How to Export Waypoints from Humminbird and Use Them on Lowrance or Garmin

Transferring waypoints between different fish finder brands is not automatic. Humminbird units store waypoint data in a different format than Lowrance or Garmin. The process requires exporting, converting, and re-importing the file correctly.

This guide walks through that process step by step.

What You Need Before Starting

• SD or microSD card (2GB–32GB)
• A computer running Windows (for HumminbirdPC)
• Existing waypoints, routes, or tracks on your Humminbird unit

Humminbird units export waypoint data as .HWR files. These must be converted to .GPX format to work on other brands.

Step 1: Export Waypoints from Your Humminbird Unit

1. Insert your SD card into the unit
2. Open the menu and navigate to:
   • Nav → Waypoints, Routes, Tracks
3. Select:
   • Options → Select All → Export
4. Confirm the export

The unit will save:

• Waypoints as a DATA.HWR file
• Tracks as separate .HT files

Wait for the export bar to complete before removing the SD card.

Step 2: Open Files in HumminbirdPC

On your Windows computer:

1. Download and open HumminbirdPC
2. Insert your SD card
3. Go to:
   • File → Open
4. Select the DATA.HWR file

The software will load your waypoints into a viewable format.

If you open track files (.HT), each one represents a single track.

Step 3: Convert to GPX Format

Once the file is open:

1. Right-click the file
2. Select Save As
3. Choose file type: .GPX
4. Save it directly to your SD card

This converts your Humminbird data into a format compatible with other units.

You can:

• Export only waypoints
• Combine waypoints and tracks into one GPX file
• Keep files separate for better organization

Step 4: Import the GPX File into Lowrance or Garmin

1. Insert the SD card into your unit
2. Open:
   • Storage / Files / Memory Card
3. Select the GPX file
4. Choose Import

Your waypoints will now appear on the unit.

What Transfers and What Doesn’t

Transfers correctly:

• Waypoint names
• GPS coordinates
• Tracks and routes (without breaks)

May not transfer exactly:

• Icons

Icons often default to standard symbols on the new unit. This does not affect location accuracy.

Optional: Clean Up or Edit Your Data

Inside HumminbirdPC, you can:

• Rename waypoints
• Adjust coordinates
• Organize files before exporting

For larger waypoint libraries, separating files by lake or trip keeps imports cleaner.

You can also use our GPX filtering tool or our GPX to CSV tool to help you filter by region or change names and icons for waypoints. 

Common Issues

SD card not recognized

• Must be 32GB or smaller

File won’t open on computer

• Ensure you are selecting the .HWR file, not the SD card folder itself

Waypoints show but look different

• This is usually just icon differences between brands

Final Setup Tip

Once your waypoints are loaded, your unit is only as effective as your settings and interpretation. If your screen is cluttered or hard to read, adjusting gain, color, and filtering settings changes how clearly you see structure and fish.

The conversion process gets your data onto the unit. Proper setup determines how usable that data is on the water.