Official Answer: Nuvi - SD microSD Card Size - Garmin FAQ

I'm using a Kingston 16GB Class 10 microSD card in my 1390T and also noticed that there is no speed difference between it and a Kingston 4GB Class 4. I called Garmin and they told me that Garmin GPS's will not support anything greater than 8GB and they told me to remove the 16GB and install a 8GB or smaller card. I'm kind of confused because the 16GB card seems to run fine in the 1390T with no problems. Should I keep the 16GB card or does Garmin know something that we don't.

Garmin's footnote:

1 Using an SD card size larger than 8GB is not supported for these devices. However, using one will not harm the device but it may or may not work. Also, Garmin supports all speed ratings (including unmarked cards).

https://support.garmin.com/support/searchSupport/case.faces?...

Craig is right, using a card larger than 8GB won't hurt your GPS or the card. I don't know why Garmin won't admit that their GPSs do in fact work with cards bigger than that, maybe it just that they don't want to take the chance of having to support their product.

As for the statement that Garmin supports all speed ratings, okay but not at the rated speed. Class 10 cards will work flawlessly at class 2 speeds in all Garmins. Maybe some of the newer Garmins will do data transfers at class 10 speeds but the older ones won't.

I have a NÜVI 750 and I'm currently using an 8GB miniSD, class 4 card in it (in an adapter). I also have a 2GB card that I bought back when 2GB was the largest SD card available. I have used a 32GB, class 10 card in it. All work fine but there doesn't seem to be ANY speed difference between them.

The short answer is to use any size and speed card you want and it should work fine.

My 1490 has a 16 gb Lexmar card installed and it holds the latest map plus 60k of POI's on it . NO PROBLEM.

Has anyone tried 32GB Micro SD card on newer devices?
I need to get one for my Nuvi 3597 which comes with 8 GB internal storage. But the remaining space on it is only 1.6 GB. What a pitty..
I am sure I would need external stoage at the time of next map update. So wondering if 32GB will work?

Someone will have to report as to whether or not a 32GB card will work, but fear not--with 1.6GB free, your 3597 will have room for all of City Navigator NA NT for years to come. Currently the map grows a few tens to nearly 100* MB per update and with 1600MB of free space on your device, your nuvi will likely die of old age before having too little storage for future map updates.

*FactCheck needed.

I checked my 16 gb card and with the map and 60k POI's on it I still had 13 GB left to use. Why buy something one will not use?

Thanks for your encouraging words. I was worried because maps on this model 3597 are very heavy duty with 3D terrain etc. My 765 which came with 4 GB, ran out of space last year.

It works on an old 750 but you have to use an adapter. Startup is a little slower but that seems to be the only problem.

Thanks for the info.

I recently got a 3597 and was wondering what card size to get.

but I think some people have used 16G and they worked

but I think some people have used 16G and they worked

thank you

thanks!

true I currently use a 16gb in my nuvi. no problems so far. just leave it in the slot permanently once you downloaded your new updates.

I have a micro SD for my nuvi. I put the POI's and maps other than the lower 48 which is all the internal memory can handle.

Using a 1390lmt for quite a while. At some point I had to put in an sd card because of memory. I've left it in, and things were okay until the recent map update. 2014.20 and then there was a message about having an old map.

I checked and indeed there was an old map - but where?

I ended up removing the sd card and then there were updates to apply, and the map was the old one.

So why wasn't the old map removed/updated internally?

I'm reinstalling maps now without the sd card in place, but I think the garmin isn't using the sd card properly.

Any ideas?

You said there was an old map but imply you did not know where it was.

I assume you looked in settings at the MyMaps info. What map did the device say it was using?

This is so confusing..

My c530 said 32gb...but I've used 64gb card...no issues.

I have and 8 and 32gb micro. Could not get the 8 to work so tried the 32 and voila it seems to be working just fine. Is it a fluke?

New to Garmin...an old TomTom user. a few questions please.

1. Is there anyway I can operate my 3597 while it is attached to the computer and operate it on my computer screnn?

2. I added several POIs and when I go to my custom POIs it showes every one has been duplicated. How can I remove one set?

I am sure more to come )...thanks j

In answer to your questions:

1. Unlike TomTom Home, Garmin has no program that will allow you to operate your Nuvi via your computer's monitor/screen.

2. I think you'd be better off just deleting the POI file(s) in the POI folder on the Nuvi and running POIloader again, installing only the POIs you wish to maintain. They should only appear once doing this.

I just bought mine and I put in a 32G card/so far so good.

Yes,works well.

Just added an 8GB card to my Nuvi. Forgot to format initially and the card was not being recognized. Will Garmin POI loader automatically load files to the card or do you have to do something else to get files to go onto the card?

It can be such a hit and miss experience. I have some cards that work up to 64 GB and some that fail. occasionally they are the same make/model and there is no rhyme or reason.

Trial and error and backups!

Select "Custom Folder" option on the 2nd screen of POI loader and then choose your card. Click down through the folders until you come to:
x*:/Garmin/POI/

* where x it the drive letter of your card.

Card works fine on Nuvi 2460LMT

bought a 32gb micro sd
will let u know if it works

4GB worked fine for me. Maps on SD Card now allow all NA on older device. Great!

Here is the link to the Garmin's support page that lists the supported sizes of SD cards for their automotive GPS product line.

I have an 8GB SDHC card in my Nuvi 2797, the maximum size supported for that model.

Source: (copy and paste in your browser)

http://support.garmin.com/support/searchSupport/case.faces?caseID=(18331ce0-4af6-11e3-f27b-000000000000)

https://support.garmin.com/support/searchSupport/case.faces?caseId={18331ce0-4af6-11e3-f27b-000000000000}

I have used up to 32g cards (microSD in an adaptor) in my NUVI 750 with no problem. I am currently using a 8g card because I needed the 32g card for another device. I know that the 750 will read both FAT and FAT32 formatted cards. I don't know about the maximum file size of 2g but that makes sense. It will also limit the size of the map updates Garmin can issue, a western hemisphere map would be too big for my 750 to read.

The nuvi 750 can use files over 2GB. Here's a link to models that can use large SD cards but can not use files over 2GB in size (copy & paste the link to your browser):

http://support.garmin.com/support/searchSupport/case.faces?supportPage=nuvi%20310&caseId={b4b6e4a0-f1af-11df-ea12-000000000000}&locale=en_US

Thanks Craig, that means that my 750 will live much longer. I just put a new battery in it I'm hoping to use it for several more years.

Quick update: have used a 16gb class 10 in the 255w over several months. So far no problems and have also updated the Garmin software versions more than once to the current one without problem. Hope that helps.

Thanks for the info.

I wanted to try to see if the garmin c550 could take more then a 2GB sd card. ( I have read but I am not sure that the max for a street pilot c550 is 2gb)

So I try a 4GB SDHC card I copy the map from the regular 2 gb and when I insert the card it show a green line running across the screen and it work.The map was actived

I remember see here ones a list of all Different Garmin and what size card you can use..I try to find. if someone know and it find can you please put the list up again.

It would be nice also if this web site had a base info that provvide those information. For a database I mean when you can read the information that you are looking for with out anyone add any additional messages like it show on this section.

Good to know!

I found it's also handy to use my nuvi as a USB card reader when the computer doesn't have one built in. I really should by an actual USB SDHC card reader but this works for my limited use.

Thanks for the 411!

@Driver 38: You still have the file size limitation to deal with, despite the device being able to use a card larger than 2GB.

You don't want to get the wrong drive by mistake and wipe out the nuvi.

I would view this practice as a dangerous one.

NEVER do anything to your GPS until you have a backup. It also assures that you put your (newer) unit into a state where you can see all of the folders there.
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/30394

You obviously have a USB port so look here for a reader
http://www.amazon.com/MOBILEMATE-MicroSD-MicroSDHC-Memory-su...

They are cheap and I carry one in my pocket all the time.

It's interesting that four years ago Garmin said 16 GB SD cards were OK in the Zumo but now they're not supporting anything larger than 8 GB.

It seems as if Garmin just likes to have one extra card in their sleeve for when they [immediately, it seems] resort to blame games when responding to problem reports.

I had (have) an issue which is caused by the crappy, obsolete MP3 software Garmin used in the Zumo 660 and Zumo 665, which it turns out Garmin can't and won't fix and insist it's a problem with some MP3s when they crash the Zumo to a point where it requires pulling the battery to get it back to life, which is fine except they still can't say exactly what the problem is, and the files in question do play fine on every other device I've tried. Whatever... But to get to that point I had to get through Garmin initially trying to blame:

The size of the SD card (Sandisk 16 GB)
File copy method (used reader to SD instead of USB to Zumo)
Bitrate too high
Bitrate too _low_ (LMAO!)
Too many files on card (over 2000, indexed fine FWIW)
Presence of non-MP3 files on card (should be ignored, duh)

amazing information

Thank you!

I have the Nuvi 3597LMTHD and a 16GB card seems to work fine.