Usb not reading 2021 expedition

[Gerben]

I plugged in a USB with a bunch of music in the 2021 expedition SSV
it shows on the screen that it reads the USB, so it is connected.
However when i try to play anything besides the radio then it gives me the option to either select a bluetooth device, or select a mobile app.
but i cannot select mobile apps, the screen doesn't react when i select and press ok on the "mobile apps"
Is there a certain trick to this?

I don't feel like playing it off my phone and needing bluetooth on all the time (drains battery too quick, and my phone is full enough)

Are there other options? Have any of you swapped out the radio for a more capable system?
I'd love to have something with a CD player(yes we still those)
I can get a USB cd player, but i doubt that'll work since a usb stick doesn't work either

 

[Rob6805]

Do a Google search for Sync 3 USB format to play music. Lots of info.

->
To play music from a USB drive on Ford Sync 3, format the drive as exFAT or FAT32 with a Master Boot Record (MBR) partition, not GUID Partition Table (GPT). Supported audio formats include MP3, WMA, M4A, FLAC, WAV, APE, and AAC. After formatting, organize your music into folders and then plug the USB drive into your Sync 3 system; the system will automatically index the files for playback.

USB Formatting Steps

1. Connect the USB Drive: Plug your USB drive into a computer.
2. Open File Explorer: On Windows, right-click the USB drive and select "Format".
3. Select Format: In the formatting window, choose exFAT or FAT32 as the file system.
4. Ensure MBR Partition: Make sure the partition style is set to Master Boot Record (MBR).
5. Format: Start the format process and eject the drive once it's complete.

Music File Preparation

1. Organize Music: Create folders on the USB drive for your music.
2. Copy Music Files: Copy your audio files in supported formats (MP3, WMA, M4A, FLAC, etc.) into these folders.
3. Connect to Sync 3: Plug the formatted USB drive into a USB port in your vehicle.
4. Indexing: The Sync 3 system will automatically index the music. This may take several minutes depending on the amount of content.
5. Select Audio Source: Once indexing is complete, you can select the USB drive as your audio source to play your music.

 

[Gerben]

Thank you, i will give this a try

 

[bmk1]

Why not just use CarPlay? It’ll charge your phone and play the music at the same time.

 

[Gerben]

Why not just use CarPlay? It’ll charge your phone and play the music at the same time.

It's an SSV it doesn't really have the fancy screen with all those options

 

[Gerben]

Took the vehicle to a caraudio place this morning, they did get the usb to read, it shows the song titles right on the screen now, you can see it's counting the minutes and seconds, but no sound comes out of the speakers, what to do next? The technician didn't know either.

 

[bmk1]

It's an SSV it doesn't really have the fancy screen with all those options

Gotcha. Clearly idk what ssv is haha.

 

[Gerben]

Gotcha. Clearly idk what ssv is haha.

Its pretty much an XL trim
Ssv=Special Service Vehicle, sold new for fleets and government use as far as i know

 

[Gerben]

An update on this issue:
Tried to connect a phone to the bluetooth system on this vehicle, and just like the USB it connects fine, it plays the songs on the screen but no sound coming from the speakers.

I also tried calling the connected phone with my other phone, and no ringtone either.

Anyone??

 

[Yupster Dog]

Anyone??

Is the volume all the way down?
it can be up for the radio and down for the prompt level.
Try call ing when you know sound is coming from phone, then hit the volume up button.

Have you tried, Un-pair the phone from the truck and reconnect.

 

[Gerben]

Is the volume all the way down?
it can be up for the radio and down for the prompt level.
Try call ing when you know sound is coming from phone, then hit the volume up button.

Have you tried, Un-pair the phone from the truck and reconnect.

There is 1 volume button only, how do i control the bluetooth volume separately?
I've tried to connect 2 different phones, and same results
Phone volumes are all the way up

 

[Yupster Dog]

how do i control the bluetooth volume separately?

It is more for the prompt of the phone call, when there is audio coming from the phone, turn up the volume button on the truck at the same time.
You can only turn up the prompt volume when it is being used. (Same truck volume button)

 

[Gerben]

The volume on my phone is all the way up, when i try to put it down it won't go down(with the buttons on my phone)
Tried adjusting the volume with the vehicle volume button while a file is playing, but still cannot hear anything on the vehicle audio.

Here's something interesting: when i made a phone call while connected to bluetooth, it shows on the screen, and my wife could clearly hear me talking through the vehicle speaker, but i cannot hear her at all.

I'm really starting to think that there's a wire disconnected inside the dash that connects the bluetooth to the speakers but that just seems odd since the radio works