Download Garmin MapSource for Free and Install Without Media

Garmin GPS receivers come packaged with free MapSource application. MapSource is required for Garmin users to upload and download maps data, POI (Points of Interest), waypoints, tracks, and routes to and from GPS unit. In other words, those without GPS unit or map product such as Topo, City Navigator and MetroGuide will not have MapSource CD or DVD installer. If you for some reason need to install MapSource on your computer, there is a workaround trick to get MapSource for free.

Garmin officially provides a MapSource version update download, which will only work if there is previous version of MapSource installed. If no MapSource software is detected, the MapSource update setup will abort with error message saying that it cannot find previous version of MapSource. Follow the following trick to hack the setup file so that it can be used to install MapSource clean and fresh without any prior installation of MapSource.

Download MapSource software updater from Garmin. The version as of December 4, 2007 is 6.13.6, and the trick also works on Map Source version 6.13.5.
Unpack or extract the content of MapSource_6136.exe
downloaded using WinRAR.
From the extracted files, run MAIN.msi or MSMAIN.msi.
Then, run Setup.exe.
Note: The sequence to execute Main.msi and then Setup.exe is important to avoid “Previous MapSource not found!” error.
Garmin MapSource now installed.

Felix also provided another hack to install Garmin MapSource without CD disc.

Create a folder named Garmin on local C: drive.
Inside the C:\Garmin folder, create or rename a file as MapSource.exe.
Install the MapSouce by running downloaded MapSource installation executable, MapSoruce_XXXX.exe such as MapSource_6156.exe.

Method above proved to work on almost all version of MapSource, including MapSource version 6.15.11 and version 6.16.0.3 Beta.

The trick is useful is you have lost or forgotten the MapSource installation disc and wants to upload and download maps and other data to Garmin GPS receivers, or for GPS addicts who needs Map Source to open files in gdb, mps, gpx and loc formats, create waypoints, routes and tracks; view maps especially free maps; save point, route or track data in gdb, mps, gpx, tab-delimited text and DXF formats; and export waypoint, route and track data directly to Google Earth.

However, if you have any Garmin maps, installing the maps will also install the original and genuine copy of MapSource.

Tip: If free maps is not found or not shown after installed, just install a free authorized base map to MapSource to get all other free maps to show and display in MapSource.

132 Comments

Jonathan January 27, 2012 at 6:30 pm

Thanks, the garmin.exe trick really works.

Reply
kola January 20, 2012 at 1:54 am

COOL !

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Jota January 19, 2012 at 7:31 am

Gracias GENIO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ….lo unico que funciono!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! …no pierdan tiempo con el Training es un verso…esto anda barbaro

Reply
Rustem January 14, 2012 at 3:59 am

Genius! Thanks a lot!

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J January 6, 2012 at 2:19 am

Still works 1/4/2012

However, if you have a jump drive or an external drive / other drives running it seems to like to install to them first. It took me a while to find the actual files, but found them on an external drive I had plugged in for backup. A simple Copy Paste to my C: Drive worked, just remember to update your shortcuts in the Start Menu.

Thanks!

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Rosario December 8, 2011 at 9:43 pm

Excelent tip!! Thank you so much!!!

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Michael November 25, 2011 at 9:18 pm

Thanks so much for posting this information. Your instructions worked perfectly.

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Danny November 25, 2011 at 12:23 am

Hi! When I run the MapSource_6163.exe, I get a message saying Previous MapSources not found, setup will terminate…. can someone help me on this please.

d.

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- Michael November 25, 2011 at 9:26 pm
  
  Danny, you are making a mistake. You do not run that exe file.
  Delete that partitcular file.
  Then go to point #1 in the instructions above and download file from the link to “Garmin”.
  
  This will give you a slightly different named exe file than the one you just deleted. Now don’t run this file. Instead open it with an unzip program. This will result in you getting a list of files..
  
  Next, double click the MAIN.msi file causing it to run.
  Then double click the Setup.exe and select appropriately any choices that come up on the screen.
  Voila! There you have it.
  
  Reply
Claudio October 1, 2011 at 5:41 am

Thanks you very much. Excellent trick!! Worked just fine.

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- Danny November 25, 2011 at 12:21 am
  
  Hi! When I run the MapSource_6163.exe, I get a message saying Previous MapSources not found, setup will terminate…. can someone help me on this please.
  
  d.
  
  Reply
Jaririss September 14, 2011 at 9:54 am

Thank's man, this trick really WORKS!!! Installed in Win 7

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wapssou August 7, 2011 at 2:00 pm

Great it work's on MapSource_6163.exe. thanks

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Micky Docky August 4, 2011 at 12:27 pm

Think, i've download the file, i'd instal it later

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Guillermo June 4, 2011 at 1:31 am

Thanks for the steps, this is working now!

G.

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Marc May 20, 2011 at 11:20 pm

Great, thanks for the advice! Installed without problem on Microsoft XP. I also downloaded BaseCamp from Garmin, that is offered by Garmin for free. I tested yesterday and was quite impressed how easy it is to use. Now I am curious what is offered by MapSource.

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Alex May 14, 2011 at 8:53 am

I first tried Felix' hack and it failed. I then downloaded the newest version (6.16.3) and then winrar.exe and this method worked a treat. Please note, however, that the link provided for winrar is incorrect, it should be: http://www.rarlab.com/download.htm

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calin May 13, 2011 at 10:44 pm

works for me (MapSource 6163), but MapInstall doesn,t work, it says: "Install Map Source", I think doesn't recognize Map Source

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johan April 20, 2011 at 2:48 pm

Still works! Just opened MapSource 6.16.3 Thanks!

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- Julie April 29, 2011 at 7:12 am
  
  How do I exract the files to run MAIN.msi first without actually runing MapSource.exe? I downloaded the file to the desktop. When I righ clik on it there is no extract option. When I click on it, it runs the .exe file
  
  Reply
telloraptor April 15, 2011 at 12:56 pm

Hey,that 100% work's fine, THANKS

Reply
Amir April 7, 2011 at 12:15 pm

Works like a charm!

Thanks a lot for the help!

Reply
Tomas Robledo March 27, 2011 at 5:10 pm

HEY GUYS! muchas gracias por el articulo… estuve mucho tiempo tratando de encontar una forma de instalar el programa y su pagina fue la única capaz de ayudarme. Ahora puedo ocupar bien mi GPS THANKS TO YOU!!

C=

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Bernd March 24, 2011 at 10:00 am

Wonderful it worked at once. Thank you ladies and guys )))

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talal March 17, 2011 at 6:26 am

where to download it

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kola` March 7, 2011 at 9:43 am

it works , thank you.

now i need where to download europe map…

Reply
awsrewtt February 27, 2011 at 12:00 am

Works perfect with newist Mapsource…..Thanks!

Reply
Jessie February 23, 2011 at 4:56 pm

WOW….works just like magic!

Reply
Garmin gpsmap 78sc - Page 2 - SailNet Community February 15, 2011 at 12:02 am

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jaca February 13, 2011 at 10:54 am

very good article thanks for helping me get a good map

Reply
MICHAEL January 29, 2011 at 5:23 pm

Hi, I tried to follow your advice referring MAPSOURCE. But always the message "…not found…" comes up. I am on MS OS Windows 7 Prof. Please, advice.

Reply
draptik January 2, 2011 at 7:45 am

Thanks! Method 1 also works when installing MapSource 6.16.3 under Linux with Wine1.3

Reply

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Download Garmin MapSource for Free and Install Without Media

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