There are several causes for this problem if you have connected a cell phone like Samsung galaxy S2 S3 or S4, or an Apple iPhone but if you have connected just a simple memory stick your issue is likely caused by a simple issue with formatting. Most memory sticks are quick large and so often they are formatted with NTFS. Ford Sync does not support
Now you can copy you still pictures and music onto that USB memory stick and when you plug it into your Ford Sync car or truck, it will be recognized.
NTFS has many advantages over FAT32, but Ford Sync does not support it… so just use a FAT32 formatted stick and be happy!
This website uses cookies.
View Comments
I tried reformatting my USB Drive using FAT format, and that fix failed.
The only thing that consistently works Sync equipped 2012 Mustang is to copy all my music content onto a brand new USB (USB doesn't have to be new; it just has to be never inserted into your Ford's USB port before), and when USB is plugged into port, Sync immediately initializes.
As a software developer by vocation, it looks like there's a bug in the Sync software that won't allow software to detect content modifications to a USB drive that has already been initialized.
I couldn't play music on my thumb drive in my 14 mustang until I did this. 1) Uncheck "quick format" when formatting to fat32. It takes longer of coarse . 2) I placed my music files in a folder and titled it music. Then I loaded my music files into that. Got it! Im not sure which one of the two things I did worked because I did them both at the same time. But hey it works now.
Meant Master Reset of the Ford Sync/Radio.
I did the master reset on the drive to no avail. Then went to the Install Applications and got a Error FIle not found on Storage Device. Frustrating, brand new environment with efat format USB Disk.
Your instructions helped a ton. It updated first time around. Thanks for your help
For sync update tried 8 of my flash drives, formatted all to fat32, and kept getting unsupported, did a master reset, then pulled power by removing battery Neg, still same. Formatted using HP format tool in fat32, now get doesn't see files, so instead of using their way with sync USB, I went system settings, advanced and install application, and sync voice came on an said updating, complete, then I knew to wait for the next complete, about 8mins and screen showed install complete. Worth a try. odiebugs
Using Advanced then install, whatever worked. took about 10 minutes
odiebugs you are a life saver. going to system settings was the only thing that worked. I have been searching for ever and used at least 5 different usb drives trying to get this update done.
Thanks,
Ken
Your input helped a ton, maybe Ford should have consulted you before they put out their directions on how to update.
Ford SYNC DOES recognize ex-FAT. I loaded a huge number of files onto a Kingston 1 TB drive, no problems reading initially. Then some of the files went "missing." They were still on the flash drive but not recognized by SYNC.
If this happens, try a Master Reset of SYNC first. This should fix the problem in 9 of 10 cases. If it does not, take the car to a dealer and get a "hard reset" done.
If some files are still missing, load fewer files onto the drive.
Tried this and it still doesn't work. Also does not work with Ipod Shuffle, so effectively it is not recognising USB.