How To Format a USB Drive For CDJ Use - DJ Tips & Tricks - Works On Windows PCs and Macs (FAT32)

Formatting a thumb drive larger than 32GB on a PC? Get FAT32 Format: fat32-format.en.softonic.com/...
Spinning with CDJs and thumb drives is straightforward: you plug a thumb stick into a CDJ's USB slot, and you're all set. But that's not always the case: sometimes the drive can't be read by an older CDJ. Maybe you plug it into an XDJ-RX and track waveforms don't appear as they should.
One way to troubleshoot is to make sure you've got the USB thumb stick formatted properly using a file system recognised by the CDJ or XDJ.
A file system is a hard drive's way of organising data. Formatting it lets you specify what file system you want it to use. There are lots of file systems out there, some are compatible only with Windows computers, some only with Macs, and some are readable by both Macs and PCs, but can only be written to by either a Mac or a PC. Confused yet?
Here's a cheat sheet: modern Windows computers use the NTFS system (or exFAT if newer), and Macs use the HFS+ (MacOS Extended Journaled) system. Macs can read NTFS thumb drives, but can't write to them. PCs can't read or write to HFS+ at all.
However, there is one file system that both Macs and PCs can read and write to: FAT32. Pioneer DJ's CDJ media players are also able to read music files from drives formatted with FAT32 (FAT 16 and HFS+ are also included).
FAT32 works on both Windows PCs and Macs, and it's the recommended file system format by Pioneer DJ when it comes to CDJ and XDJ use. That's why if you're going to be spinning with a USB drive, we recommend formatting it to FAT32. This ensures read and write compatibility with both Windows and Mac computers, and guarantees compatibility with Pioneer DJ's CDJs as well as other media players including the Denon DJ SC5000 Prime.
At the time of this writing, it's the closest thing we've got to a "near-universally compatible" file system.
Sure FAT32 has its disadvantages: it's an older file system, so you can't add a file larger than 4GB to it. That's not a problem though if it's a USB stick for spinning since you probably don't have a song that's got a file size that huge. Another disadvantage is if you're formatting a thumb drive larger than 32GB using a Windows PC, you need to download extra software in order to do the formatting.
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[@dj.anthonyjames5049]

he shows you how to format the drive at 2:40 if you're in a rush

[@maliklyu]

God, thank you!

[@3LoveBuzz]

Thank you

[@guccirichbrr2949]

the fat32 format exe wont open for some reason

[@fabianolvera9565]

Did this and worked perfectly on the CDJs.

[@digitaldjtips]

Awesome :)

[@highxh0pes]

THANKYOU!!! just thought I wasted my money on new usbs for them not to work in CDJ2000s but this fixed them 💜💜💜

[@djpsychic]

very small note here. selecting FAT on a 4GB or lower driver will actually format it as FAT16. Although FAT(=16) and not FAT32 was selected in the formatting dropdown, Mac OSX is smart enough to know this should be FAT32 actually. Just remember that =) Also great tip for windows users out there. On linux you can use parted or gparted (gui version) , consult your start menu and/or distribution for instructions as they very slightly across linux distributions.

[@digitaldjtips]

Thanks for this man :)

[@ClectaSkiMusic]

Great video as always sir

[@digitaldjtips]

Thanks!

[@tararobinson4940]

thank you this helped my usb show up on my xdj!!

[@digitaldjtips]

Great :)

[@djamitkirti]

tons of thanks....this is a proper tutorial which is really helpful....

[@digitaldjtips]

Cheers Amit :)

[@djamitkirti]

@@digitaldjtips Cheers!

[@digitaldjtips]

You're welcome

[@AkhilTalreja]

Thank you. It worked!

[@digitaldjtips]

Awesome!

[@ashmcfcroberts]

Thanks joey this is helped me alot

[@digitaldjtips]

No problem! :)

[@househeadspeakz]

This is what I am talking about. Thanks!

[@digitaldjtips]

Glad it helped.

[@topsidz]

Hey can i ask you the "Allocation unit size" ? what is that mean ? can i choose whatever i want or just do the same thing 4096 size on your video? I just want to Analyze tracks and sync in rekordbox faster

[@renaldoanthony9606]

thank you man very helpfull

[@bienpaulozitanunez299]

Thank you very much for this

[@digitaldjtips]

No problem!

[@spyrostabas8655]

Sos!!!I have sandisk extreme pro 128gb should I use this method cuz format fat32 tool says it doesn't work with ssd's.Also with 128gb should I format my USB at 4096 or above...Im interested for windows 10 method only.Pls answer asap thanks in advance!

[@lowpitchorchestra]

Thank you so much!

[@digitaldjtips]

No problem!

[@pedromatiasofficial]

Should i use GUID or Master Boot Record while clicking in options below the fat32 on mac disk utility? and why 64gb pen drives are slow? even if its a fast pen drive sandisk extreme?

[@The_Haze]

I tried to download windows app, it don't work. I fond the older version 1.0.1 it worked fine. But be very careful! Might be a good idea to format and name the drive with built in windows utility then use the app so you don't select the wrong drive by mistake!

[@nathand903]

So if I convert it to fat32, whats the benefits of it on a cdj 2000 As opposed to an default USB drive. And this is without any rekordbox analyzing.

[@javi8556]

Hi my friend! Thanks for this video. I have a question. Can i format a usb over 200 gbs? To be able to use in pioneer cdjs?

[@user-mr5zt9xe3b]

Having some problems when downloading - I can't open the ZIP file and also, when I extract using WinRAR and get the .exe file I can't open in... A screen that looks like command prompt appears and disappears quickly... can anyone help ? OR is there any other tools to achieve this?

[@techno588]

I have the same problem, installer not opening

[@ryanwright6969]

@@DjNarrative Works a treat, thanks

[@usdjxavi]

its a virus

[@Djneyon79]

I’m making the move to cdjs this week so this is clutch as I’m scared 😱 thank you so much! I’ve been doing ddj200 and I’m scared 😱 I’ve come a long way since 1200s technics someone help me lol

[@digitaldjtips]

You'll be fine! They're not as different as you think :)

[@Madasurdea]

Thank you! 🙏

[@digitaldjtips]

No problem!

[@sandundhananjaya7290]

Hi, I have a problem when it’s comes to Hard Drives I’m using transcend store jet 25MC 1TB hard disk to carry out my records to gigs. It’s already formatted to FAT32 but it’s not recognized in Pioneer XDJ RX controller, I’m still not plugged it to any CDJ player so I have doubt as well as this happened. Please give me a good solution for this, highly appreciated thank you 😊

[@alexsauber]

maybe this helps you, Pioneer itself states, that anything bigger than, I think 64GB may not be readable or supported by their players. To be sure, just go to the Pioneer Forum and ask. But I think to remember that they have problems with proper Harddrives.

[@juschu85]

You should update the link to Fat32 Format in the video description. It looks like the download was replaced with a pure command line version of the tool (Why on Earth would anyone do this? Adding command line options? Yes, please. Completely replacing the download under the same URL? Hell no!) As computer science student I was able to figure out how to use it myself, but most people won't know how to do this.

[@huwwackman_excel]

Hi Mate. I just tried this and it wont open as you said? Any other free downlods that work please? Thanks

[@omniplexmusic]

I'm glad you wrote this. I was worried I downloaded some malware. When I try to open the fat32 format tool from that softtonic link i get the flash of a command prompt and then it disappears...

[@S2Aairsoft]

Thanks a lot !

[@digitaldjtips]

No problem!

[@grantharris7126]

Great Video, super easy to follow along with. I did, however, have a question that he didn't go over in the video. After you format it to FAT32 you can no longer see the files on the USB you just formatted just like he showed in the video. Do you just re-format back to default or NTFS in order to have them reappear in the windows folder view, and then format it back to FAT32 when I'm about to play on my CDJ-2000 nexus?

[@djshakro1315]

Thanks a lot for valuable video dude.I was lucky yesterday because I had extra memory card for emergency reasons.My usb card stopped working and I formatted it NFTS and default fat format.But the same.Rekordbox doesn't accept.Will try your option now.

[@digitaldjtips]

No problem, glad to help :)

[@djshakro1315]

@@digitaldjtips Worked.Thanks a lot

[@Wasserbutz]

Well, if you have a mac, the you want to format it hfs+. CDJs can read HFS+ and it is faster, on your mac and also on the cdjs. Plus it is less fragile to pull it out without unmounting.

[@traviscrum5860]

just out of curiosity, what makes the number 4096 relevant here other than it's one of the ways I know that mg and gb are calculated? (with it being 4gb in this case maybe). Also, say my thumb drive was 128gb instead of 64gb. Would I still enter 4096 or would I do 8192

[@Rob_Bot]

@Digital DJ Tips - I second this very question!

[@SharPacijent]

I'm very curious about this, as far as I know, I did a little research, and it says that for 64 gb fat32 should be 32 KB. And here it says 4096 so I'm confused

[@shtievenos5755]

Great a big thank you sir !!

[@KelmoMusic]

I recently decided to convert all of my high quality music to AIFF for compatibility. When did pioneer implement aiff? What's the oldest CDJ that still plays aiff files?

[@denis43736]

cdj 350

[@johnviera3884]

A problem I have is when I have a Rekordbox thumb drive and I have to DJ on a non Rekordbox system. Traktor, Serato, etc. can you get a 64 GB thumb drive and create 2 partitions? One 32 GB Rekordbox partition and one 32 GB basic folder partition compatible with other systems? That way you can just use one thumb drive for everything.

[@digitaldjtips]

Not something we've tried

[@nicog.]

Help! My FAT32 USB drive (64Gb) works OK on my XDj-RX but doesn't work on my CDJ-2000NXS2.... What can I do? Thanks in advance.

[@CaptainAmerica001]

How would you make a USB or a SD card that can have a DJ mix on it without gaps but you can skip tracks that can play in a car stereo?

[@digitaldjtips]

Easy to do in something like Audacity: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n562n6eqh7yDhtU

[@cartissbaee]

Heyyy, so after formatting the usb, how do we download/import the music pls🥺

[@georgio48101]

May be a dumb question.... but... will this also work for a 128gb stick that is USB 3.0? Can't find a lot of documentation on cdj compatibility with 3.0. Loaded a bunch of tracks on this stick; computer's fine with it, cdj doesn't see it at all.

[@georgio48101]

Oh, it's already FAT32 btw.

[@albertp9318]

Great video! my USB did not work last gig because I switch from mac to pc... Migh be the reason!

[@digitaldjtips]

Awesome, glad it helped!

[@seanomoto943]

I just did this on my mac pro ( sandisk 3.0 32 ) followed the instructions on the tutorial, now my flash cant read on my mac, any ideas why this occurred?

[@tostie8213]

Just bought Sandisk 128gb Exteme Pro 3.2 and formatted to FAT32 using my mac. Am I all squared up? I also did not see the scheme section on my mac while erasing the usb to choose the MBR. Not sure if I am good to go to use it on the CDJs. Also will this usb still work with CDJs if i have more file than 32gb in it?

[@digitaldjtips]

Should be good to go

[@soulb4740]

Thnk YOU

[@digitaldjtips]

No problem!

[@lvcid3484]

i have a 64gb usb and i have mac, there is not fat 32 option, there is only FAT is that okay ?

[@digitaldjtips]

Yes

[@aaronmontes5205]

I have the sandisk extreme go 3.1 64gb, i can't use with rekordbox how can i use that flash drive?

[@djshamble9293]

Ive the same prob man😔😒

[@DMCPvP]

Same! :( I have tried with 2 sandisk usbs now and they're both not working

[@julianneibby2751]

when you use rekordbox you must export your music to USB via rekordbox.

[@skipsadler8137]

i have an usb stick thats already formatted to fat32 but when i plug it into my denon prime 4 it wont recognize it

[@digitaldjtips]

I'd check in with the Denon forum on that as it should work

[@gogistyle19]

Would you make a tutorial video for Serato DJ pro in HID mode with Pioneer DJM+CDJs? Thanks :)

[@DOZEMusic]

Got to the Serato KZbin channel! They have several tutorials about it

[@digitaldjtips]

Thanks for the suggestion, we'll definitely consider making one!

[@gogistyle19]

@@DOZEMusic looking for something updated and more detailed than just how to plug it in the usb hub

[@gogistyle19]

@@digitaldjtips thanks!

[@gogistyle19]

workflow and stuff...

[@gabrielbergamim17]

If i'm formatin a drive smaller than 32GB, wich alocation unit size should i use?

[@Rob_Bot]

Default usually works

[@josedarquea2396]

Hey thanks for your help. Got a pair of cdj´s 400 and they just won't recognize my samsung usb drives. Already did the fat32 format and still nothing. Any ideas?

[@digitaldjtips]

How large are your Samsung USB drives? :)

[@josedarquea2396]

@@digitaldjtips They are only 8 gb. I learned they shouldn't have more capacity or the cdjs would take longer to read them or even wouldn't recognize them. Already tried formating them in several formats and it doesn´t work. Any ideas? Cheers!

[@digitaldjtips]

How about trying different USBs and seeing if they work? :) I would also try using your 8GB USB drives with other CDJs and seeing if they are read. If so, there could be some issue with the CDJ-400 you're using. Maybe they require a firmware update since they're quite old?

[@grizzlymusicuk]

having the same problem on the same decks? any updates on how to get around this. I have the sands ultra 64gb. Thanks

[@nigelroskelley6766]

Good day to you sir, I have done exactly what you have instructed but none of the apps will run on my laptop I have tried several different app but with no joy, they all down load but will not run 😢 I am running Windows 10

[@stevenmiranda2402]

Will a 64gb Sandisk USB work with this format ?

[@maxrules2161]

Are the same settings okay for the Denon DJ Prime 4?

[@digitaldjtips]

Check the manual to be sure but last I looked Fat32 was the recommended format

[@juansalinas7628]

Hello! My USB is already in FAT 32, Rekordbox reads it just fine, but my CDJ 2000 NEXUS pops the message "FORMAT USB". Does anyone know how to fix this?

[@digitaldjtips]

That's very odd

[@sophiemalabar3152]

heya i already download fat32 format but when i click to run it didnt show format F, only c/d and e. so what should i do? i need your help, thank you

[@digitaldjtips]

Hey Sophie! Try connecting your USB drive to a different port. You may just be having a USB socket issue, or maybe your computer isn't reading your thumb drive properly.

[@juschu85]

Just to be sure: You did check that Windows didn't just mount your USB stick as drive E:, right? It's only drive F: in his case and can be a completely different letter in your case. Windows mounts an external drive (USB stick, external hard drive, whatever) under the next free letter, whichever that is. If there is no internal drive E: in your computer, then Windows will mount your USB stick as drive E:. That can also mean that one time your USB stick is drive E: and the next time you connect it it can be drive F:, if you connected another external drive before which already was mounted as drive E:

[@Killwillc]

I don’t have fat 32 options I have the following options Mac OS extended journaled Mac OS extended case sensitive journaled ExFat. Or MS-Dos (Fat) and also it requires a scheme Master boot record Apple partition map or Guid partition map

[@digitaldjtips]

Try using MS-DOS (Fat) or ExFat :)

[@U2BROTHR]

Choo MS-Dos (Fat) and choose Master Boot Record....

[@roccohaase5451]

I reformatted a 64 gb (EXFAT) with the AOMEI Partition Assistant (to FAT32) in WINDOWS 10. After that the writing speed became extremely low, which of course is extremely annoying when transferring a large rekordbox playlist. Is that normal? do I always have to expect an extreme loss of performance after such a process?

[@digitaldjtips]

It depends on your USB device. I have extremely slow USB drives that are as you describe, but also extremely fast SD drives.

[@roccohaase5451]

@@digitaldjtips no, it was a fast sundisc extreme pro

[@digitaldjtips]

Weird, some will definitely work better than others

[@lancefairchild8068]

So I was able to get my USB to work as a fat32 but every time I plug it back into my PC rekordbox tells me the device is corrupted and asks me if i would like to wipe it. And the convert wont open. Anyone else having this issue? Might just go back to 64GB

[@digitaldjtips]

No idea I'm afraid!

[@djwildchildborn2bewildchil758]

Mine said the same thing. Corrupt and didn't recognize my USB

[@eliseopau]

Someone said that the usb should be 64 GB? But you are using a 8 GB? Is possible to use smaller than 64GB like 32GB

[@digitaldjtips]

Yes it is

[@birdy702]

Link doesn’t work anymore?

[@aqaz120]

I have a 128 gb usb drive will it work the same?

[@digitaldjtips]

Yes, though you'd need to use extra software if you're formatting on a Windows PC :)

[@zulnyc1]

i downloaded the fat32 program, it's a zip file, I unzipped and clicked on the app. nothing opens on both my computer and laptop. I also ran as admin. nothing..this is soooo frustrating! can anyone help??

[@digitaldjtips]

Thanks for the heads up, perhaps we'll revisit this

[@zulnyc1]

@@digitaldjtips i kept looking around and found another free program called rufus. I had to check the option to look for USB drives which was frustrating at 1st but after that. worked perfectly.

[@djbenwaller1875]

Does this work with any usb

[@digitaldjtips]

Yes :)

[@ND-Skyz]

I formatted my 128gb flash drive with a fat32 formatting app, but it still doesn’t work. I can load to it from RB, but when I plug it into my XDJ, it’s gives a message saying “format drive”. Anybody have any ideas on why this is?

[@digitaldjtips]

Which XDJ are you using? And is it a USB 3.0 drive? There have been some issues with some users who plug in a USB 3.0 drive with an XDJ-RX...

[@ND-Skyz]

Digital It is a Sandisk Ultra 128gb 3.0 flash drive. It was my primary drive I played on until the day I formatted it.

[@ND-Skyz]

Digital Oh, and I have the XDJ 1000 mk1’s.

[@ND-Skyz]

So, I used the program used in the vid and I got my drive back. Thank you.

[@digitaldjtips]

@@ND-Skyz There you go! :)

[@ianstockdale5860]

I have a USB in my windows 10 and it dont work on my numark 500 will this sort it out ??

[@digitaldjtips]

Should do

[@ianstockdale5860]

@@digitaldjtips but when I install it its flashes 1 sec then it like it's not there I loaded it loads the memory stick was 2tb so instead I bought another memory stick what is a 32 instead do you think that would work too

[@digitaldjtips]

Sorry, not sure as we do not have that Numark unit here to test. I'd ask Numark.

[@technodance_me]

I'm old but I thought this was common knowledge for younger people who grew up with computers. Someone told me about Rekerd DJ software but I already use the Windows file system. I could be djing soon and want to stay current. Am I gaining anything with those file management systems...really?

[@digitaldjtips]

You're gaining the ability to use playlists, just as a start.

[@technodance_me]

@@digitaldjtips I do that already with creating folders. I make them based on BPM and genre. Then copy over to he flash. I'll try it but really seems like what I'm already doing. Do the current generation not use general file managers? You can even make a colum for BPM and sort against any category.

[@digitaldjtips]

No, because a decent library app with metadata allows for more info to be displayed in more user-friendly ways, and negates the need to make copies of tracks when making static or dynamic playlists. Same as photographers don't use finder/explorer for cataloguing images, preferring more robust/fit for purpose library apps.

[@technodance_me]

@@digitaldjtips Good analogy with Photographers. I'll try it. Thank you.

[@digitaldjtips]

Love to know how you get on Miles!

[@jaywillscan1919]

I've had some issues when going to a studio and used the CDJ-2000NXS2 and the DJM-900NXS2 with my hardrive. I'm a Serato user and formatted my usb to FAT32 but when plugged into the CDJ the bpm and waveforms never appeared. Does anyone know why? Please help as I am planning on going this saturday to record a mix and need my music sorted. Thanks :)

[@digitaldjtips]

Did you analyse your music in Rekordbox?

[@Aesop101]

this ok for xdj rx2?

[@digitaldjtips]

Yeah should be :)

[@accesscontrolsystem5109]

i have 128gb usb but show only 32.5kb, in cmd clean cannot apply on disk 1, disk management doesnot show space only show icon, raw format 0gb, cannot format, formatting tool no thing is working. please help me

[@digitaldjtips]

It's impossible to work out at a distance what might be going wrong, sorry!

[@robolddognewtricks5488]

None of the fat32 apps are free and the one that is says that it can't be ran by the publisher

[@digitaldjtips]

Thanks for the heads up, perhaps an update to this video is needed

[@xstotheravezone9911]

@@digitaldjtips It sure is. That Fat32 format app is not working

[@kereamohau]

The sad part is that Fat32 has almost halved the write speed of my SanDisk flash drive. I did a Black Magic Speed Test Before format: 109MB Write. 184MB Read After format : 63MB Write. 169MB Read

[@DOZEMusic]

Not to helpful for me as I'm a Serato HID user. Nice video, tho; I'm sure it'll help a lot of people 👍

[@digitaldjtips]

Thanks Doze :)

[@dj_paultuk7052]

Sorry, you got that completely wrong. Formatting FAT32 in Windows is easy, you simply right click on the drive, select Format. When the window pops up, select FAT32. Thats very easy indeed. The same for Windows 7 and 10. Also you dont need special software to format over 32GB in Windows, not sure where you are getting that from. You simply select exFAT instead, which works perfectly with Denon kit.

[@digitaldjtips]

Hey Paul! FAT32 in Windows works if you're formatting a drive 32GB or smaller :) if larger, you need a separate app - FAT 32 Format is what I use in the vid. exFAT works with the Denon DJ SC5000, but not with CDJs. At least not right now :)

[@andret4894]

If the Fat32 app doesn't run on your Windows 10, here's an easy solution (but backup your files before proceeding, they might get deleted): 1. Right-click your Start/Menu Icon 2. Choose "Run" from the menu 3. Type powershell into the field and press enter 4. Once the Powershell window opens, type in the command format /FS:FAT32 F: (but replace F with the letter of the drive your flash is in. "E" for example). 5. Press Enter 6. You might get a warning that your days will be deleted. It will ask you to press enter on N or Y to proceed. If you're prepared for your data to be deleted, press enter on Y, and your disk will be reformatted to Fat32. It will take while.

[@digitaldjtips]

Thanks for helping out!

[@tory2453]

@digitaldjtips Does this work in the same way even if the usb drive has a capacity larger than 32? It's saying format failed "volume is too big for FAT32". I'm on Windows 10. Any advice?

[@lolboy1124]

the music in the bg is annoying. Thanksss a lot for the video!!

[@digitaldjtips]

Thanks for watching :)

[@cocktailvomit]

Pointless video. Nobody uses a 32GB or smaller USB keys for Rekordbox these days . We need "How To Format" videos for 64GB to 256 GB +++ Keys :)

[@digitaldjtips]

Erm, the same way?

[@wevaman_skilo3026]

@@digitaldjtips Definatley not pointless for djs. my main usb are 32 g, put to much on there and you forget what to play lol

[@serenitybase9888]

this doesnt work for pioneer cdj 3000 and mac. please dont use this video for that.

[@mariusjordana583]

Just got a new 64gb USB but whilst trying to format it on mac there was no option for FAT32 only exFat and Fat. Just wondering how i should go about it?

[@digitaldjtips]

Try using HFS+ if you won't be using it with a PC :) You can also try using FAT and see if that works for you

[@digitaldjtips]

Try using HFS+ if you're not using this drive with a PC :) or you can also use FAT and see if that works for you

[@freddie8149]

So i have a pair of brand new 8gb usb´s for DJing Because they`re below 32gb i can use the default format tool from window right? And when i format them, then ill be able to perform on any CDJ? Please Help Guys. Peace!

[@digitaldjtips]

Yes just format as FAT32 and you will be fine

[@freddie8149]

@@digitaldjtips Thanks So, even though it’s a below 32gb usb, I still need to format it with FAT32 to use ir on any CDJ? Right?

[@digitaldjtips]

Yes

[@freddie8149]

@@digitaldjtips Thank You!