InReach mini won't install firmware update 3.7

I've installed the firmware update (3.7) three times and followed all directions with no error message or prompts. Each time I plug my inReach back into my PC after updating, Garmin Express says there's an update available (Firmware 3.7). When I check the which version my inReach is running in settings, it still says 2.50. At a loss for how to update.

0 twolpert over 3 years ago

After connecting to the PC, start Express. When it says there is an update available, be sure you click Install. IIRC, Express will show some kind of 2-step progress bar while it does nothing more than copy the new firmware to the device. The actual installation does not occur until you unplug the device and restart it.

After express has had a chance to copy the firmware (and before you unplug the device), use Windows Explorer to look at files on the device. Look for a file called gcupdate.gcd. I think this ends up in the Garmin folder, but I'm not absolutely sure. If you cannot find a .gcd file anywhere on the device, then Express did not do what it was supposed to do. In this case, you probably need to open a support ticket. If the file is there, then unplugging the device and rebooting (manually if necessary) should install the update. I don't recall for sure, but I think the device reboots when you unplug it??

During the actual installation, the Mini will display a cryptic screen with gear icon and an offset "arrow in the center of a circle". Below that, there is a progress bar. Initially, it does not appear that the bar is advancing. Give it a minute or two. When the installation is complete, the device will reboot with the new firmware.

0 3078557 over 3 years ago in reply to twolpert

Thanks, gcupdate.gcd is present after the first install step. When I unplug, I get a frozen screen with a USB symbol and a gear symbol....I've been manually rebooting at this stage. Then I plug back in for the second installation step. The progress bar moves to 100% and then the screen reverts back to telling me an update is available. gcupdate.gcd is no longer present, settings tell me i'm still running firmware 2.50

0 twolpert over 3 years ago in reply to 3078557

Does the "frozen screen" have the progress bar at the bottom - and showing maybe 10%? If so, it's probably not frozen - it just takes a while to start to move. Never takes as much as 5 minutes. Next time, let it sit for 5 minutes and see if it moves on. If it truly IS frozen, a call to tech support is in order.

The other thing you can try if/when it freezes is to force the device back into firmware update mode and see if it picks up the file. Follow the steps here BUT STOP AFTER STEP 3.

https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=QIpm6OKYTv41VE8vHn92o6

You can also do a full factory reset and try the update again from the beginning in Express. I don't know if the full reset will help, but it is something that support MIGHT have you try. It's their go to thing when they can't think of anything else to try. To be fair, it does work in a lot of cases.

Note that if you do a factory reset, you will lose all user data on the device. You will also have to repeat the outdoor portion of the activation.

0 3078557 over 3 years ago in reply to twolpert

Thanks, no progress bar (this is after first installation step). I left it for 10mins and it powered off eventually. Power on, connect to PC, second install step.....still on v2.50. I'm going to try and open a ticket.