2021 F350 with factory tow package so I have the screen for the camera. The 'radio' is a basic AM/FM but has the ability to connect to my Pixel 8 to show texts, etc. So when I press the Media button the location is empty. I'm thinking that there must be a folder or subfolder on the phone or needs one created with a specific name so the entertainment system can find the content. I can not find information for this instruction. I've tried to find instruction in the manual but, ARGHH,

Any hints?

 

I believe "media" means you have a USB drive plug in somewhere.

 

The manual doesn't clarify that either. There is a USB connector on the dash and another in the back of the center console for the back seat and the manual is worthless to explain if they are just for charging or can connect a device. Again, would any content be in the root directory or a certain folder?

 

I haven't driven a sync 3 truck in a few years.
I believe the media needs to be on a USB drive in the console.
If you want to play the media from your phone, you need to use a media player on your phone to send it to the truck via bluetooth. I believe that is how my Android was set up on my 18 F150.

 

On my 2017 F250 XL with standard Sync 4” screen I pressed the Sync voice button and say Bluetooth audio, then it asks what do you want to do. Say connect to play Pandora. It took a couple times the first time. From then on I turn on my pandora music and push the media button and it connects right up. It’s an iPhone and make sure your Bluetooth is on. With a lot of research I found this on Fords website.

 

My truck has Sync 3 - this is how it works for me: The Media button simply scrolls through the attached media devices. Mine is AM1 - AM2 - AM3 - FM1 - FM2 - FM3 - XM1 - XM2 - XM3 - Bluetooth (Phone) - USB Device. Each press of the button advances the menu one step forward. Once you stop on the source you wish to listen to, it has no other use. You now control the source with the dash or steering wheel buttons, or via voice commands. I have a 1TB SSD with 1,500+ CDs ripped in FLAC format plugged into the USB port in the front console behind the sliding door. I select USB as the source and then it starts playing. I press the Browse button on the screen and use the menus to navigate to what I want to play. It sucks, but it works. Supported audio formats include MP3, WMA, WAV, AAC, and FLAC. Supported audio file extensions include MP3, WMA, WAV, M4A, M4B, AAC, and FLAC. My folder structure is Artist - Album(s) - Songs. It will also display the album art and song info on the screen, if you include that in the ripped files.

If you have plain Sync, you are more limited in what you can do. The following is what the manual says: The system is also capable of playing music from your cellular phone through Bluetooth. To switch the Bluetooth Audio on, press the MEDIA button and select: BT Audio.

 

That makes sense since the audio on the phone is carried into the pickup's sound system via bluetooth. But when the Media button is pressed it displays that the location, wherever that is located, is EMPTY. That's my question: where is the location the Media button is looking to find content?

 

So nobody carries a podcast on their phone or USB drive into their 2020 vintage pickup to listen on the road trip to town? Nobody has experience with their hooptie-do bazillion $ rig with all the sound and media options?

Lastly, I will not install the 'Connect' app on my phone. Maybe this is the problem?

 

The media button for the truck is looking for media on a usb thumb drive plugged into the console cubby.
If you are trying to play from your phone over bluetooth. open your app and press play. If no app is running on the phone, Sync 3 can't open it.
Are you apple or android? I run android, apple may be different.

 

Pixel 8 so Android.

Thank you.

 

If you put it on a usb drive, make sure the drive is formatted correctly. I believe FAT32.
Once you plug it in, the screen should say something about indexing the drive.

 

@Neohio is correct. I have my media stored on a USB. Each album is in its own folder which are in the root directory.

If you have music on your phone you want to play you have to either connect the phone to the truck with a USB cable or connect via Bluetooth on my 2022 Sync 3 system. Your phone will also charge when connected.

I have a mix of music on both and what I use depends on my mood and the state of charge of my phone.

Bob