Why can't the car read the USB flash drive when starting?
4 Answers
USB flash drive may be incompatible, possibly due to excessive capacity. Generally, car USB ports are compatible with MP3 format, so pay attention to the music format. The USB flash drive needs to be in FAT32 format. If it's not in this format, you can reformat it to FAT32. The USB flash drive should have a single partition without any hidden partitions (USB drives used as bootable drives have hidden partitions). Below is detailed information about USB flash drives: 1. Function: The main purpose of a USB flash drive is to store data. Enthusiasts and merchants have developed more functions for USB flash drives: encrypted USB drives, bootable USB drives, antivirus USB drives, temperature-measuring USB drives, and music USB drives, etc. Car playback devices are different from computers, and some have poor compatibility. Typically, they can only recognize one or a few types of controllers, so you can try several. 2. Format: Generally, devices other than computers support USB flash drives in FAT32 format. If the USB flash drive is not in this format, you can format it to FAT32 and try using it on the TV. USB flash drives used as bootable drives usually have two partitions and are not recognized by devices other than computers. They can be restored to normal drives before use.
I recently encountered the issue of a USB drive not being recognized in the car, which was quite frustrating. First, try unplugging and replugging the USB drive to check for poor contact. If that doesn't work, plug the USB drive into a computer to see if it can be detected—if the computer reads it, the USB drive is fine. Sometimes, the car's infotainment system experiences voltage instability during startup, so try turning off and restarting the vehicle. Also, ensure the USB drive capacity isn't too large; older car systems may struggle with drives over 32GB. Format is crucial too—many cars only recognize FAT32 format. If the USB drive is NTFS or exFAT, reformat it on a computer. Overheating can also affect performance; in hot summer weather, unplug the drive to cool it down before reinserting. Avoid nesting music files more than five folders deep, as car systems have limited directory-reading capabilities. If none of these methods work, the car's USB module might be faulty, and it's advisable to visit a 4S shop to check the interface circuit.
When encountering a USB drive reading failure in the car, I recommend troubleshooting from three aspects: Check the hardware connection by cleaning the oxidation layer on the metal interface of the USB drive with an alcohol swab, then firmly plug it into the USB port. Verify data compatibility by formatting the USB drive as FAT32 and using universal music file formats like MP3 or WMA. Eliminate system issues by restoring factory settings in the vehicle settings or upgrading the infotainment system firmware. Many new cars now have power protection for electronic devices during startup, which may temporarily prevent USB drive recognition - it's safer to insert the drive after all dashboard indicator lights turn off. Personally, I keep a dedicated 16GB car USB drive with no more than 200 songs, using English and numeric filenames, and have never encountered any issues.
I've researched the issue of car USB drives not being readable. There are four common reasons: the USB drive format is incorrect, older cars only recognize FAT32; insufficient USB power supply, with significant current fluctuations during startup; damaged file system, requiring error repair on a computer; and aging car interface. The solutions are simple: format to FAT32, store songs in the root directory without using folders, and choose Kingston or SanDisk brand drives with 8-32GB capacity. Wait two minutes after starting the car before inserting the USB drive, and avoid using it on bumpy roads. USB drives may hibernate in sub-zero temperatures, so warm them up before trying again. If these methods don't work, it might be a faulty USB controller in the car's system that needs replacement.
