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Garmin Express (Mac) and Fenix 9 problem

seagers

Hi guys,

I'm having a problem with Garmin Express on Mac and my new Fenix 9 Pro.

Quick background on my setup: I've been using Garmin Express on Mac for a long time with my Epix Pro Gen 2 and my Edge 1050, and everything works flawlessly there, sync included.

However, when I connect my new Fenix 9 to the Mac, communication between the Mac and the watch (and vice versa) doesn't work. I can log the watch into Garmin Express and it does show up as connected (green dot). But right after the watch is detected, an error message appears saying content can't be synced — for example the records file or golf courses.

The real issue, though, is with the maps. When I switch to the Maps tab in Garmin Express, not a single map is checked as installed, it looks as if there's no map on the watch at all (but there are). If I select a new map to install, the download itself runs, but it aborts at 50% (this seems to be where transfer to the watch begins). It doesn't matter which map, already-installed ones or brand-new ones, none of them work.

Switching to a Windows PC, everything works fine: sync, installed maps show up correctly with a checkmark, and installing new maps works without any issues.

Back on the Mac: same error again. As mentioned, the old Epix and the Edge work fine on the Mac under this exact same setup.

So far I've tried a number of things without success: I fully uninstalled and reinstalled Garmin Express multiple times, including clearing the cache folders in ~/Library/Application Support/Garmin and ~/Library/Caches. I confirmed Rosetta 2 is installed, and I also granted Garmin Express full disk access.

I've also reset the watch to factory settings multiple times without any improvement, and I tried Garmin Express under a different user account on the same Mac — same error occurs.

Can anyone help, or does someone have an idea what might be causing this?

Thanks,
Dirk

  • 0 in reply to Garmin - PW

    Yes, I get errors syncing my fenix 9 pro and can not get any map to download to it.

  • 0

    What a shambles. Releasing a new, flagship watch that doesn’t work with its own desktop software on ~15% of the world’s computers.

    I would hope Garmin are embarrassed by this. But the fact they’ve had 6 years to address the underlying issue suggests they won’t be.

  • 0

    Hi everyone,

    I have a partial solution for the issue, that might help most of you guys. It won't fix the Garmin Express connection issue, but would let you download most of the maps and updates.
    1) Connect your watch to a trusted wifi network: Watch Settings --> Connectivity --> Wifi --> My Networks --> Search for Networks....

    2) Go to Maps: Activities & Apps --> Maps --> Options (3 lines top right) --> .... From there you have many options like: 

         a) Map Layers --> Get More Maps...... (THIS IS WHAT MOST OF US ARE LOOKING FOR) Heavy check mark️

         b) Map Settings --> Map Manager...... (useful if you need to delete maps)

         c) Download Maps (surprisingly not what most of us are looking for)
      

    I know the issue is really frustrating specially for some of us that really relay on our Garmin watches to navigate outdoors. So I really hope this help most of you guys !

  • +2 in reply to Garmin - PW

    Since this is currently being investigated by our internal team, if you have not been emailed from this thread please reach out to your local support team. https://support.garmin.com

    We will post any updates regarding this here on the thread so make sure to keep it bookmarked. 

  • 0

    I am having the same problems too with my Fenix 9 Pro 43 mm and MacBook Pro. 

  • 0 in reply to pjritter

    For maps install/update try Terento.app. More than 1000 third party maps available. 

  • 0

    MacBookPro M1 - macOS 26.7 - Garmin Express 7.29.2.0 - Fenix 9 Pro Solar inReach 47mm - 6.48

    Same issue (error messages) regarding maps & synch via Garmin Express...

  • 0

    Adding a reply. I opened a support ticket with the US support, but I am also seeing the issues above. Random transfer errors when Garmin Express attempts to sync the device after initial connection. When I go to "Manage Maps", it also acts as though I have zero maps installed and offers to update maps that the on-device Map Manager does not tell me have an update available.

    My main reason for going to Express in the first place is that the on-device Map Manager does not offer me the ability to install TopoActive maps of Asia, including South Korea, Japan, or Taiwan.

  • 0 in reply to lucasec

    The same here: MacBook Air M4, Garmin Express with Rosetta: Sync Errors with my Fenix 9 Pro inReach 47mm AMOLED. Any other device, like Edge 1040 or my very old Fenix 3 syncs without any problems.

  • +1

    We have released Garmin Express for Mac version 7.29.3 to address Transfer Error Messages and Map Update Fails. You may download this version by visiting garmin.com/express.

    For any error reports while using this latest version of Garmin Express, please start a new thread.