Garmin GPS devices not showing as a mounted device in Finder on Apple computers

Hi all, I, like many others using apple computers have had problems

trying to get their Garmin GPS to connect to Finder. First, for those

that don't already know, the newer Garmin gps devices now use MTP

protocol. In short,  the newer Garmin devices run on Android software,

which is why products like iMac , iPad, etc. will not recognize Garmin

or show it as a connected device in Finder. They do work pretty

seamlessly with their Garmin Explore app.If you connect your Garmin and

it askes you if you want to connect with the MTP Protocol, choose "No"

and you be able to connect to base Camp easier.


In my case, I wanted to change the startup screen on my Garmin to

include my name and contact number in case my gps got lost (I did search

& rescue for many years and wanted to make sure if some honest

person were to find it, the info would be there. Most people don't know

this can be done, and I spoke directly to one of Garmin's technicians to

learn the process.


Now for the tricks, you must either have a Windows PC, which will

show your Garmin device, or use an app like "Android File Transfer" to

manipulate the files from your Mac to your gps and back. I did try this

today and was able to get everything to work with very little effort.

Listed below is the procedure.


Here are the steps for customizing the start up text on your GPSMAP 67i:


1. Connect the device to Windows computer with a USB data cable.

2. Open the GPSMAP 67i drive (typically found in [My] Computer or File Explorer

on a PC). If using a Mac, download and open "Android File Transfer" and locate the Garmin folder.

3. Open Internal Storage.

4. Open the Garmin folder.

5. Open the file named startup.txt.

6. Follow the on-screen instructions and add the desired Start Up Message.

o The maximum number of characters for this text is 256.

7. After entering the information you wish to add to your start screen, save the

updated information. Make sure you remember where your new file was saved

to. (A common location could be your “Download” folder).

8. Once the information is saved, copy the newly updated “startup.txt” file and paste

it into the same location where the original startup.txt file is located. A screen

should pop-up asking if you want to overwrite the original file. Click “Yes,” and

the new file will take the place of the original file.

9. Disconnect the cable from your GPS.

After saving the file and disconnecting the GPSMAP 67i from the computer, the

customized message will display on the handheld when powering it on.



Posted on Jul 26, 2025 12:07 PM

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Garmin GPS devices not showing as a mounted device in Finder on Apple computers

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