Using USB Flash Drives to Play Music in Your Car

Dedicated delivery coordinator, Alexis, shows us how to use a USB Flash Drive to play music in your new Buick or GMC or any vehicle with a USB port.
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[@dlkacz]

I'm saving this video. I didn't know the newer cars are now without a CD player and that's a HUGE bummer. I found out one can use a USB flash drive to play my favorites albums so now I'm in the process of teaching myself how to use one of those to transfer to my 2019 Blazer RS. Thanks for the help Alexis. You're making my life a bit more easier. Also love the fact that you're using your Windows Media Player. UPDATE: I just transferred a CD onto a Lexor jumpdrive (or flashdrive), put it in the USB port and VOILA! It worked! For those who say it's not working for them and who have a GM car, use the MP3 format. That format could work on all other cars but I'm testify to GM cars only. I didn't have to make any folders by using the Media Player and now that I know what to do, I'm wiping out the test CD I made from the USB stick and plan on doing some heavy duty ripping, syncing and uploading. :-)

[@alexisbrown8401]

So glad it was helpful and thanks so much for letting me know your Lexor worked! Always on the hunt for an alternative to the SanDisk!

[@ToddyP86]

​@alexisbrown8401 now that it's 2024, what's the best drive to pick? What speed is optimal?

[@AliAliToo]

would be much easier and a whole lot faster to just offer a CD player on the new vehicles as an option.

[@jaymoraski]

Bingo

[@terrellleister4207]

No

[@martinortiz2557]

​@@jaymoraski😊😊

[@martinortiz2557]

😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@martinortiz2557]

😊😊

[@ragtag003o1]

Excellent, thank you! Just got a 2019 Buick Regal Sportback and was like "where's the CD player...?" Was horrified that there wasn't one, but I'm gonna try this. Thank you so much!

[@robertaxel]

Couple of observations I noted the vehicle in question had an aux jack (shaped like a small circle). This should allow you to plug a jack into the CD and the other end of a two sided cable directly into the jack port. This is quicker and easier than copying files to a flash drive. I also saw several people note that the usb port did not play music. This may be due to files in the wrong format. Any video about copying files to a flash drive from a CD should mention that the files should be in the MP3 format. If they aren't, the usb may not recognize them

[@sueishere25]

I still use CDs, thankfully Toyota still has CD players but someday I will have to get with the program. I like that so many songs can be loaded onto one flash drive. Thanks

[@user-vu2zh8pv2r]

can somebody please bring back 8 tracks???

[@humblecourageous3919]

I have a 2017 Volt. My console looks pretty much the same. My USB shuffles even though shuffle is not selected. Do I need to download the songs in a different way on the USB drive so that a whole album will play consecutively?

[@AydenWebb]

Worked even with my pioneer radio

[@Larrymh07]

How long will USB drives be viable? I've been thru; 8 Track, Cassettes, Compact Discs, and now streaming (which I haven't explored yet) and USB ports!

[@rjb073]

I have a USB with over 200 songs on it. My radio will only play about 25 songs and then starts over. Anyone know why that is or what I can do to make the drive to continue on playing the other songs on the flash drive? I have the drive formatted at FAT 32, so that's OK. Could it be a tagging issue or do I need to break the drive down into multiple files?

[@dm5129]

I want to do this now. Just use an USB stick instead of an MP 3 player. You can fit soooo much music onto an USB stick. I will most likely purchase an inexpensive USB stick and use it to put my songs onto it.

[@Wardell43]

This is what I'm setting up to do in my 2011 Silverado. Everything works as it's supposed to, I just got to find out which buttons to use. I down loaded my whole cd collection (500 plus) on to a 64 gig usb drive. A folder icon pops up on my screen(my screen is not as elaborate as hers) so I've got to figure out how to open the folder and pick an album. As It is, 38 special begins playing and I've twisted one knob a lot and only got up to Alice Cooper so twisting the knob will take me 2 weeks to get up to Hendrix. I might clear the drive and reload just the albums I'm most likely to play. I really just wanted to know if it would work and it does

[@dm5129]

About 10 or 15 years ago an older lady gave me a huge collection of classical music CDs and I downloaded them all onto my IPod. Was great. I will certainly download more of my favorite classical pieces again onto an USB stick, but this time not the entire albums, just my favorite classical works.

[@oscarperales8365]

I got this far on my 2014 Toyota Highlander. The problem is it keeps playing the same song over and over, so you have to manually move to the next song each time. Isn't there a way to have the music on the flashdrive play in shuffle mode?

[@emflocater]

Very nice! Thank you for the lesson.

[@sonofretrotvluver]

Hi Alexis, I have a newly-purchased Toyota Camry with a CD slot and USB port in it. I am mulling buying a bracket to hold my GPS in the CD slot and wanted to know if a flash drive in the USB port would provide me with music on the road if I want it. You video may help me--thanks!

[@Boblobblaw88]

Thanks Harry!

[@lastcall170]

It would be nice if the album art would appear.

[@officialnin9four319]

It does

[@alexisbrown8401]

If the CD has the album art, it will appear! You can also add it to your Media Player before the transfer (or can resync if already completed) and it will appear.

[@MattBizzleFerShizzle]

Forgot to mention to format it correctly on your computer first. And to make folders if you want.

[@alexisbrown8401]

Hi there! I actually use Windows Media Player so no need to create folders, it auto sorts them by album! The vehicle will sort for you as well by album, genre, artist, or song. Thinking of making a tutorial on my method of downloading music and uploading to the USB drive to accompany this video. Thank you for you for watching!

[@alexisbrown8401]

Do you know what format you downloaded your CDs in? Certain vehicles like certain formats. Check your owners' manual for compatible formats. Thanks for watching!

[@clemongoodrich]

@@alexisbrown8401 🗣️ BEAUTIFUL 😍 LUV_VIT 💣

[@honsiadams1280]

@Greg Steele My brand new 2019 Equinox only recognizes 2.0 USB and NOT 3.0 USB!

[@broken_font1881]

@@honsiadams1280 that's wild

[@Ebergerud]

Let's say your listening to a long piece of music - like a symphony. The radio is playing the music from the USB stick. If you turn off the radio - or turn off the car - and then turn it back on again, will the radio remember where the music was when you turned it off? This would be essential in an audiobook or a long symphony or opera. Thanks in advance.

[@sariharis]

That was very helpful But ,How did you sort these MP3 files into artist and albums

[@broken_font1881]

It depends if you use a windows or mac computer. I know that you can add artist names, album name, and album art to mp3 files in windows media player

[@Technonsia]

ever heard of fat32 or exfat, or audio format or samplerate? or folder structure? lol just from cd to usb drive. big help haha

[@michaelwplde]

Format FAT32; does not support exFAT, probably not NTFS either, but I did not try. Is there a way to playback random? Or does that depend on having a playlist on the drive as well? With a playlist, what format does that need to be in? Media player WPL?

[@user-vu2zh8pv2r]

my computer is asking what format to use? NTFS, FAT16, FAT32, or exFAT?

[@alexisbrown8401]

Check your owner's manual for your vehicle's preferred format! It will depend on year, make and model.

[@OfficialBlazeboy]

I wonder as I watch this if I could purchase an external hard drive to hook up to my USB input for the stereo. I got millions of songs I could keep on the hard drive and go....... Just a thought

[@Reap45]

I just ordered new 2024 Chevy blazer and had no idea it doesn’t come with cd player. If I have 1000 songs on a flash drive can I push play and will it start on song 1 and keep going in order like shuffling or do I gotta click on every song on my monitor to play it and can I skip songs to get to the 50th song like on regular CD PLAYERS thanks in advance. Great video

[@jamestrout3696]

Can’t get the radio to recognize a PNY brand flash drive. It only played the Scandisk flash drive. Is there anything I can do? The PNY will play in other devices but not the Denali

[@alexisbrown8401]

I have noticed that GM vehicles are a little picky. I always use SanDisk as well and they have always worked for me. My advice would be to switch flash drives BUT it should be a quick process to transfer the music. If I stumble upon any better advice to give, I will update!

[@mrsstrawberryluv1]

Thank you

[@ritchienavarro2920]

I love listening to music on usb flash drives only when there is no wifi internet connection.

[@georgianapercia2943]

I had a second set of songs added to my flash-drive. They don't play in my car. Now I see the Problem might have been the Format choice of the recording engineer.

[@49Macman]

Awesome! Can any usb flash drive work and the chevy will recognize the music and does leaving the drive into the usb port on your car take any battery power when off! I am lazy and would like to just leave it in there. LOL. Thanks!

[@alexisbrown8401]

Not all flash drives are created equal I have found. I haven't figured out why but my tried and true drive is the SanDisk Cruzer! Has always worked like a charm. And yes you can leave it in the USB port, I recommend this for most of our customers, and no issues with the battery. Also, check the owner's manual to make sure your file type is readable by your vehicle. As new vehicles hit the market, I am seeing older filetypes becoming obsolete to the vehicle.

[@rayewen3347]

@@alexisbrown8401 I wondered about leaving it in the port but even after turning the engine off, the flash drive is still lighting up. Does that mean it is running or using my battery?

[@cfgoebel49]

Wifes Chev trax will not play all the songs on her USB drive it starts repeating after ? 20 - 25 songs it will not play all can you change how they play

[@montellwilliams811]

Hello , can we see a video on , how to up load music to the USB 128 GB drive

[@alexisbrown8401]

Hi Montell! Alot have requested this! It's been a while since I've been in this position but I have it on my list to do another tutorial on uploading! I Will update once I get it posted.

[@claudiacruz7121]

I have a 2020 Traverse and it will only recognize the first flash drive I used. I try using a different one it will not recognize it. Is there a way to eject? Or how what can I do? The are both formatted the same way.

[@BobC59]

This is great, but my main question is whether there is anything special you have to do when moving music to the memory stick so that the radio will show data like artist, track numbers, etc?

[@BobC59]

@@localtouchmobile Thx. I just clicked and dragged a few songs from iTunes onto a thumb drive. That's it. Plugged it into my 2019 Audi and not only did it play perfectly, the album art came up and everything. I love it when tech is that easy!

[@JonHenke_KC0WVY]

How do I get the usb drive to shuffle songs? The shuffle symbol is on and the menu shows shuffle on but the songs will not shuffle from album to album. Suggestions? Thanks.

[@alexisbrown8401]

There should be some sort of shuffle button on the screen depending on the kind of vehicle you have. It's tricky as it is usually auto-selected and if you click it again, it will unselect shuffle. Hope this works, if not let me know what kind of vehicle you have and I will see if I can help!

[@57RickH]

I discovered it will shuffle from the “Songs” category but not from “Artists”. Try that because I was having the same issue.

[@w.a.franklin4739]

How do you make a play list?

[@mike.6285]

I have 2 usb symbols showing on the screen of my 23 encore gx how do I get rid of one ? It's annoying

[@fasjackson3588]

But how do you play VIDEOS from usb. Most decks can but no one ever shows the formatting of the file, usually the usb drive needs to be FAT-32 however.

[@canIhavethishandle]

Now I need that car

[@t4705mb6]

Not a GM product you do NOT! Are you NUTS!? (Or a Chrysler/Fiat either!)

[@canIhavethishandle]

t4705mb6 oh no,we dont even have those in my country.I meant “I need a car”.My bad bro.

[@israelrobbins2743]

I guess I am seriously confused due the the fact I've been using flash drives since I was 17.i am 39 now.i stumbled across a flash drive with print on it saying (muzee get music easy! ) NEVER HEARD about it.

[@lorigunningham1671]

We don't have those choices on our Trax. And we have 3 thumb drives that we would like to use. Is there any way to show how to do it on a trax?

[@t4705mb6]

I was exhausted half way through the steps! No wonder people are getting killed in crashes because of fiddling with all this while driving! Know why they got rid of the CD player? This is WAY CHEAPER!

[@harryrobinsonsallisawford]

It's unadvisable and dangerous so it's not something you would want to do while driving. And, if I'm not mistaken, I don't think that is a feature that you can even access on Buick or GMC vehicles while driving.

[@verdantia]

i gotta have a GM!!

[@blueboy680]

My car radio will only play about half of the tracks that I have loaded to my USB stick. It was correctly formatted to FAT32 and all tracks are mp3. What could I be doing incorrectly ?.

[@stonecold4301]

she so cute with that pretty voice

[@steamedauroraborealis8208]

Crack open a beer Stone Cold, you thirsty. And that's the bottom line.

[@DrunkenProphet]

I read somewhere the USB drive should be formatted FAT16 if you're having trouble using your drive in your car stereo. Unfortunately, I don't think Windows natively supports this type of formatting any longer, so you'll have to search around for an app to do it for you.

[@tremarrimorris1554]

I thought it was fat20

[@fasjackson3588]

No such thing. It’s fat 16 or Fat-32.

[@tekola]

It's FAT32 and Windows suports it

[@user-qp8if2wq9u]

Hi, i have a 2020 sierra, usb cant play music, it wont detected te usb. Please help me.

[@curtisallred7250]

Our USB port quit working. They say it's due to the fuse.

[@tomliberty9638]

I agree with the video, but according to the Chevy dealership, this no longer works. Do you know for a fact that it should work on a 2020 Chevy Equinox?

[@honsiadams1280]

only 2.0 USB works and not 3.0!

[@alexisbrown8401]

As Honsi said, check the file type your vehicle prefers in your owner's manual. I cannot guarantee it'll work as I'm a GMC/Buick girl but Chevy is also made by GM so 99.99% sure it should work as long as your file type is correct and you have a compatible USB drive.

[@joefidel6295]

Got a 2019 Chevy Blazer. The flash drive that used to play in my 2016 SS won't play in my 2019 Blazer, why?

[@dlkacz]

Great question because I bought the black 2019 Blazer RS and was really bummed to learn GM shit canned the CD player. After reading the comments I see Honsi up there has a 2019 Equinox and it only recognizes 2.0 USB and not 3.0. Maybe that's your problem? Who knows.

[@lastcall170]

Reformat the to drive to FAT32...on your p.c.

[@numberxx7]

@@dlkacz and I just spent $15 on USB 3.0, great.. As soon as little after I posted this, I took one of my old sticks (USB 2.0) and it worked!! cheers!

[@numberxx7]

@@lastcall170 this is something I suppose impossible for the $15 - USB 3.0 drive I just tried to mess with for several hours!! geeezzz!

[@AstralSurfer]

Alexis is mad fine 👀🔥

[@philh5829]

...the eyebrows get me...

[@honsiadams1280]

I just bought a 2019 Equinox LS that has USB instead of CD player. I bought a Sandisk 32 GB USB, put almost 1000 songs on it, plugged it in to the USB port, and the screen says device not recognized. What is going on? HELP!!!!!

[@jusdafide]

Honsi Adams you need to format it first to a fat32 file system

[@honsiadams1280]

@@jusdafide I did that and it still doesnt work

[@jusdafide]

I copied the following information from a forum to help you out “What kind of music is loaded on the stick (mp3, ogg, etc.) and how is it arranged? As a 1st test, reformat the stick and place a single mp3 on it, see if the car can read it. The manuals are wrong, ONLY FAT32 formatting is recognized. ExFAT and NTFS aren't recognized at all. I find it ridiculous the dolts that wrote the manuals, one for the MyLink and the other for the car itself don't even agree with each other and get many things wrong. Note that one says 15k songs recognized, the other says 10k. I'm not sure which is correct since I loaded 7k on my stick. After converting two high-capacity USB drives to FAT32 format I was able to play music with both. I tested with a Sandisk USB 3.0 256GB Cruzer and a Samsung USB3.0 64GB Fit, both had 100% success after formatting to FAT32. Windows XP and up won't format USB sticks above 32GB in FAT32 unless you use the command terminal and enter the exact commands at the prompt. The way around it, if you want to use a GUI, is to use 3rd party formatting software which is what I did. I used Guiformat from Ridgecorp Consultants, it's a free download off their web site (a Google search will quickly find it). I found it infuriating I ran into the same situation as you until I realized it had to be the disk formatting. And another thing to be wary of: the maximum temperature spec of the USB stick, if it's USB 3.0. The newer Sandisk models are get pretty hot and if you look on their web site they're only spec'd to 35C. That's not good enough for automotive use, the internal temp of the car will get higher than that. I found the Samsung mini-USB stick, under their "Fit" line, is good to 70C so it's good enough for automotive use. The only place I found them was off Amazon, Best Buy didn't carry them.”

[@honsiadams1280]

@@jusdafide radio only recognizes 2.0 USB and NOT 3.0 USB

[@honsiadams1280]

my brand new 2019 Equinox only recognizes 2.0 USB

[@neaonksimy]

Do 2023 cars have usb input?

[@JosephMezza]

I found out that none of the stubby USB FIT drives will not work. So, have to deal with having the USB protruding in the arm rest storage which, by the way, breaks when you fill the storage area with other stuff. So, stupid!

[@AngelMartinez-qs3cf]

Hi I have a 2021 Terrain and I am using the USB which has my mp3 music files to listen to music. But everytime I put my USB it keeps saying it is indexing. Will the USB syc and re- index everytime I put my USB in? It is annoying that I have to wait for the USB to reindex. Any solution to this?

[@alexisbrown8401]

This is not an issue I have not come across, yet lol. Is your music loaded onto your USB drive by album? If not, it may be trying to sort the song and thus causing this delay. If that isn't it let me know and I'll see what I can find out.

[@57RickH]

Do you know if there’s a maximum size flashdrive that will work in GM cars? Also, I’d love to swing by but it’s not exactly convenient from NC 😆

[@alexisbrown8401]

As far as I know there is not! Ive loaded a very large collection of CDs on a flash drive and it worked perfectly. I would double-check your owner's manual.

[@tekola]

32 GB is max in cars (I have read)

[@mick91z24]

Not all flash drives will work i have 2019 arcadia and have 1tb flash drive over 5000 songs on it and it wont play it

[@donnaneal3848]

I have downloaded my cd on to the flash drive and it still does not play in my Buick Enclave 18. I have doubled checked and the download is does correctly on the flash drive. Any suggestions or someone I could call to get help

[@honsiadams1280]

My 2019 Equinox ONLY recognizes 2.0 USB and NOT 3.0! Even the dealership didn't know this! I had to tell them!

[@alexisbrown8401]

Yes as Honsi said, check the file type suggested in your owner's manual and ensure your music is in that file type. The next troubleshooting advice would be to check your USB. GM loves SanDisk and I have had perfect success with this brand. Others I have tried have not worked.

[@akmt123]

I cannot play any songs on my 2011 Ford Fusion nor on 2019 Mitsubishi RVR....why??????

[@spyroskokkalis6692]

Buy a Bentley or a Rolls Royce it'll work

[@lastcall170]

Wrong format of music files or wrong formatted thumb drive. I use FLAC setting when ripping my cds to my p.c. Then sync them to my thumb drive.

[@jlowe51]

How do I turn the shuffle option off on my GMC radio?

[@jlowe51]

@Mohicans finally figured out how to do it on mine. Mine has a circle on the screen that says Shuffle. If you push it, the light around the circle changes from white to blue but the light is so faint that I didn't even notice it changing at first. Anyway, when it turn blue, it on Shuffle.

[@jdemosth]

Most cars have USB plugs now

[@TiffanyGopal45]

Let me check if our parents car have that this is just a current usb drive I'm barrowing from my dad's friend. have a good rest of you're day.

[@brycemelton1]

how do you create playlists>

[@alexisbrown8401]

You can create playlists before you transfer your music to the USB drive.

[@JeanetteAAvila]

I can't use my USB on my Kenwood in my car😭

[@friendclose2u]

Its all about formatting the drive correctly

[@broken_font1881]

@@friendclose2u what should one format their usb as?

[@tealover01]

I have a stupid question.. I rent cars and just found my usb flash drive that is a 32 gig compressed format. I usually just use an old battery powered mp3 player using the audio cable input but the latest Rental was a 2020 corolla and it had no audio jack but 4 usb inputs so it will work if I plug mine in that and choose my source in the unit in any new vehicle I rent????

[@alexisbrown8401]

My loose answer is yes. However, different vehicles like different file formats so it all depends on your file type.

[@blubal42]

Don't plan on buying a newer car, but USB in my 2011 doesn't work. This video says nothing about when it says USB failed to load! Tried loading USB different ways and still nothing. Works on my PC & boombox, not the car! This video is for slow learners!

[@tattettot]

USB Explain

[@tekola]

There is a 32gb limit so don't waste money on anything larger for this purpose.

[@Reap45]

The screen monitor will only accept 32gb max 🤔

[@gustavorivera7660]

My chevrolet silverado wont read it

[@lastcall170]

Read your owners manual for the right format setting.

[@ElusiveMasquerade]

She knows some are bigger than others.

[@mahatmacoat7215]

Goodness gracious me.... This bird is frightening. All those teeth, eyes, nails and shouty shout to boot. None of this worked on my motor here in England anyway.

[@GetIntoYourLife]

my 2015 2LT impala wont detect a fat 32 USB that worked in another car. what gives.

[@waynelewis1454]

try formatting the usb to a ntfs ...that should work

[@alexisbrown8401]

Check your owner's manual for the file types your vehicle likes best! I've noticed variations between brands.

[@GetIntoYourLife]

@@alexisbrown8401 Thank you, Alexis

[@rejwan1193]

You look so beautiful

[@brigoose7945]

What a external hard drive

[@myhodgepodgeheart9298]

Don't have a computer.

[@MickF04]

I would love to use the USB input for music, but our 2015 Buick Enclave's audio software is awful. Some of the worse commercial software of *any* kind that I have encountered. The volume level of music files through the USB (and Bluetooth) sources is well below that of the radio frequencies (XM/FM/AM). About "12" or so difference on the volume scale. Anyone who has this vehicle (or cousins, like the Traverse) or similar years knows this to be quite loud. Total garbage. Don't buy this vehicle as used unless you never intend to use USB or Bluetooth music sources (FYI, it doesn't come with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, so it's lacking that too) or the previous owner has upgraded to an aftermarket unit. I've lived with this nonsense for far too many years.

[@user-yu5my1mh3e]

lost interest as soon as you mentioned "country".

[@ancientmartianunderground6413]

I'm gonna call her.... mmmmm... (just kidding)

[@akopianjon6445]

You are gorgeous girlll

[@ExtravagantTornadoTours]

She probably didn’t expect to get 100k views and 50k calls in a night haha

[@alexisbrown8401]

Catching up with all the comments! I must say, over the years I have talked to hundreds of people from all over. Definitely did not expect that and am no expert but pretty awesome and hopefully, it helped some!

[@barbaralisitza6136]

sorry I have a 2004 Saturn

[@roderickmacpherson6737]

For God's sake slow down!

[@IVANsuchilapan]

You are so beautiful baby muahhhhhhh

[@mungovender5308]

Hi...how do I download music from KZbin to flash drive so I can use USB in my car

[@northlander4370]

i wish i could read lips ...her voice hurts .

[@JUANKERR2000]

That voice made my ears bleed!

[@Jinka1950]

Omg. Exactly. Cute but needs serious elocution lessons.

[@JUANKERR2000]

@@Jinka1950 A gag would be a better idea. Cute? - you have an odd notion of cuteness :-)

[@alexisbrown8401]

@@Jinka1950 Just trying to help customers figure out how to get the most out of their vehicle. Feel free to use CC and mute the video

[@robertvpparadox1019]

Annoying voice - had to turn off

[@MadmaxMusic93]

Ford sync is better, not only that I get to keep my cd player gm lost me as customer FOREVER they suck ass, cheap unreliable crap lol

[@alexisbrown8401]

So sorry you had a bad GM experience. We have a GMC and Ford store so I am biased to both but glad to hear you're loving your Ford!

[@Jinka1950]

Slow down!!!! Talking tooooiio fast!!!!

[@Reap45]

Get fucking hearing aids