When plugging a USB drive or SD card into Rekordbox, some users find that the software fails to detect the device at all. This guide walks through practical ways to identify the cause and restore normal access.
If you’ve ever plugged in a USB drive, opened Rekordbox, and been greeted with… nothing, you know how stressful this issue can be. One minute you’re ready to export your set, the next minute Rekordbox acts like your USB doesn’t even exist. Sound familiar?
Don’t worry. You’re not alone, and more importantly, this problem is usually fixable. In this guide, we’ll break down why Rekordbox can’t read your USB drive, what’s really going on behind the scenes, and exactly how to fix it—step by step, without the tech jargon overload.
Rekordbox is a professional DJ platform that combines cloud-based music organization with live performance tools. When exporting tracks, DJs typically rely on USB flash drives or SD cards. However, there are times when Rekordbox fails to recognize a connected USB device. This usually happens for a few common reasons.
Before Rekordbox can access a USB drive, the operating system must detect it first. If the drive does not appear on the computer, no application—including Rekordbox—will be able to use it.
This issue can stem from several causes. Faulty or outdated drivers, incompatible or damaged partitions, or even physical problems with the drive itself can all prevent detection. When a USB drive is not showing up at the system level, resolving that problem should always be the first step.
Rekordbox operates in four distinct modes: Performance, Export, Edit, and Lighting, each designed for a specific purpose.
💭 Performance Mode is used for playing music with a connected DJ controller or mixer.
💭 Edit Mode allows tracks to be edited or reworked directly within the software.
💭 Lighting Mode focuses on configuring lighting fixtures and creating lighting scenes.
💭 Export Mode is the only mode that supports transferring music to USB drives or SD cards.
If Rekordbox is running in any mode other than Export, external storage devices will not be recognized.
Rekordbox supports only a limited set of file systems: FAT16, FAT32, and HFS+. When a drive is formatted with one of these systems, it appears under the Device tab, allowing tracks to be dragged and dropped directly from the music library.
Drives formatted as NTFS, exFAT, or other file systems are not compatible and will not be detected. It is also worth noting that HFS+ is exclusive to macOS. For Windows users, FAT32 is the preferred option, as it offers broader compatibility and supports larger partitions than FAT16.
These are the three most common scenarios that can prevent Rekordbox from recognizing a USB drive. If you are facing the same issue, the solutions below can help restore proper detection and functionality.
Start by confirming that the USB drive is securely connected to the computer. Then press Windows + E to launch File Explorer and see whether the external drive appears in the list of available devices.
If the drive does not show up, the next step is to inspect it through Disk Management. This tool can reveal underlying problems that prevent the system from recognizing the device.
Step 1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
Step 2. Enter diskmgmt.msc and press Enter to access Disk Management.
Step 3. Review the USB drive’s status and look for issues such as a RAW file system, a missing drive letter, or other disk-related errors.
Launch Rekordbox and navigate to the mode selector in the upper-left corner of the interface. Click the menu next to the Rekordbox icon and switch to Export mode.
Once Export mode is enabled, locate the large Device button in the lower-left corner of the screen and select it. Your connected USB drive should then appear and be ready for use.
Windows provides several built-in tools, such as File Explorer, CMD, and Disk Management, that can handle basic disk management tasks. These tools allow you to format USB drives or SD cards up to 32GB with the FAT32 file system.
How to format a USB drive to FAT32 using File Explorer:
Step 1. Connect the USB drive to your PC.
Step 2. Open File Explorer, locate the USB drive, right-click it, and select Format.
Step 3. In the File System dropdown, choose FAT32, then click Start to begin formatting.
While Windows tools can handle FAT32 formatting for drives up to 32GB, drives larger than 32GB require third-party software for the task. AOMEI Partition Assistant is a reliable option for formatting drives up to 2TB with the FAT32 file system. If you're unable to format your drive using the built-in Windows tools, or if the drive exceeds 32GB, AOMEI Partition Assistantis highly recommended.
Step 1: Download AOMEI Partition Assistant, install it, and launch the program. From the main screen, right-click the drive you want to format and choose “Format Partition”.
Step 2: In the pop-up window, select the file system that fits your needs, then click “OK”.
Step 3: Review the pending operation. Once confirmed, click “Apply” and “Proceed” to start the formatting process.
Rekordbox may recognize the USB but not the CDJ due to firmware mismatch, unsupported file system, USB formatting issues, or outdated CDJ drivers. Ensure CDJ firmware is updated and USB is properly formatted for Rekordbox.
Yes, exFAT is generally better than FAT32 for Rekordbox because it supports files larger than 4GB, works with both Windows and macOS, and allows faster transfers, especially for high-capacity USB drives.
No, Rekordbox cannot read encrypted USB drives. Encryption prevents Rekordbox from accessing file structures, making the device unreadable. The drive must be decrypted or formatted in a compatible file system to work.
The number of tracks depends on USB capacity and file sizes. For example, a 32GB USB can store roughly 4,000–6,000 average MP3 tracks. High-quality WAV/AIFF files reduce capacity significantly.
Using multiple USBs is safer for gigs to prevent total data loss. One USB is fine for simplicity, but backups ensure uninterrupted performance if a drive fails during a set.
Rekordbox failing to read a USB drive is frustrating, but it’s rarely a dead end. In most cases, the issue comes down to system detection, export mode settings, or an unsupported file system. By checking the drive at the OS level, switching Rekordbox to Export mode, and formatting the USB to FAT32 when needed, you can restore compatibility and get back to preparing your sets with confidence.