Kia owners love their vehicles’ built-in navigation systems, which make it easy for drivers to get to their destinations. The Kia navigation system provides you with the fastest route by helping you avoid potential obstacles and promotes safe driving through convenient screen placement and verbal instructions. Additionally, you don’t have to worry about the system dying or losing your data.
Whether you own a Kia or want to purchase one, you might be unaware that its navigation system requires regular updates. Installing the newest version keeps your system functional and ensures you have access to the latest maps. Here at Huffines Kia McKinney, we have plenty of experience updating Kia navigation systems. This simple guide can help you install the latest update regardless of the model you have.
Get a USB Flash Drive or SD Card
Kia navigation systems require you to have either a USB flash drive or an SD card to perform an update. You can pick the right one by determining your navigation system version. For instance, Premium Gen5 Navigation and Standard Gen5W Navigation require you to use a USB flash drive. A 2.0 or 3.0 flash drive should do the trick, but the latter can facilitate a smoother transfer of the large files an update requires. Additionally, it’s important to ensure that your USB drive is free of contact wear so it can maintain a stable connection.
If your vehicle has Premium Gen2 Navigation, Standard Gen5 Navigation, or Standard Gen4 Navigation, you’ll need to get an SD card. Compatible SD cards have a storage capacity of at least 32GB and support speed levels of UHS-I or above. Additionally, the SD card should have a FAT32 file system and speed class of over 10Mb/s.
If you’re unsure which system version you have, follow the steps below. Note that they may vary slightly depending on your vehicle:
- Go to “Settings” in your vehicle’s on-screen menu.
- Select “System Information.”
- Select “SW Information” or “SW Settings.”
- Select “System Information.”
- Select “Version Information” and note which version your vehicle uses.
Download Navigator Updater
After you get the appropriate USB flash drive or SD card, it’s time to download Navigator Updater. This installation program from Kia is free to download and available for Windows and Mac users. Visit the Kia navigation updates page to ensure your computer meets the recommended operating system and web browser specifications, then download the appropriate application.
If you have a Windows computer, you’ll follow these steps:
- Click the “For Windows” download button.
- Select your region and click “Next.”
- Select “Kia” and click “Next.”
- Select your language and click “Next.”
- Review the licensing terms, select the radio button next to “Accept,” and click “Next.”
- Select the location where you want to save the program and click “Next.”
Mac users will follow these steps to download Navigator Updater:
- Click the “For Mac” download button.
- Select your region and click “Next.”
- Select “Kia” and click “Next.”
- Select your language and click “Next.”
- Review the licensing terms, select the radio button next to “Accept,” and click “Next.”
- Click “Complete.”
When you initially try to download Navigator Updater on Mac, your computer might display a pop-up warning message. In this case, open “System Preferences” and click “Security & Privacy.” Under the “General” tab, click the “Open Anyway” button next to the warning near the bottom. Click “Open,” then proceed with the above steps as usual.
Launch Navigator Updater
Launch the Navigator Updater app on your computer. You may have to search for the app, or it might appear as a desktop icon on your home screen. Once the app is open, log in by entering your email address and password. Those using a personal computer can check the boxes next to “Remember Email/Password” and “Auto-Login” to streamline future updates. If you’ve never created a Kia account, you can go to the manufacturer’s website to make one or click the “Guest Login” button to use the app as an unregistered user.
Download Updated Software
In the Navigation Updater app, search for your system version and select the appropriate one from the drop-down menu. Alternatively, you can search for your vehicle’s model and choose the corresponding model and year from the drop-down menu. Then, click “OK” to view the vehicle’s information. If you use the account that you used to register your vehicles, you can immediately select your vehicle from the list and click “OK.”
Verify that the vehicle is the one you want to update, and click “Change Vehicle” if you need to do so. Select where you want to save the updated files and click “Next.” Note that the location you choose in this step will be like a hard disk that temporarily saves the data. Verify that the hard disk has enough storage before you proceed. Click “OK.”
After downloading the updated file, plug your USB flash drive or SD card into your computer. Click “Copy to SD Card” or “Copy to USB” and click “Open Folder” to check the saved files.
Complete the Update
The final step requires bringing your USB flash drive or SD card to your vehicle. Turn your car on and ensure it’s in an outdoor location where it can safely idle while the update occurs. The data transfer might be unsuccessful if you start or stop the engine during the update.
Then, insert your USB flash drive or SD card into the appropriate slot. The next steps vary depending on your system version, but you’ll want to navigate to the “SW Info” tab on your screen and select “Update.” After several minutes, your vehicle’s system should access the latest maps.
Many people put off updating their Kia navigation systems, but the process is more straightforward than it sounds. The little effort is worth the benefits you experience from up-to-date maps. If you need help updating your system, feel free to contact Huffines Kia McKinney today. We can also help you find a new Kia vehicle with advanced features beyond a state-of-the-art navigation system.