Garmin City Navigator Maps On Non Automobile Devices
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    19 years
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I have been looking at possibly buying a Garmin bicycle GPS. The Garmin Edge 1050 checks a lot of the boxes for me. Unlike automotive Garmins, it does not have City Navigator Maps preinstalled on it.
If I were to purchase the Garmin Edge 1050, I might be inclined to install City Navigator on it. The interesting thing that I am running across is whether Garmin City Navigator purchased this way includes Lifetime Maps.
This is what Google gave me.
No, not all Garmin City Navigator maps are lifetime. While many modern automotive devices include lifetime maps, standalone City Navigator map products (DVDs/SD cards) or older devices often require separate, one-time, or subscription-based updates, and lifetime updates are not available for all models, particularly discontinued outdoor/marine units.
Key details regarding City Navigator maps:
Lifetime Definition: "Lifetime" maps refer to the useful life of a single, specific device (up to 30 years) or as long as Garmin receives map data from a third-party supplier, whichever is shorter.
Not All-Inclusive: Some City Navigator North America NT maps do not come with a lifetime subscription.
Discontinued Support: Lifetime Map Updates (LMU) and one-time updates are no longer available for purchase or activation on many older Garmin devices due to memory limitations.
Non-Transferable: Lifetime map subscriptions cannot be transferred to another person or a different Garmin device.
Updated via Garmin Express: Eligible devices receive map updates through the Garmin Express software.
If a map update is needed for an older device, it may be necessary to check for compatibility with Garmin Express to see if updates are still available for that specific model.
Someone on the Garmin Forums reached out to support and reported this:
Asking support, I got two different answers. First, only automotive products received lifetime City Navigator updates.. and second, any device that includes City Navigator installed on the device, will receive lifetime City Navigator updates. Looks like the second one is true.
Can anybody on here shed any additional light into this?
To be blunt, if I were to buy a Garmin Edge 1050, I would only consider buying and installing City Navigator on it if it had Lifetime map updates.
ancient history
I put a City Navigator on a handheld, an ETREX Vista HX I think. It crashed frequently and Garmin gave me a Nuvi 40. I currently have a GPSMAP with an '08 (?) version of City Navigator and it was satisfactory. I haven't used it in ages.
What about TopoActive?
To be blunt, if I were to buy a Garmin Edge 1050, I would only consider buying and installing City Navigator on it if it had Lifetime map updates.
I believe the Edge series includes Garmin Cycle maps (preloaded on the unit) but those have been discontinued by Garmin and will be replaced by TopoActive maps when you update the maps. TopoActive maps are typically updated 2-3 times a year but that varies...2025 only saw one update: v2025.10
Unless you will be using the Edge 1050 in a car and NEED City Navigator specifically, the TopoActive maps will likely be a better option for you and they will be included at no charge with the Edge device. Updates are free and you can select & load various different regions, even in different countries such as Europe. TopoActive will route correctly on a bike or pedestrian & trails as long as you don't try to use an Automotive profile. If you try, the unit will state that the TopoActive maps will not route for that profile as they are not verified/validated by Garmin since they are based on OpenStreet maps and not City Navigator's map vendor "Here". TopoActive maps will also be larger in size because they lack Garmin's "NT" (New Technology) map compression system.
As you've eluded to, if you DO purchase City Navigator maps, that mapset will be it as far as what will be current since there are no free updates. To update the maps, you need to repurchase City Navigator.
nuvi 760, nuvi 765T, nuvi 855, nuvi 3790LMT, nuvi 3490LMT - SoCal area
Garmin City Navigator Maps On Non Automobile Devices
I believe the Edge series includes Garmin Cycle maps (preloaded on the unit) but those have been discontinued by Garmin and will be replaced by TopoActive maps when you update the maps. TopoActive maps are typically updated 2-3 times a year but that varies...2025 only saw one update: v2025.10
Unless you will be using the Edge 1050 in a car and NEED City Navigator specifically, the TopoActive maps will likely be a better option for you and they will be included at no charge with the Edge device. Updates are free and you can select & load various different regions, even in different countries such as Europe. TopoActive will route correctly on a bike or pedestrian & trails as long as you don't try to use an Automotive profile. If you try, the unit will state that the TopoActive maps will not route for that profile as they are not verified/validated by Garmin since they are based on OpenStreet maps and not City Navigator's map vendor "Here". TopoActive maps will also be larger in size because they lack Garmin's "NT" (New Technology) map compression system.
As you've eluded to, if you DO purchase City Navigator maps, that mapset will be it as far as what will be current since there are no free updates. To update the maps, you need to repurchase City Navigator.
Thank you for the reply.
Hello
Hello
From the Garmin website...
From the Garmin website page for TopoActive map updates:
Effective May 7, 2025, Garmin Cycle Maps for Edge® cycling computers and Garmin® watches are being discontinued. The same mapping content will now be included in our TopoActive maps and can be purchased or downloaded on compatible devices. For more information on Garmin TopoActive maps, see TopoActive Maps on Garmin Watches or Verifying the Maps Installed on a Garmin Edge Device.
Quoted from:
https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=LR6HR5Xul6A9zoxySC5KM9
nuvi 760, nuvi 765T, nuvi 855, nuvi 3790LMT, nuvi 3490LMT - SoCal area