couple of weeks ago with my Nav V, but it was caused by my own fiddling with the GPS. This may not be the case with yours.

Last year I had trouble getting my computers to recognize the GPS when I plugged in the USB cable. I read about a way to get into a hidden service menu in the Nav V and change the USB access mode so that the GPS would appear to the computer as simply a memory storage device. This change indeed worked to make the GPS connect to the computer quickly. But it did have the unfortunate side effect that Garmin Express could not detect the SD card. I changed that setting back to the default, after which Garmin Express successfully updated the firmware and maps in my GPS. The down side is that I sometimes have to wait for up to 5 minutes after I plug in the USB cable before the computer recognizes the GPS.

For reference, here's the scoop on changing the access mode (copied from a thread on AdvRider):

Support may have had you change the MTP settings, so that the GPS is seen as a drive (Mass Storage) rather than a media device (MTP mode). To reach "tech mode", power on, View Map, tap the speed indicator in the lower left, then press and hold on the speedometer for about 10 seconds until the diagnostics page appears. Select Configuration and Settings, then MTP settings.

 

[patm]

I had the same issue, I had changed the MTP settings.
It could also be a corrupted/failing sd card.

 

[ebell]

See if anything in this thread helps-

Size Matters with Garmin Nav V 2025.20

I've discovered the hard way that the latest map 2025.20 download for the Nav V is too large for the unit's internal memory. I've been going back and forth with Garmin tech support for a few days, with no success. Long story short: Garmin has a created a map for the Nav V that is too big for...

forums.bmwmoa.org

Good luck.

OM

Send it to the Palm Doctor. I'm the OP of the linked thread, and found the only solution was to have my Nav V's memory increased from 8GB to 16GB. The upgraded unit successfully mounts on both a newer laptop and older desktop, and works with both Basecamp and Garmin Express. I had the USB connector fixed as well.

 

[brownie0486]

Send it to the Palm Doctor. I'm the OP of the linked thread, and found the only solution was to have my Nav V's memory increased from 8GB to 16GB. The upgraded unit successfully mounts on both a newer laptop and older desktop, and works with both Basecamp and Garmin Express. I had the USB connector fixed as well.

Sent my 5 to the Palm Dr as the update files were too big for the installed card. He did the same with mine and never had another issue with downloading updates.

 

[Bobhudak]

Thanks to everyone who responded. I have tried a couple of SD cards and reformatted them as well. I never made changes in the diagnostic menu. I guess I'll look into the palm doctor updating my NAV V GPS. Thanks for the tips.

 

[rbourey]

make sure the format is FAT 32 and the size is no larger than 32GB.
(I found out the long way, that 64 GB cards are a no-go and 32 GB cards in the default format are also not recognized.)

 

[vetbmwrider]

I wish Garmin would get the bugs out of NAV just sent back a VI after performing an update last week it stopped working. This makes 4 GPS NAV replaced by Garmin. The downside it is going to take over a month to get a replacement unit.

 

[toter]

I recently tried to update my NAV 5 GPS. I got the message that it was connected to Garmin express but that a memory card was needed. I have a memory card in the GPS but it was not recognized. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance. By the way, the GPS is 11 years old.

I would look at getting a new SD card. My Nav V, I just updated to 2026.10 or .2, don't recall

 

[paul_f]

I had no luck updating the maps for my Zumo 660. Garmin had no suggestions so I ordered a new Zumo 595. After it shipped, I went back to the 660 and tried a a new memory card and once again at the end of the update, failure. I removed the new card and reinserted the original and voila, the unit completed the update. Up until recently, removing the card memory card at the end of eahupdate and then reinserting it has been my method for updates. I don’t know if this procedure would help the OP but it might be worth a try.

Despite Garmin’s claim of Lifetime Map Updates, updating maps for my 660 no longer seems to work in the last year. Unfortunately I assume in the near future that issue of difficulty updating maps will apply to my 595. Garmin’s definition of “Lifetime” seems to be that of a short life.