EPIX Pro (Gen 2) Sapphire - "Cannot unlock maps" error (or msg) - Why

I haven't loaded any maps unless they were automatically updated. But I'm seeing what looks like an error. When I power off, then power on, I get a message that says, "Cannot unlock maps" and a checkbox to click with START. No indication what the problem is. Maps seem to work ok.

I did see a map (Outdoor maps+) that does need a subscription but that's also on my Fenix 7x PRO, and it doesn't show the warning/error. And I have the same maps listed in the Map Manager for both my Epix Pro and my Fenix 7x Pro Sapphire Solar. So, I don't think that is the problem.

1) Why am I seeing this warning?

2) Is it really an error, or just a warning about something?

3) How do I know which map is causing it?

4) How do I fix it?

Thanks

Mike

Top Replies

Oxnull 9 months ago +12 suggested

Here's the official response I got from Garmin after days of calling different reps, seems ridiculous that we have to go and manually delete critical files that might irreversibly destroy our watches,…
eezytiger 9 months ago in reply to Oxnull +6

Instructions from Garmin are to uninstall Garmin Express, reinstall and then reinstall the golf course maps. It worked for me today after a week without a fix. No need to touch European (in my case) or…
seilogramp 9 months ago +4

Affecting several Garmin watch models at the moment.

Fenix 7 - Maps cannot unlock message

Epix (Gen 2) - "Cannot unlock maps" error (or msg)

Forerunner 965 - Cannot unlock maps

Forerunner 955 …

All Replies

0 Alex 9 months ago

Hello,

Exactly the same issue as yours with my EPIX GEN 2 saphire edition, I live in France.

forums.garmin.com/.../1651407

0 AgentMax 9 months ago

forums.garmin.com/.../maps-cannot-unlock-message-on-garmin-fenix-7

0 seilogramp 9 months ago

Affecting several Garmin watch models at the moment.

Fenix 7 - Maps cannot unlock message
Epix (Gen 2) - "Cannot unlock maps" error (or msg)
Forerunner 965 - Cannot unlock maps
Forerunner 955 - Cannot unlock maps
Approach S70 - Map Update 7.20 Failing

Garmin - Chris said:
Updated July 28th, 2023:

The issue is escalated to our engineering team and will be resolved as soon as possible.

0 Gerd_NL 9 months ago in reply to AgentMax

Hi, I had the same today. At first I checked, what happens with my Golf course: distance yes, no fairways, all black ...

Connected to GE on my pc: only the SKI map and Golf America are visible, no option to reinstall Europe maps.

Again soft restart, same message as before ... Golf course: hey, fairways are visible.

Connecting to GE, all maps are in the overview, but on maps option only SKI and America ...

Again soft restart, same message as before. On the watch in app Maps I saw only SKI and America, this I had disabled some days before. So I enabled both, again soft reset ... and the other maps and also fairways are visible.

Connecting to GE: now I could reinstall Europe (the most important one for me), reinstall was only a short one minute updating closing with an error message ...

Disconnecting from pc and reconnecting to pc. Again reinstall with GE, same sa before, only a short one minute update, BUT now NO ERROR message, puh ...

SO I disconnected the watch and checked, if fairways and my home location in OpenStreetMaps are ok and yes, it's ok.

As long as it not necessary I do not try a soft restart again, hopefully it is all ok, maybe the problem was the disabled SKI and America maps .... I press my thumbs ...

0 MIKE-SD 9 months ago in reply to seilogramp

I've tried syncing with GE but it didn't fix anything.

I can't find anything not working though.

I've seen people trying various deletions of course maps. Some worked dome did not.

There aren't any clear detailed instructions for a fix and I don't know what can be restored and what cannot. So until I find something not working, or some detailed instructions. I think the best course for me is to just wait til Garmin has a fix.

Thanks

0 ALANWE 9 months ago

I have the same problem as reported here
https://forums.garmin.com/beta-program/fenix-7-series/f/community-discussion/340989/cannot-unlock-golf-maps-after-upgrade

with the tests I have already done

0 evky1980 9 months ago in reply to ALANWE

I have the same problem. It appeared when I wanted to remove Topo maps of North America and only keep Topo USA maps (for faster map loading and performance improvement). When I did that, I noticed this problem. I tried reinstalling maps back to Topo North America and it still shows up.

+1 Oxnull 9 months ago

Here's the official response I got from Garmin after days of calling different reps, seems ridiculous that we have to go and manually delete critical files that might irreversibly destroy our watches, good luck fighting the call center reps for an exchange if this doesn't work for you. $1k luxury watch that they won't take responsibility for breaking until you hound them for days:

(Warning) Please follow these steps very carefully, if any other files than listed below are deleted they can cause irreversible damage to the watch.

1) Please connect your watch to the computer and go into the GARMIN folder on your device.

2) Delete the files listed below:

D2471XXXX.img - CourseView Americas
D1399XXXX.img - CourseView EMEA
D2419XXXX.img - CourseView Pacific

3) Once you delete those maps, disconnect the device from the computer and soft reset the watch (By holding the top left button until the watch powers off, then hold the same button until it turns back on)

4) Empty the computer's trash/recycling

5) Remove the device from Express and close/quit Express, then reopen Express and reconnect the device by adding it back

6) Install any updates and it should work normally again

0 Gerd_NL 9 months ago in reply to Oxnull

Thanks, it worked for me, now all ok with the maps!

0 Oxnull 9 months ago

my takeaway from all this: as soon as you get a new watch make a backup of all the img files inside the garmin folder, apparently they are very important and after searching reddit and other social media platforms it looks like this isn't a one time incident.