My product isn’t playing music files on my USB drive

Troubleshooting USB Playback Issues

If a USB drive is connected but music files aren’t playing, several factors may be affecting compatibility. This guide outlines the steps to resolve playback issues across all Naim products that support USB audio playback.

1. Check the File System Format

Ensure the USB drive is formatted using a supported file system:

• FAT32: Supported across all products.
• exFAT: Supported on newer products running firmware version 3.4 or later.
• NTFS and HFS+: Supported on some models such as the NDX 2 and ND555.

If the drive is not recognized, reformatting it to FAT32 or exFAT is recommended. Always back up your data before reformatting.

2. Confirm File Compatibility

Only supported audio file formats will be recognized. These include:

• WAV
• FLAC
• AIFF
• ALAC
• MP3
• AAC
• OGG

Files in unsupported formats or with incorrect extensions will not appear in the Focal & Naim app.

3. Simplify Folder Structure and File Names

Drives with overly complex folder hierarchies or special characters in file or folder names may not be indexed correctly. For best results:

• Use simple folder structures.
• Avoid special characters such as & in file or folder names, which may cause playback issues on some firmware versions.
• Keep the number of tracks below 100,000 to ensure smooth indexing.

4. Reconnect and Restart

If the drive is correctly formatted and contains supported files:

• Disconnect and reconnect the USB drive.
• Restart the Naim product.
• Wait a few moments for the device to scan and index the content.

5. Use the Focal & Naim App to Access USB Content

Once connected:

1. Open the Focal & Naim app.
2. Select your device from the My Devices screen.
3. Navigate to the USB input.
4. Browse and play music directly from the drive.

If the USB input does not appear, the drive may not be recognized or may need to be reformatted.