I can no longer upload GPX files to Garmin explore and add to my watch

Assuming you're importing a GPX track (and not a route): when you import a GPX track, a new Collection is created with the imported track in it. So imported GPX tracks are not directly converted to Courses, you need to do that manually by opening the track from the Saved tab, selecting the three dot button and selecting Copy as Course.

The Map view should also show tracks, if those are not shown check whether all collections are shown on the map via the layers button and then Collections.

Also check what collections you are syncing to your watch, if you're not syncing everything or the collection your course is in, it won't get synced to the watch. You can change the collections to be synced via Devices tab, your device and then sync settings.

If only it were that simple.

I had to convert the GPX three times for one of them to turn up in the right place to sync to the phone.

I could add it to a collection but then when I went to look at the collections available to sync to my phone it wasn't there in the list. So bloody annoying. Totally crappy software.

Can you share the GPX you're importing? Interested to see what is going on.

https://explore.osmaps.com/route/24090112/woolpackwalk?lat=51.768341&lon=-2.191801&zoom=14.0498&style=Leisure&type=2d

I'm using the app on a Google pixel

It appears you need a premium account on osmaps to export to GPX, which I don't have. Can you share the GPX file itself?

I haven't managed to get this working after trying so many different options.  I haven't been able to use my watch for maps at all since the recent update. this is a file a friend made for our run to do tomorrow.  I can get it to appear a collection to sync - but when I toggle and wait for the sync, nothing appear on the watch.

There is a screen shot of my phone, for some reason, this gpx file  comes up  with a 0 points under the title - it seems anything that show that way won't sync to the phone.  Any GPX file I have tried to work with since the most recent update only appears this way.  I have tried opening them to add way points, I have tried putting them on other software and changing the file before moving it to garmin explore.  I have also tried this morning using the web browser version of explore to add the file there.  Nothing seems to work.  Can you explain / help?

Currently it feels so unfixable I need to get a new watch (non garmin) as I mainly use this for maps when running and I haven't been able to use maps when running since the last software update at all.

I tried to attach a GPX file but your website doesn't allow that file type

If you can suggest a way for me to share with you the GPX file I will do so as I would love to work this out

You should be able to upload the GPX file to this forum if you first compress it as a Zip file. Or you could use a file sharing service like Filebin and post the link to the shared file here.