Garmin GPS systems are great if you don’t know how to find your way to an address but their maps often get outdated in a few years as new infrastructure is developed in your city. Many find the $80 update somewhat of a pinch in their pockets so here is a solution for those people!
Using this guide you will be able to update your Garmin GPS system to the latest (2010) map data, all you need is a little bit of patience and careful reading.
The 2011 Map Guide is now up.
What will you need?
- Garmin City Navigator 2010.40 (Method 1) OR 2010.40 Unlocked IMG File (Method 2)
- Garmin MapSource v6.15.7 & MapInstall v3.13.2
- Garmin Unlocker (available here)
- A Garmin GPS device plugged into your PC
Method 1 (Mapsource Install Instructions)
1) Run the setup file named “CNNANT2010Update_ENU.msi” from the “IMG” folder in your downloaded city navigator files.
2) Install the Garmin Mapsource software on your computer.
Note: The 2010.40 update also updates the version of MapInstall on your pc to v3.13.3. Before moving forward, downgrade to v3.13.2 using the following instructions:
- Remove all Mapinstall files the from the Garmin install directory (mostly located at C:\Garmin)
- Download Mapinstall v3.13.2 from the links provided & run the installer
- Launch Mapinstall and sync to device
3) Once the software in step 1 and 2 are installed, run the program named Mapsource from Start > All Programs > Garmin. Mapsource will show you a prompt upon launching it asking to unlock the maps, close this prompt window using the red X on the top right corner.
4) Now click on Utilities > Get Unit ID from the menu bar. The program will take a second and display your device’s unit ID (make sure your GPS is plugged into your computer to get this). Copy this unit # number and write it down elsewhere as a safe measure. Once you have the number written down, close this window.
5) Leave Mapsource running (minimize it) and open the Garmin unlocker you downloaded from the link provided before. Put the Unit ID code you wrote down in step 4 in the top most box of the garmin unlocker thats says “Enter your Unit ID here”.
6) Next, in the ‘Select Map Product‘ field select the last option of ‘custom maps’ and enter 450 when prompted and hit OK. If using the City Navigator North America 2010.20 maps enter 2005. If using the City Navigator North America 2010.30 maps enter 2051. If using the City Navigator North America 2010.40 maps enter 2201.
7) Now click on the Generate button located on the bottom of the window next to the Exit button. This will give you the unlock code, copy this code and keep it somewhere accessible. You can exit out of the unlocker now, its work is done.
8 ) Go back to the Mapsource window and from the Utilities menu and select Manage Map Products. Now click the ‘Unlock Regions’ Tab and press the ‘Add’ button. Paste the code you got in step 7 into the ‘Add Unlock Region’ dialog box’s first field, the second field is optional. Hit OK and you have unlocked the map product.
Now you can close Mapsource.
Note: Before moving foward, navigate to the Garmin folder on your device. An icon for your device will be under My Computer. In the Garmin folder you will find a file named “gmapprom”. Backup this file and then delete it from the Garmin device. If you cannot find the exact same file name, look for the biggest file in that folder (it can be anywhere from 500 MB – 1GB).
Now launch MapInstall from Programs > Garmin
9) Mapinstall will ask you for the regions on the map you want to install, choose your desired regions, hit next and then press Finish.
Depending on the amount of map data you choose to put on, the maps will transfer to your device between 30 mins – 1 hour. Once completed you will have the new 2010 maps on your GPS system, you can also check the maps version on your device via Settings > Maps > Map Info.
Method 2 (Unlocked IMG Instructions)
1. Connect your device to the computer.
2. Go into the Nuvi files and backup the file named “gmapprom.img” to your computer.
3. Delete the “gmapprom.img” file from the device.
4. Copy the unlocked “gmapprom.img” file that you downloaded into the device.
5. Restart your device and check your map info.
Having trouble with unlocking maps? Even with the right Mapsource version?
Mapsource might be causing an issue on your machine.
We have a fix for this :
- Navigate to your garmin installation directory (C:/Garmin/)
- Locate the Mapsource.exe file and rename it to MapsourceOLD.exe
- Download this replacement file, extract the contents and put it in the (C:/garmin) directory
The unlock code should now be accepted.
Want 3D map Data?
The 2010.40 3D Map Data can be found here
Simply drop that file onto your device memory or external memory and your 3D data should be loaded.
Enjoy the savings & drop us a line if you found this helpful. [donate]
I have a lifetime update for my Garmin E-Trex can I update maps on my NUVI 200w using the same maps. Is there anything that I need to be aware of prior to doing an update if this is possible.
the link to MapInstall v3.13.2 does not work
I did everything step by step but on the MapSource I’m unable to unlock the map its status stays on Locked. I even tried the replacement file that you have at the end of the tutorial, maybe I am doing something wrong. Please could someone help me out on this…??? Thanks
Thanks for the great post, will give a try.
i am not able to go past step 2. where it says, Download Mapinstall v3.13.2 from the links provided & run the installer, the mapinstall v3.13.2 link does not work, so I found another source to donwload that mapinstall v3.13.2 from another torrent. now, when i try to run mapinstall v3.13.2, it says that the following products are locked “city navigator north america NT 2010.4″. it wont let me install it without the unlock code. so, i cannot Launch Mapinstall and sync to device. i cannot even go through this step 2. please help
Hi.
I can’t find the gmapprom file that the tutorial says I need to delete in step 8. I’ve uninstalled all the garmin software except for the stuff I used in the tutorial, and still the only file in the garmin folder that I can see is a xml file of 25kb called “GarminDevice”.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
@vimal, just google a torrent with the version he has listed. It’s really easy to work around broken links when the exact version needed is given to you.
And
Follow up to my comment above, I have a nüvi1250 and am working with Windows XP.
I ws wondering if this process works for a Kenwood 9140 head unit with the built in Garmin ?
The mapsource install via the link provided put a TDSS rootkit on my PC. I would not do this on a PC you value.
Will this work with a garmin nuvi 710 for Europe? I paid big money for it in 2008 so I have no intention of paying big money for updates.
The MapInstall v3.13.2 was not available at the posted link. Can anyone out there help me find MapInstall v3.13.2?
Does this process work, if it is done on a MAC?
Love this Up Date Thank you My Garmin 255W works great better then when i first got it…….
this id dum it doesnt help you
thank you for helping poor people .
i need Garmin BlueChart g2 Vision VEU016R S East Mediterranean sea map , can you post download link.
I’ve followed the tutorial for a C330, but, although it is recognized and a driver installed when connected, it doesn’t receive a drive letter, nor does it show under computer management, drive management. I’ve uninstalled and reinstalled under device manager. As such, when attempting to load the maps, the system is showing 0 KB of free space, since I’m unable to clear the necessary space. For some reason, Windows 7 will not assign a drive letter to it no matter what I try. Does anyone have any idea how to get around this limitation? Or a way to manually flush the memory on the unit to allow me to install new maps?
Thanks
If you find out “how-to” can you let me know. I have the C330 also and am about to throw it against a wall.
tried method 2, works gr8!
Thanks
It Worked AWESOME on my Garmin nuvi 205 series (265T). tytytytytytytytyty
Worked awesome on my Nuvi 350. BE PATIENT!!! Complete operation takes forever
Hi Handsworth,
I’m just about to plunge into updating our Nuvi 350…..When you say to be patient, how long did it approximately take to do your update and was it very straightforward?…..Thanx……
Is it possible to convert the Garmin nuvi 660 from street maps to marine charts
For: By Ed January 22, 2011 – 2:14 pm
Why would you ask this? This is like asking can you turn a toaster into a microwave. I’m sure the hardware inside is different. Why do some people have to be such dumb asses.
i have a garmin 330 and loaded the images on a sd card but my garmin did not recoginize the sd card at all….what did i do wrong
i am an idiot i had wrong name on the folder for sd card
Many thanks for all the information which has helped me in the past load my Euro City maps but I have just downloaded a cracked version of I think the latest map 2011.30 and the file is 2.07 kb but is named gmapsupp.img not the usual gmapprom.img.
Before I start uploading to my Nuv1 1340, is this the correct one or have I downloaded the wrong one. Can anyone help.
hey will this update work for the Garmin nuvi 205???
The link for MapInstall v3.13.2, is not working anymore, please assist?? Thank you.
I followed the instruction for method 2 and it worked like a charm for my nuvi 360. This, after my map data was corrupted for some reason and Garmin support advised me to purchase new maps as they could not provide me my 2009 maps. Thanks a ton.
Hi,
Is this solution also suitable for the maps of Israel and Eastern Europe?
Thanks a lot for your answer.
Yariv
Tried method 2, Works Great. Thanks!!!
I used Method 2 after downloading map from ThePirateBay.org thank you very much it worked great
Is there anyway to just download this to an SD card for my Garmin StreetPilot C330 ? My computer has an SD slot. I’m not computer savvy enough to follow thosae instructions. I need a dowload button…period.
.
hallo, i have delete some files from my garmin and now when i will write a new address, the gps write notthing found help me.
You will probably need to buy a new map and get Garmin’s tech support to help you.
i have 265w is not show traffice is ask code plz help
for c330 make (garmin) folder then change the name of map gmapssupp
Did method 2 worked like a charm
Thanks very much
did the method 2 and worked like a charm. not the most computer literate but your instructions were great. thanks much to all.
I paid over $500 for my garmin nuvi 880, its crazy that they ask you to pay for updates, it should come FREE!!
I paid $729 for my Nuvi 660 when it 1st came out and laugh at the though of having to pay for updates when Google navigation on my phone updates for free and it’s got the same size screen. F’ you Garmin
I received the following msg:
Unable to load “gu15.rar”: Invalid torrent file! Please help
Ok so I figured out how to extract it however everytime I try it gets blocked by Ad-Watch Live
I totally love you!
hi there i need to know if the above information will be good for UK / EU maps and South Africa Maps.
That’s whhat I like to know to: does this work with/on EU-Maps????
would this work om 760?
i have 670 garmin but touch screen is lock plz tell me what to do thanks
Nuvi 1250 qwerty keyboard tip:
In the file: keyboards/en_US.kbd change in the folowing line:
to
Use notepas to do this.
Now you have a querty keyboard!
worked a charm on my nuvi 265w i just need the updated speed camera database now (for free)
messed up big time on garmin 265w extracted map s/ware to allow installation of newer maps. file of extracted old maps got lost now cannot get new version. turn on gps hit where to then tap address NO DATA AVAILABLE” HELP garmin wants $90.00 to fix the unit is worth 50 maybe planning a trip i need this bad boy to work where R the top problem fixers out there
Hello, I have a special map that I need to jail brake.
I have 3 Garmin Nuvi40 and just one map. Can somebody helping me moving them between devises instead of buying 2 extra maps.
Please send me email and I will send you all needed files.
If somebody can solve this for my, I am willing to DONATE.
Hello, I have a map of Iceland that I need to jail brake.
I have 3 Garmin Nuvi40 and just one map. Can somebody helping me moving them between devises instead of buying 2 extra maps.
Please send me email and I will send you all needed files.
If somebody can solve this for my, I am willing to DONATE.
bad links(deleted).Usless post.Outdated.Leave this page, is a waste of time.
Hi!
Could somebody help me to hack Garmin Forerunner 610? Or do you know someone who could? Garmin blocked the Course Functionality in the new models in order to force customer to buy the next generation (400 US), but it has to be very easy to unblock. Thanks!!!!!!