Fixed: PS4 Won’t Recognize/Read USB Drive [2023 Guide]

If your PS4 not reading USB drive or not recognizing USB storage and you want to fix it but still didn’t get the accurate solution then just relax. As in this article, you will find complete info regarding how to fix PS4 won’t recognize USB or PS4 won’t read USB issue successfully.

Besides, you will also get the best Hard Drive Data Recovery tool to retrieve the lost or deleted data from PS4 effectively. Below find the download button of this tool.

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Without wasting even a minute, let’s have a look at the solutions below:

How To Fix PS4 Won’t Recognize Or Read USB Drive Error?

Quick Solutions

Step-By-Step Solutions Guide

Fix 1: Format USB Drive To FAT32 or exFAT

If your USB drive came with the NTFS file system, then the PS4 game console will not…Complete Steps

Fix 2: Format NTFS Drive To FAT32 Via Windows Explorer

This is one of the simple methods to format the disk and resolve PS4…Complete Steps

Fix 3: Fix USB Drive Not Connected To PS4 Problem

As mentioned above it is difficult to plug-in USB drive into the USB interface of PS4…Complete Steps

Solution #1: Format USB Drive To FAT32 or exFAT

If your USB drive came with the NTFS file system, then the PS4 game console will not support it. As mentioned-above that PS4 only supports FAT32 and exFAT file system.

So, you have to convert the USB drive NTFS file system to the FAT32/exFAT file system. Below follow the steps on how to fix PS4 not recognizing USB.

Step 1: Connect your USB drive to PC. Right-click “My Computer” in Windows 7 or “This PC” in Windows 10. Then, click on “Manage”.

Step 2: Click “Disk Management”, under Storage.

Step 3: Right-click on the USB drive and select “Delete Volume”. Now your USB drive is empty showing as Unallocated.

Step 4: Right-click on the unallocated disk and select “New Simple Volume”.

Step 5: Follow the onscreen step to move ahead. At the last step, select “Format this volume with…”. Here you can select the file system to be exFAT.

Alternatively, you can also format NTFS drive to FAT32 via Windows file explorer and solve PS4 doesn’t recognize USB.

Solution#2: Format NTFS Drive To FAT32 Via Windows Explorer

This is one of the simple methods to format the disk and resolve PS4 the USB storage device is not connected error. In simple words, your drive is formatted to NTFS and it is not compatible with PS4. Let me tell you that PS4 only recognize exFAT and FAT32.

So, if your USB storage has another file system, then ps4 won’t recognize USB and it will continue to throw “cannot be used. The file system is not supported“. You can easily format the NTFS USB drive to FAT32 via Windows Explorer. Below follow the steps to fix PS4 not reading fat32 USB:

  • Connect your USB drive to the computer. Open Windows Explorer, then right-click on a USB drive and click on the “Format” option.
  • This will pop-up another window. Here you can select “exFAT or FAT32 in the file system section.
  • Here you can set the volume label. “Quick Format” is selected by default.
  • Finally, click on “Start” to begin a quick format for your USB drive.

Note: While formatting USB drive via Windows Explorer, it is possible that you may get an error message “Windows was unable to complete the format”. Here learn the solutions to Fix “Windows was Unable to Complete the Format” Error on USB, Memory Card & Hard Drive.

Solution #3: Fix USB Drive Not Connected To PS4 Problem

As mentioned above it is difficult to plug-in USB drive into the USB interface of PS4, if your device port is too bigger. In such a case, it is recommended that you must use a USB 3.0 cable to connect your storage device to PS4.

Further, some USB drive is not compatible with PS4 or PS4 can’t read USB. In such a case, you must use a branded USB for example a SanDisk, Sony or Samsung USB drive to connect to your PS4 for file transferring as these USB drives have better compatibility. In this way, you can easily fix PS4 won’t read USB drive issues.

Note: Before you perform any solutions mentioned below to troubleshoot PS4 won’t recognize or read USB drive or hard drive. You must first take a backup of your important files.

Because it is possible that you lose your files after fixing the error PS4 USB storage device not connected. At the time, you can perform external storage data recovery by following the below-recommended solution.


Recover Data From PS4 Not Recognized USB Flash Drive

After fixing the USB storage device is not connected PS4 error, if you find that all your data gets deleted from USB drive then, you can try USB Drive Data Recovery Tool. This software recovers inaccessible or lost videos, recorded game videos, captured game screenshots, and music audio from the PS4 USB flash drive.

With the help of the USB Flash Drive Data Recovery tool, you can:

  • Efficiently retrieve inaccessible media files such as photos, videos, and audio files from USB that won’t recognize in PS4.
  • Recover data from a USB drive that is unreadable, unrecognized, or completely not responding when connected to PS4.
  • Also recover digital media files from memory cards, USB flash drives, pen drives, memory sticks, hard drives, external hard drive, and other media storage devices.
  • Preview recoverable files within the preview screen of the software before final recovery.
  • 100% read-only. Safe, secure, and easy to use.

The software is available for both Windows and Mac computers.

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* Free version of the program only scans and previews recoverable objects.

Tip: Whenever PS4 stops reading or recognizing USB storage, then the very first step you must take the backup of your USB storage drive data.

In case, you don’t have backups then, in order to recover media files from PS4 external hard drive not recognized use this effective software.

Follow its step-by-step guide to recover data from not recognized PS4 USB flash drive.

What Do You Need To Know About PS4?

PS4 (PlayStation 4) is a gaming console that comes with limited storage space. Hence, many PS4 users connect an external USB drive to expand the storage space.

There are many usages of external USB drive during playing games in PS4. For example, you may need to transfer PS4 video files from USB to PC, transfer pictures to a USB so that you can watch them later. Keeping the backup of your precious PS4 files to prevent any kind of data loss that may occur in the event of PS4 system failure.

But sometimes PS4 stop reading and recognizing USB drive and its files. PS4 simply stops responding at all. In such a situation, you must know that something has gone wrong with the USB itself.

And when your ps4 not reading USB, then you can’t access files as well you can’t transfer any data since this USB storage device can’t be used by PS4.

What Format Does A USB Need To Be For PS4?

The USB drive needs FAT32 or exFAT format for PS4. This is because the PS4 doesn’t support NTFS file system. And exFAT usually supports files that are over 4GB in size.

So, now the question is – why PS4 can’t read or recognize USB flash drive?

Let’s find out the answer to your question…

Why PS4 Can’t Read Or Recognize USB Flash Drive?

When you plug a USB drive to your PS4 and if it fails to read/recognize your USB drive, then it generally throws these types of error messages, they are as follows:

  • “The USB storage device cannot be used. The files system is not supported”
  • “USB storage device not connected PS4”
  • “PS4 stopped recognizing external hard drive”
  • “The USB storage device is not connected”.

Just check out the screenshot of the error message.

These error messages are caused due to some reasons:

Showing PS4 won’t read USB update can be due to the limitation of the file system. When you connect your USB drive to PS4 but show that PS4 external hard drive stopped being recognized. In such a case, you must consider compatibility.

Let me tell you that some old USB storage device is not compatible with PS4. Moreover, the USB interface of PS4 is completely different from other game consoles. Hence, it is very difficult to plug in a USB drive. Most likely you fail to plug in the port if the interface of your USB drive is too big. In reality, you think you have connected it to PS4, but actually, it is not.

FAQ(Frequently Asked Questions)

How Do I Factory Reset My PS4 Without Logging In?

If there is any trouble with the system software that prevents you from getting to the Settings option and resetting your PS4 then try to access in Safe Mode. To factory reset your PS4 in Safe Mode, you have to follow the below steps:

  • First of all, you have to turn off the PS4 and do not set it to Rest Mode. You have to completely power of the device s that you can go to the Safe Mode.
  • Next, you have to push the power button on the console and hold it for about 8 seconds. It will then beep once after you touch the button and then again beep before it starts booting up into the Safe Mode.
  • Now, in the next step, you have to go the Settings menu in Safe Mode and then select there ‘Restore Default Settings’ in order to reset PS4. But, do not forget to keep the data as a backup option. Or, you can also select there ‘Initialize PS4’.

Which USB Flash Drive Is Compatible with PS4

Well, any USB flash drive would work as a backup solution for PS4, so there is no any specific recommendation made yet for this. PS4 system does not accept 256GB USB flash drives for the purpose to extend storage space. So, it is better to use USB flash drives that are not less than 512GB in space.

How Do You Hard Reset A PS4?

Well, if your PS4 is creating any issue while connecting to the USB drive and want to hard reset it then you can try this below solution mentioned in the video. Hope it will work … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFsQBgw5eGw

Conclusion

I hope you must be now able to fix PS4 won’t recognize or read USB drive are listed in the article. The best solution to fix PS4 USB storage device is not connected or PS4 not reading fat32 USB is to format USB to exFAT/FAT32 which is listed in the article.

All the ways to solve PS4 won’t recognize or read USB drives are very easy and anyone can use them without any trouble.

However, if your PS4 USB drive files have become inaccessible, then you can try USB Storage Drive Data Recovery Tool to recover media files from USB flash drive.