Hello all, I have found the comments in various threads very helpful in (eventually) updating the maps in my Karoq from 2018 to the latest '2025/26' version so I thought I would reiterate and run through the whole process here step by step whilst avoiding the pitfalls -- one or two of which I have myself encountered and overcome by patiently sifting through comments scattered throughout the forum threads.

So, the summary steps:

1/ Go to the Skoda update portal and type in your VIN (doublecheck it!) and then click the 'search' magnifying glass.

https://updateportal.skoda-auto.com/en-GB

2/ It will bring up the latest map appropriate for your vehicle hardware -- whether Amundsen or Columbus -- so you don't even have to figure out which one you have. (Mine is Columbus).

Download the offered file to a suitable directory on your hard disk. It is many gigabytes in size so depending on your internet speed (and how much Skoda servers bottleneck the many downloads they have to cope with) it may take many minutes to several hours. (For me it took 2hrs - after a first attempt which failed - note if your computer goes into sleep mode, it may not resume download after waking). It will be a zipped file.

3/ Prepare a memory device (SD card or USB stick) to transfer the files to the car. NB! Here lies one of the pitfalls which made mine fail the first couple of occasions. The Navigation hardware in the car is VERY FUSSY about the file format used on the transfer memory device. The memory device MUST have a file system with the 'default' or 'standard' cluster size. Manufacturers of different brands 'adjust' the cluster size when sold. For example, I had a 64gb SanDisk USB stick (a very reputable brand) which came with a FAT file system. Now, FAT file systems are not supposed to be used for memory devices larger than 32gb but SanDisk had adjusted the cluster size to make it work. My Windows 10 computer (and others) wrote and read from it fine, but the car Navigation hardware did not recognise or find any of the files on it and update failed.

Hence the essential NEED to re-FORMAT your memory device. On Windows 10, this was automatically re-formatted to have the exFAT file system with the 'standard' cluster size etc.

4/ With the freshly Formatted USB stick or SD card, insert it into your computer and extract the zipped file you downloaded from Skoda to the root directory of the USB/SDcard. The extract function in the Win 10 File Explorer works fine to do this. There must be NO OTHER extraneous files on the USB/SDcard. The root directory of the USB/SDcard will now contain just 3 entries -- folder MiB1 (and its subdirectories), folder MiB2, and metainfo2.txt. Don't mess about with any of these files (-- but see other threads about !bad! Apple computers adding !hidden! extra bits to files which you have to remove).

5/ At the car, preferably first charge the car battery with an external charger till it has a good charge. If it has a RESTING voltage of at least 12.65v measured at the battery BUT at least 2-3hr AFTER everything has been switched off (not even opening a door - leave the bonnet unlatched for access) then it has a good state of charge (80%+). Any little current draw from a lead-acid battery will alter the voltage for an hour or two.

6/ Insert your USB/SDcard into the car, switch on the ignition and bring up the Navigation map screen. At the bottom of this screen select Settings. This brings up navigation settings, select Version Info, at bottom of Version Info you can now select 'Update-SD/USB'. It will then say 'searching for update files'. If you have done everything right so far, it will then offer you the version it has found on your USB/SDcard (....or frustratingly say 'no update files found'!) Select 'Next' and 'Software update in progress' will then run slowly and steadily from 0% to 100%. DURING this update, you can switch off the ignition and close the car doors -- but as another poster (Till) says, you must open a car door periodically at least every 15 min to keep the Nav and Infotainment system awake as it goes to sleep about 20min after the last door opening and the update will stop (temporarily). The whole upload to the SatNav in the car, for me, took 50min to finish. You could drive around in the car during this time but the update will probably take longer as the Infotainment system will also be tied up doing other things.

Note that at 100%, there is a long pause where nothing seems to happen. This is normal.

7/ After 'Software update complete', select 'OK' & it will just return to the normal Navigation map screen. There was no need to 'reboot' or anything else - as some posters have reported.

I hope this helps, and good luck!

From my experience, the maps in the update portal are usually one version ahead of the most recent...and the update can be performed while driving. Repeated interruptions, etc., don't make any difference.

This ist the newest Version:

https://infotainment-cdn.skoda-auto.com/base/maps/HIGH2_P410_EU_202522.zip

In this case, Skoda is even currently

In Australia we dont have over the air updates so have to download as has been said.

Been doing that for 10 years or more. Doesnt matter if car turns off the update will resume when you restart it. Can also use the map file from VW portal and you dont need a VIN on there. Been cross swapping for years as one is often ahead of the other. As for file formats Fat 32 is just that and I have never seen a card different except by using a program called guiformatx64 or similar which will format larger cards in Fat32. Have been doing this since 2010 in my dashcams which only run Fat32 and 32Gb capacity. However I am running 200GB cards formatted in Fat 32. As far as the rest is concerned all those instructions are on the portal . The bit about must be a blank card is not true either as for past 6 years I have used a card that has 1200 music tracks on it and I just load the maps onto the root and it finds them and does the job. Other " Experts" have said it wont do that. Yeah right Have done it at least 10 times with both MIB2.5 (2019 Tiguan) and MIB3 2021 Kamiq.

How to tell if it has upgraded. Go to system information and look at map version Check afterwards to see if it has changed.

Lastly the map definitions are NOT in a logical digital order as 21.1 21.2 21. 4 etc as in progam iterations. They are in a date format so usually come out as 24.6 June 24 and then 24.11 November 24. Last one for AUS is 24.11 If I remember correctly. Cant be bothered going out to garage to check LOL

Edited 16 July, 202516 Jul by Exkiwi

Should have said that cards need to be formatted in ExFat nowadays

I believe the memory device limitation is due to the fact that a 32 bit operating system can only address a 4Gb memory space and therefore puts limits on how many clusters in the file system it can keep track of. The allowed number of clusters in the FAT32 system does not permit a 'standard' FAT32 file system as defined by Microsoft (who has also licenced it to various other companies) to be larger than 32GB. It can only be larger than 32GB by making each individual cluster larger. Hence Exkiwi's 200GB FAT32 memory card. Windows 10 is optionally (by user choice) a 64bit operating system and therefore can read the 'non-standard' FAT32 file systems but I don't think that that 200GB card can be read in an older (eg. MS-DOS) computer. Presumably Microsoft has kept the 32GB limit to allow use in any older 32bit operating system.

Perhaps the Karoq's Sat-Nav has a 32bit operating system -- or is programmed to only recognise 'conventional' memory devices. At least in older cars like mine. Note: SanDisk 64GB USB sticks as sold, have a 'non-standard' FAT32 filesystem, until reformatted.

Apple computers cannot fully make use of FAT32 filesystems, but can use exFAT, so exFAT is a useful file system for interchangeability between Apple/Mac, Windows and Linux operating systems.

Here is a very interesting video from the actual, original designer of the FAT32 'limitation'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bikbJPI-7Kg

7 hours ago, warmrain said:

I believe the memory device limitation is due to the fact that a 32 bit operating system can only address a 4Gb memory space and therefore puts limits on how many clusters in the file system it can keep track of. The allowed number of clusters in the FAT32 system does not permit a 'standard' FAT32 file system as defined by Microsoft (who has also licenced it to various other companies) to be larger than 32GB. It can only be larger than 32GB by making each individual cluster larger. Hence Exkiwi's 200GB FAT32 memory card. Windows 10 is optionally (by user choice) a 64bit operating system and therefore can read the 'non-standard' FAT32 file systems but I don't think that that 200GB card can be read in an older (eg. MS-DOS) computer. Presumably Microsoft has kept the 32GB limit to allow use in any older 32bit operating system.

Perhaps the Karoq's Sat-Nav has a 32bit operating system -- or is programmed to only recognise 'conventional' memory devices. At least in older cars like mine. Note: SanDisk 64GB USB sticks as sold, have a 'non-standard' FAT32 filesystem, until reformatted.

Apple computers cannot fully make use of FAT32 filesystems, but can use exFAT, so exFAT is a useful file system for interchangeability between Apple/Mac, Windows and Linux operating systems.

Here is a very interesting video from the actual, original designer of the FAT32 'limitation'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bikbJPI-7Kg

Who has a old DOS computer these days. I tried a larger card after I found the formatting program and it works fine. The camera obviously is oblivious to the capacity as it just keeps recording until full and then over writes . Later versions of the camera makers own software will actually also format the larger cards as Fat32 as I have stuck them in the newer cameras and formatted them and then read them on the computer and capacity is the same etc. Was done years ago when the cameras had just come out and werent fully developed and would only speak Korean until we figured out a way to get them to speak English.

However off the subject as the cards for the VAG maps work with ExFat nowadays so all that doesnt matter. Have found as long as you put the files in the root it finds them and installs them regardless of what else is on the card.

Just a quick clarification needed for 2018 Karoq SE L with 8.2" Amundsen system.

There are two SD card slots. SD1 already had a Skoda-branded SD card titled 'Europe 1'. SD2 is empty.

Do I need to remove the existing Skoda SD card from SD1 and replace it with the one I have formatted and put the new maps on? Or do I use SD2 instead and leave the Skoda SD card in SD1 slot?

If I'm using SD1 for the new SD card and maps, what is SD2 for?

Thanks.

My understanding from comments on other threads is that the Amundsen system runs directly from the maps stored on the Skoda branded SD card and if that is removed and replaced with any other brand of card it will not work because the Skoda card has some sort of secret special marking on it. So my suggestion would be to insert your SD card with the update files on it into the second slot (which I presume is normally for entertainment media files) and then let the system update the Skoda card from your new update files. (Unless the Skoda SD card is locked against writing.)

If the update function says it "cannot find any Update Files", you could copy the contents of your update SDcard over to a exFAT formatted USB stick and put that into the USB slot instead.

I have a Columbus system myself with a blank SD card slot and therefore I imagine my system stores its working maps in some sort of internal memory instead.

My confusion comes from Skoda's own guidance manual - https://updateportal.skoda-auto.com/Download/amundsen_MIB_2.pdf.

Instruction 1 says:

"Withdraw the Skoda original SD Card from your vehicle. This card has a security

chip, so other cards will not work. Please note that the Infotainment unit will

load maps from the SD card.

- Recommended SD card size is 32GB."

But instruction 7 says:

"Insert your SD card back into your SD card reader inside your vehicle

(Does not matter which one you will choose – Slot 1 or Slot 2).

- Once you insert the SD card the map will show."

So... no other card will work, but take it out anyway and use another card! :)

I can but try...

Thanks for suggestions so far.

Just a thought...

Can I use a Micro SD card in an SD card with adapter?

And, having read back through a number of threads, some are saying categorically that you have to reformat the Skoda SD card because no other will work.

Yet the update instructions from the update portal seem to suggest that you can use any 32gb or 64gb card.

So confusing!

I've had an Amundsen for 9 years so I hope I can clarify:

1) You MUST use a Skoda branded SD card.

2) Amundsen reads the maps directly from the SD card.

3) Having 2 map SD cards inserted at the same time can confuse the Amundsen, what I do is buy a Skoda SD card from eBay then quick format it and copy the unzipped new maps onto it. When done remove the existing SD card from slot 1 and insert the new one, and wait for it to be recognised...

This has worked for me for the twice yearly updates since 2016.

Thanks.

Just removed Skoda SD card and put it into PC. Capacity only 14.8 GB, of which 12.7GB is the 'maps' folder on it. There is nothing else in the root directory.

The European maps from the update site is 17GB, so I guess I will need to find a 32GB Skoda SD card - although no-one seems to mention the card capacity when they list them on eBay.

My card is 5L0 051 236AH. Most listed cards are the same. A few are 5L0 051 236 BA. But there is no indication of how these are different to the ones ending 'AH'.

Not sure how I'm supposed to find a 32GB Skoda SD card...

1 hour ago, Nibbos said:

Not sure how I'm supposed to find a 32GB Skoda SD card...

Keep looking on eBay, SOME sellers do list the size - but check it as soon as it arrives, the first"32GB" card I bought was actually 16GB so I returned it for a refund but the second one was 32GB.