Support Home Sync Module Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting a USB Drive

How to reformat your USB drive

Legacy Blink devices such as XT, XT2, and Indoor (1st Gen) do not support Local Storage or Clip Backup. These cameras receive 7,200 seconds of Cloud Storage per Sync Module, with the oldest clips deleted when the limit is reached. Learn more about available storage options.

If you're experiencing issues with the USB drive connected to your Sync Module, it may be due to one of the following reasons:

  • The USB drive is incompatible with the Sync Module.
  • The USB drive requires reformatting.
  • The USB drive is full.

First, verify that your USB drive is properly connected to your Sync Module:

  1. From the Home Screen, scroll to the bottom of the camera thumbnail list and tap the Sync Module status bar.
    • The Sync Module status bar will show one of the following statuses:
      • Online
      • Offline: If the Sync Module is offline, visit Sync Module Troubleshooting.
      • Local storage full: Refer below for troubleshooting steps.
  2. Tap Local Storage. If the message "USB Drive Connected" is displayed, this confirms that your USB drive is connected. If a different message appears, use the dropdowns below to troubleshoot the specific issue.

USB Drive Not Compatible

If the message "USB Drive Not Compatible" is displayed, this indicates a compatibility issue with the Sync Module. First, ensure that you are using a compatible USB drive. If you are using a compatible USB drive, try reformatting it. If the issue continues after reformatting, the USB drive may be damaged and need to be replaced.

Learn more about Local Storage with Sync Module 2.

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Format USB Drive

Reformatting your USB drive will permanently erase all data. It is recommended to back up your files to prevent data loss.

If the message “Format USB Drive” is displayed, this indicates the inserted USB drive must be formatted before use. 

To format the USB drive:

  1. From the bottom of the Local Storage screen, tap Format USB Drive.
  2. Tap Format. When prompted to confirm, tap Format again.

Learn how to reformat your USB drive from a computer.

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USB Drive Full

If the available storage on your USB drive falls below 375MB, it will no longer be able to save Local Storage clips and Clip Backups.

If the message "USB Drive Full" is displayed, it indicates that your USB drive is full. 

To address this issue, consider the following:

  1. Free Up Space on the Current USB Drive:
    • Delete unnecessary clips to make space for new ones.
    • Reformat the USB drive. This will erase all data, including Local Storage Clips and Clip Backups. Ensure you back up any important data before proceeding.
    • Transfer files to a computer or another storage device to free up space.
  2. Use a Different USB Drive: If necessary, switch to another formatted USB drive.
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USB Drive Requirements

When using Local Storage or Clip Backup, the Sync Module 2 requires a USB drive that meets the following specifications:

  • Any Type-A USB drive in a supported format (ExFAT recommended).
  • Storage capacity between 1 GB and 256 GB.
  • At least 375 MB of free space.

Compatible USB Drive Formats

The USB drive inserted into the Sync Module 2 must be formatted to ensure clips are saved properly.

Supported Formats Unsupported Formats
ExFAT (recommended) HFS+
FAT32 EXT 2, 3, and 4
FAT NTFS
APFS
macOS Extended

Reformatting a USB Drive From a Computer

If you're experiencing issues with your USB drive, ensure you are using a compatible USB drive. If your USB drive is compatible, reformatting it to exFAT may resolve the issue. For instructions on how to reformat your USB drive, select the dropdown that corresponds to your operating system below.

macOS

Reformatting your USB drive will permanently erase all data. It is recommended to back up your files to prevent loss.

To format a USB drive to exFAT on macOS:

  1. Insert your USB drive to your Mac, then open Finder to verify that the USB drive is recognized and appears in the left sidebar.
  2. To open Disk Utility, click the magnifying glass icon in the top-right corner of your screen or press Command (⌘) + Space bar on your keyboard to launch Spotlight Search. Next, type Disk Utility and press Enter.
  3. In Disk Utility, select the USB drive and click on the Erase button.
  4. In the Format pop-up menu, choose exFAT, leaving the other settings at their default.
  5. Name the drive whatever you'd like.
  6. Click Erase to begin formatting.
  7. When complete, click Done to close the formatting dialog. 
  8. Click the eject icon to the right of the disk in the Disk Utility or drag the drive into your trash.
  9. Unplug the drive from your computer and place it back into your Sync Module 2.
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Windows

Reformatting your USB drive will permanently erase all data. It is recommended to back up your files to prevent loss.

To format a USB drive to exFAT on Windows:

  1. Insert the drive into your Windows computer and open File Explorer.
  2. Find the USB drive, and right-click on it to bring up the menu.
  3. Select Format.
  4. In the new window that appears, under the File System select exFAT and click Start.
  5. When the Format Complete message appears, you can eject the drive.
  6. Unplug the USB drive from your computer and place it back into your Sync Module 2.
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Chromebook

Reformatting your USB drive will permanently erase all data. It is recommended to back up your files to prevent loss.

To format a USB drive to exFAT on Chromebook:

  1. Insert USB drive into your Chromebook and open the Files app.
  2. Click Settings (3 dot icon) at the top right to open a menu.
  3. Select Format device.
  4. Under Format, click the down-arrow button and select exFAT.
  5. Click Erase and Format.
  6. Watch for the Format Complete prompt to display on the bottom right of the File App.
  7. Unplug the drive from your computer and place it back into your Sync Module 2.
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