Garmin Edge 840 does not connect to Garmin Express

AlexSmallet
3 months ago

I just received the device today. It synced with the Garmin Connect on my iPhone automatically and asked for software upgrade. Then I wanted to connect it with Garmin Express on my mac, but it won't find the device. I use the latest Garmin Express 7.24.0.0 and Software version 24.55 on the Garmin 840. I have other Garmin Devices connected to this machine OK, i.e. - Edge 830, Forerunner 920XT, Varia Bike Radar, and Garmin nuvi. All devices work OK via USB. Any idea what can be wrong with the 840?

  • 0 1 month ago

    At least on M1/M2/M3 Macs the following worked for me:

    1) Quit Garmin Express and kill any additional garmin processes / activities (if there are) via mac os Activity Monitor app.
    2) Plug in Edge and wait for the "eject icon" to appear on the Edge screen.
    3) Start the Garmin Express.

    All works and Express automatically identified new Edge device Slight smile

  • 0 1 month ago

    My Edge 840 won't work with my MacBook Pro anymore.  Not recognized by Garmin Express.  Used to work just fine but now nothing.  Oddly. my Edge 1040 works just fine using the same MacBook, cable, everything.  Waiting for the other shoe to drop and that to stop working as well.  Really like my 1040 but this is making me want to dump Garmin across the board.  Golf GPS, cycling, everything.  And really, Garmin support is pretty crappy.  Disappointed

  • 0 1 month ago in reply to ivanthetrble

    Well, that is Garmin's new approach... They favor Android and Windows platforms over Apple. Seems Apple Watch is becoming a threat. Same here, older Garmin devices work fine with Garmin Express on MacOS (M1/M2/M3). Now if you upgraded your Edge 840 to the latest firmware it stops working with Garmin Express on MacOS. There are some options if you insist with Garmin products. One is to install a MTP driver on the MacOS and try Garmin Express again. Other is buy Parallels and install a Windows VM on it and install Garmin Express on Windows VM. If you use Coherence view in Parallels the Garmin Express looks like it's running natively on MacOS but it's running in the background on Windows VM.

    My choice though was to switch from Garmin to another platform like I did in the past (Polar, Apple) but after giving another shot at Garmin and again facing problems with MacOS I switched now to Hammerhead Karoo... Good Luck!

  • 0 1 month ago in reply to DirkFrehse

    It is not quite that bad. We only have Macs here, one running an old OS Monterey, others running Sequoia. What I do, and this works on all these Macs: quit all Garmin programs on the Mac and any MTP programs/software that may be running. Connect the 840 through its normal cable (USB-C that it came with). Wait a minute or two, this takes longer than it used to when it would show up immediately on the desktop; now it does not show up on the desktop. After a minute or two, the "eject" (upwards arrow) symbol appears on the lower right corner of the 840. Now you can run Garmin Express and it connects and syncs etc. as it has in the past. The key is to wait until that "eject" symbol appears; if you don't wait long enough for that to appear, then when you run Garmin Express there will be no connection and no response. As for other Garmin devices, they will work as they did in the past unless they have the new software that the 840 has now. My older Garmin devices work like they used to, this is a new interface for some devices (the 840 for one) that Garmin has switched to, for those newer devices. 

    If you want or need direct access to the 840 as a storage device (to copy or remove files), this can be done with the free OpenMTP software that can be downloaded.

  • 0 1 month ago in reply to slichten626

    Hi,
    thank you so much!  It really worked for me, two. The Garmin has to be on when connecting to the Macbook, then it works.

    Everything is updatet, fine!
    Garmin has 25.25, Macbook 2017 comes with Ventura 13.7.2.

    Best regards
    Martin

  • 0 1 month ago in reply to slichten626

    Crap!  Still not working for me.  Did all these steps, device is recognized, burnt when attempting the update I get “There was an error installing the update”.  This is only an issue with my wife’s Edge 840.  My Edge 830 and 1040 update with no issues.  Same computer (Mac with latest software), same cable as the 1040 (USB-C, the 830 uses the USB micro).  

  • 0 27 days ago in reply to ivanthetrble

    My problem was that my Garmin Edge 840 is not automatically entering USB MTP Mode which according to the documentation should happen when the USB cable is connected. As stated earlier it can be forced into this mode by powering off the Garmin, holding down the lap button and connecting the USB cable. It takes half a minute or so (which seems much longer while waiting) but eventually USB MTP MODE appears at the top of the screen. Garmin express will then recognise the device and transfer updates etc. Don't let the computer go into lock screen mode or it will disconnect again. Hopefully this will be fixed with next update. I suspect the issue is with the software on the cycle computer rather than Garmin Express. This was on a 10 year old intel iMac running Monterey.

  • 0 3 days ago

    I am new to Garmin and a heavy Mac user. I wish I had known this was an issue before buying. I have tried all the tricks on this thread and cannot get it to connect. Like someone mentioned Express found the device the very first time I connected but I stopped the update as it was late and I foolishly thought I'd do it later... nope. I am so frustrated and mad. And in Germany Garmin customer support is available 10am to 3pm. Uhm, I have a job. 

  • 0 2 days ago in reply to ChrisMUC

    I think the secret is getting into USB MTP Mode. After this everything works fine. You probably only need to connect to the computer once to download maps etc, after that all updates occur via WiFi or Bluetooth from the Garmin Connect App on the phone.