Mac Garmin Express not recognize Edge 540

My Garmin Edge 540 (software v. 28.18) is not being recognized by Garmin Express (v. 7.26.0.0) my macbook running Sequoia 15.6. I am using the USB cable that came with my 540. I have tried manually putting the device into MTP mode, no luck.

This comes after an automatic update in May removed the map of Europe from my Garmin and it has been essentially useless ever since. Desperate for assistance. 

Thank you!

  • My Garmin Edge 840 with Software 28.20 is in the same situation on Express 7.26.0.1; the Express app on the computer does not recognize that the device is connected. Can we get a solution, or do we drop the pretense that it's Mac compatible and instead provide a guide for wireless connections, including Map updates, via WiFi and iOS?

  • The Edge 540 and 840 are using MTP for communication with a computer. The MTP support of MacOS is limited: it isn't visible in Finder (use OpenMTP as an alternative), and very important: only one application can use the MTP connection at the same time!

    So my guess is that another MTP application is active on your Mac, and that claims the connection before Express can do it. Check if there is such an application active on your Mac, and that it is not starting automatically (actually, that last part also applies to Express itself, if you want to use an application like BaseCamp).

    It is still Mac compatible (with some caveats).

  • It doesn't work. I have OpenMTP installed and it still won't recognize my 540. Nothing else is connected via MTP. This is an issue, and the poster is correct, Garmin should update their messaging regarding native MAC support.

  • Same here with my 840. no way to male it seen by the iMac. My wife‘s 530 works fine (530 has no MTP mode). Garmin is not able to establish Mac compatibility since months. No wonder, if customers switch to alternative brands.

  • I could never get OpenMTP to work with the GPSMAP 67 (when I owned it). I may be worth searching out "Android File Transfer". It may be difficult to find however as it's no longer "supported" but in my case, it definitely worked to access the GPSMAP 67 when OpenMTP would not work.