USB port on my 2021 Tacoma truck.

[IGBT]

My Toyota Tacoma doesn't have a CD player but does have a Multi Media center with a USB port. What's the best course of action to put my music files on the USB stick so I can play them on my truck's Multi Media Center..??

 

[LikeLinus]

Probably download your music to the USB stick with a folder structure like Artist > Album > Audio Files.

You may want to read the manual to see if there is a limitation on # of files or folders and what audio file extension it supports. I've seen instances where an audio system in a car couldn't read over 254 folders or something like that.

Also, the manual will probably tell you how to format the USB stick. FAT32, NTFS, or exFAT.

 

[UsandThem]

My RAV4 has the same thing, and I've used memory cards up to 64GB in size to load music onto. It might support larger sizes, but I've never had the need to try.

I just copy and paste music from my music folder in Windows 10 onto the USB drive.

So basically I just grab the main folder of the band (say Pink Floyd), with all the various albums in it, and then copy - paste. Done.

 

[IGBT]

My RAV4 has the same thing, and I've used memory cards up to 64GB in size to load music onto. It might support larger sizes, but I've never had the need to try.

I just copy and paste music from my music folder in Windows 10 onto the USB drive.

So basically I just grab the main folder of the band (say Pink Floyd), with all the various albums in it, and then copy - paste. Done.

It must be in a MP3 format?

 

[UsandThem]

It must be in a MP3 format?

I've only ever used MP3 (320 kbps) encoded music with my Toyota factory installed radio/USB ports. When I replaced it with an aftermarket radio a couple of years back (Kenwood), in the manual it stated additional formats, but I just left the audio files at MP3.

You could try other popular formats and see if they work, or the manual should state what formats will work.

 

[IGBT]

I've only ever used MP3 (320 kbps) encoded music with my Toyota factory installed radio/USB ports. When I replaced it with an aftermarket radio a couple of years back (Kenwood), in the manual it stated additional formats, but I just left the audio files at MP3.

You could try other popular formats and see if they work, or the manual should state what formats will work.

Great advise...I loaded up about 5 hours of old school Jazz on a USB stick and it plays / sounds great...even have a copy of St.Anger in there..

 

[UsandThem]

even have a copy of St.Anger in there..

I don't know if I can side with you on that one. Maybe we could meet in the middle with Master Of Puppets, or And Justice For All.

 

[imported_Irse]

I use a low-profile USB stick so it doesn't stick out and me hitting it.

 

[IGBT]

I use a low-profile USB stick so it doesn't stick out and me hitting it.

Good suggestion. The one I'm using does protrude a bit.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

You folks are talkin' about USB ports in NEW cars, here!

Starting last summer, I posted a thread (or two or three . . ) about my "MP3-player" project. It communicates with the 1995 OEM digital radio receiver as an FM transmitter. It has a bluetooth receiver as well, and two USB ports. I, too, use a 64GB Sandisk Cruzer Fit, and I think I've filled up 60%. I created folders for "Rock&Roll", "Classical", "Jazz", "Folk" etc. Then, organized the folder by Artist, and those folders broken up into Album subdirectories.

The MP3 player device was meant to be plugged into the cigar lighter, but people complained about unreliable power connections. I bought a cigar-lighter splitter, cut the wire to one female plug, and connected the player (semi-) permanently to its own fused ACC lead. It's a $30 device! From Jhina! Works great. It will play MP3 and WAV files. Won't use FLAC. But -- no big deal.