MG CAR OWNERS FORUM

Because I'm afraid of dropping the memory stick into the USB-C port under the air conditioning controls, I've been attempting to use a USB to SD reader that I could VHB tape into position, but the vehicle still doesn't detect the card.

It is my understanding that the card is formatted as FAT32 and that all the MP3 files are located in folders under the root folder. Is that acceptable?

Is it limited to USB memory sticks or has anyone gotten it to work?

Is this the correct way to organise the folders and files?

Guide to Gran Turismo's Albums and Cardigans

<DIR> on 2011-03-05 at 05:27 PM.
at 05:27 PM on 2011-03-05 <DIR>..
The Cardigans—Gran Turismo—01—Paralyzed.mp3 7,450,741 views 2011-03-05 05:21 PM
At 5:21 PM on March 5, 2011, 5,758,228 people downloaded the song "Erase-Rewind" by The Cardigans from Gran Turismo.
5,662,774 Cardigans were born on 2011-03-05 at 5:22 PM. The Gran Turismo - 03 - Explode.mp3 is the song in question.
At 5:23 PM on March 5, 2011, 5,862,692 The Gran Turismo - 04 - Starter by The Cardigans.mp3.
At 5:24 PM on March 5, 2011, 6,084,523 people downloaded the song "Hanging Around" by The Cardigans from Gran Turismo.
The Cardigans—Gran Turismo—06—Higher.mp3 was played 6,133,386 times on 2011-03-05 at 5:25 PM.
At 5:25 PM on March 5, 2011, 7,110,335 Cardigans were The game "Gran Turismo" track seven, "Marvel Hill."
Cardigans 6,055,821 as of 2011-03-06 01:54 PM "My Favourite Game" from Gran Turismo, song number eight.mp3.
At 5:27 PM on March 5, 2011, 4,707,309 Listen to "Do You Believe" by The Cardigans - Gran Turismo - 09 mp3.
6,001,044 downloads of "Junk Of The Hearts" by The Cardigans from Gran Turismo on 2011-03-05 at 5:27 PM
The Cardigans—Gran Turismo—11—Nil.mp3 2,891,406 views 2011-03-05 05:28 PM
11,718,259 bytes in 11 files

Give this a go...

You have just encountered a well-known restriction on hardware communication in today's automotive media brains. Even though your files and formatting (FAT32) are spot on, the intermediary is being rejected by the vehicle's physical hardware.
The simple answer is no; an SD card in a multi-slot USB card reader will typically go unrecognised by the 2024 C-HR's Toyota Smart Connect system.
Find out why your reader isn't working and how to fix the "knocked stick" issue in a way that won't leave a visible wire.

The Reasons the Card Reader Isn't Functional

The USB-C port located beneath your air conditioner's controls is designed to communicate directly with a single flash drive, which is a standard USB Mass Storage Class device.
The car's computer initially comes across a "Hub" controller, which divides into a card slot, when you insert a USB-to-SD reader. In order to access the SD card's storage volume, the vehicle's software is missing the fundamental device drivers needed to communicate with the reader chip. Assuming there is no power source, it abruptly turns off.

Partition Style: The Hidden Pitfall

Toyota systems still reject drives that are fully functional on a personal computer for a second reason, even after you obtain a different reader.
Most modern Windows and Mac computers will automatically write the drive layout using GPT (GUID Partition Table) when you format a card or stick as FAT32.

More recent Toyotas abhor GPT with a passion.
The vehicle is incompatible with modern storage drive formats and must use the legacy MBR (Master Boot Record) format. The media screen will stay fully greyed out if it's GPT.

We Have the Ideal Answers for You

Two excellent, ultra-slim alternatives that do not include protruding cables or cumbersome readers exist, which is ideal given that you primarily wish to avoid having a lengthy USB drive inadvertently hit by a travel companion or a mobile device:

One option is the cleanest method: the fit-and-forget "Nano" USB-C stick.
Samsung and SanDisk are two examples of the many brands that sell ultra-compact, low-profile USB-C flash drives (also known as "Nano" or "Fit" drives).

The size of these drives is almost identical to that of the metal USB-C connector.
Their protrusion when inserted into the slot beneath the air conditioner is minimal, measuring only 2 to 3 millimetres. Physically, you can't knock or bend them out of place; they appear like a small plastic button on the dashboard.

Second Choice: An Angular USB-C Extension
To keep your music storage out of sight entirely or to remain true to your VHB tape idea:

Get a male to female USB-C extension cable that's 15 to 30 cm long and has a right angle.
The thin wire is routed flat downward into the storage tray by means of the right-angle plug, which sits flush against the port. After you've plugged in your music drive, you can safely tuck it away at the base of the tray.

Methods for Repairing Toyota Music Folders

To ensure it reads every track, configure your new tiny USB stick exactly as the Toyota software prefers:

Use a free partition tool, such as Rufus on PC, to make sure the drive is formatted to FAT32 and set to MBR before formatting.
Create a master folder named "Music": Do not simply drop folders onto the root. In the root directory, make a single folder called "Music" and then add the folders for your artists and albums inside.
Be Wary of the Folder Burden: There is a limit of 255 files per folder and 8 levels of folders in the Toyota system. Minimise complexity in your file structures!

After reformatting the USB drive (retaining the FAT32 format) and restoring the original files and folders, it finally recognised the music. Clearly, it had been being fussy before.

Even after formatting the SD card and copying again, the files are still not visible in the USB->SD reader. Ugh.

The "SANDISK Extreme Fit" had been sitting in my Amazon basket for a few days, but I opted not to buy it because the smallest capacity is 256 GB and the price is £65; I also came across several "no name" nano sticks, but reviews usually mentioned that they were slow or flaky, so I had to return them. A short USB-C M->F cable and a memory stick will suffice, I suppose.

After reading the beeping manual, I finally understood why my 64GB USB-C pen drive wouldn't pair with my 2024 C-HR PHEV. Before that, I was confused.

I formatted the 64GB drive to 32GB max using a Linux OS laptop, following the presented instructions.

My entire music library, including videos (yep, videos), became accessible and functional.

Another regrettable shortcoming where Toyota skimped on giving us that additional bit is that the USB-C port in our C-HRs cannot support a minimum of 128GB.

Such a vehicle ought to have an SSD integrated into the audio system, allowing one to transfer music to it and enjoy an extensive music library at their fingertips.

But I use Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and it's fantastic; it completely changes how you use that 12.3-inch touchscreen. I guess they thought most people would use those, though.

Making playlists and having them displayed on your phone is also much easier.