How to Use a USB Flash Drive to Listen to Music in a Car?

[DelCollin]

First, download your favorite songs to the USB flash drive in MP3 format. Then, insert the USB flash drive into the multimedia USB port of the vehicle. In the multimedia system, locate the media player, select the USB flash drive path, open the folder, and choose the song to play.

[TessaDella]

I usually enjoy listening to music via USB drive while driving, and the method is quite simple: First, format the USB drive to FAT32 (as NTFS might not be recognized by the car stereo), then download MP3 songs and save them directly in the root directory—avoid too many nested folders for easier access. After plugging it into the car’s USB port, wait for the stereo to auto-detect it; usually, you can switch to USB mode in the media source to view the playlist. Steering wheel controls make skipping tracks super convenient, and some cars even display album art. Remember not to use excessively large USB drives—32GB is generally enough, as bigger ones may slow down read speeds. I always keep two USB drives in rotation, and my personal playlist is a great stress-reliever during traffic jams.

[JohnnyFitz]

Last time I borrowed a friend's car and found his USB drive couldn't play music. Actually, using USB drives for music depends on car model compatibility. First check if the USB format is correct - older car models recommend using FAT32 format USB drives under 8GB. Avoid using newer music file formats like FLAC lossless which many cars don't support. After plugging into the USB port, don't rush to operate - wait until the infotainment screen shows the USB icon before clicking the media menu. If it fails to read, try replugging. High temperatures in summer can also affect reading when the USB gets hot. I've been using Sandisk Cruzer Fit series for years - its compact size doesn't block space, and the key is putting popular songs in separate folders for quick access while driving.

[ChristianDella]

When I first got my new car, I didn't understand how to play music from a USB drive either, but the actual operation turned out to be simpler than expected: Find an unused USB drive, format it to FAT32, download dozens of MP3 format songs (keep the bitrate under 320kbps), and just drop them directly into the root directory. Plug it into the USB port in the center console, and after starting the engine, the central display will pop up with a USB device notification. Switch the audio source to USB to start playing, and you can use the buttons on the right side of the steering wheel to skip tracks or adjust the volume. Make sure the USB drive is inserted securely, as vibrations while driving can cause poor contact. Now, I specifically store some copyright-free old songs on my USB drive, which saves a lot more data than streaming music online.