Rewriting the SD card puts fresh software on your map. Use it to update to the latest version, or to reset the map when something doesn’t work. It takes about 30 minutes, most of it waiting for the download.

What you need #

• A Windows PC or Mac with an SD card slot or a USB SD card reader. Phones and tablets can’t do this.
• About 8 GB of free space on the computer for the download.
• The SD card from your map (see how to take it out), or a new card with 16 GB or more.
• The free program balenaEtcher.

Changed any settings or airports? Back up your config files first. Rewriting the card resets everything to how the map came from us.

1. Download the software for your map #

1. Go to the map files page and find your map by its picture and name.
2. Click Download file here next to it. The file is about 7.5 GB and ends in .img, so this can take a while. Don’t open the file; balenaEtcher uses it as it is.

2. Install balenaEtcher #

1. Open etcher.balena.io and download the version for your computer (Windows or Mac).
2. Install it like any other program.

3. Write the card #

1. Unplug the map, take out the SD card and put it into your computer or card reader. If Windows asks to format the card, click Cancel.
2. Open balenaEtcher.
3. Click Flash from file and choose the .img file you downloaded (usually in your Downloads folder).
4. Click Select target and tick your SD card. Check the size: it should match your card (for example 16 GB or 32 GB). Everything on the selected drive is erased, so never pick your computer’s own disk or a USB backup drive.
5. Click Flash!. On Windows, click Yes when it asks for permission; on a Mac, enter your Mac password.
6. Wait until it says Flash Completed!. Writing and checking the card takes 10 to 20 minutes.
7. Take the card out. If Windows now asks to format the card, click Cancel again: that is normal, the card is fine.

4. Put the card back and set up the map #

1. Put the card back into the map and plug it in.
2. The first start takes a few minutes longer than usual. Then set up the WiFi.
3. If you made your own changes, load your backed-up config files.

Something went wrong? #

• balenaEtcher doesn’t show the card: take it out and put it back in, or try another card reader. Check that the small lock switch on the side of the card is not in the “Lock” position.
• Flashing fails or the check fails: download the file again (it may be incomplete) and try once more. If it fails again, the card may be worn out; try a new one.
• The map doesn’t start with the new card: look at the legend LEDs and compare them with the status codes.

Prefer to watch? Here is a short video of balenaEtcher in action. Still stuck? Email us at [email protected].