You can use optional memory cards with the chartplotter. Map cards allow you to view high-resolution satellite imagery and aerial reference photos of ports, harbors, marinas, and other points of interest. You can use blank memory cards to record Garmin Quickdraw™ Contours mapping, record sonar (with a compatible transducer), transfer data such as waypoints and routes to another compatible chartplotter or a computer, and use the ActiveCaptain^® app.

The memory card slots for all GPSMAP^® 9000 series chartplotters are located on the back of the device and are compatible with microSD^® memory cards. A GPSMAP 9500 black box chartplotter does not have a built-in memory card slot, and you must instead use an external card reader. You can also connect an external card reader to a GPSMAP 9000 series chartplotter if the installation makes it difficult to access the built-in memory card slots on the back. The external card reader is compatible with either SD^® memory cards or microSD memory cards using an SD adapter.

Use of an 8 GB or larger memory card with speed class 10 is recommended. As of software version 34.00, the internal card readers on GPSMAP 9000 series chartplotters support up to 1 TB memory cards, formatted to exFAT with speed class 10 or higher.