USB UPDATE

INSTRUCTIONS
FOR SYNC 3
These instructions will help you to update Vehicle Update:
your SYNC 3 to the latest software version.
• You’ll need a USB Flash Drive of at least 4 GB
Please note the vehicle can still be driven of space. Please make sure it’s clear of any
during the installation, but you may other files on the drive.
experience slow system performance due
to the installation process running in the • The in-vehicle update will take about
background. 20-30 minutes to complete.

• To avoid any interruptions during the update

(e.g. due to low battery level and auto-
shutdown), the recommendation is to initiate
the update before starting a journey of
approximately 30 minutes. 

Approximate time for in-vehicle update: File Size: Approximately 4 GB  While the update is in process, please do
20-30 minutes. not remove the USB Flash Drive or turn
off Sync.
Before this, the time taken to download
the file and add it to your USB Flash This may cause malfunction or damage
Drive will depend on connection to the system
bandwidth.

1
STEP 1
PREPARE UPDATE

1. M
 ake sure your USB Flash Drive has a Note: To enable a proper update process
capacity of at least 4 GB. please make sure that only the following
are present on the USB flash drive:
2. Make sure the USB Flash Drive is
formatted to exFat prior to the update. • The folder with the title “SyncMyRide”
• One file “autoinstall.lst”
Please consult the FAQ section for • One file “DONTINDX.MSA”
information on how to format the USB
Flash Drive The unzip tool should automatically create
all these files on the USB Flash Drive (root
The update available for download is directory). If not, please ensure you extract
packaged as an archive so you will need the complete main package and not just
to unzip it after download. For unzipping some of the individual folders and files.
the file, you can use tools such as WinZip, 
WinRAR or 7zip.  It is recommended to right click on the
downloaded archive file and extract all
3. Initiate the download from the Ford directly to the USB Flash Drive. 
SYNC & Maps software update website
(https://www.ford.co.uk/owner/
resources-and-support/sync-bluetooth/ Do not create any folder on the USB
update#/) to an easily accessible drive on Flash Drive as this may cause errors during
your PC.  installation. However, if the “SyncMyRide”
folder is missing on the USB Flash Drive
4. Locate the downloaded file on your after unzipping has completed, you may
computer and unzip the files (with a tool need to create the folder manually.
of your choice) directly onto the highest Please see FAQs on how to do this.
level (root directory) of your USB Flash
Drive. 5. Safely remove the USB Flash Drive from
your computer.

You are now ready to update your vehicle.

2
STEP 2
VEHICLE UPDATE

Inside your vehicle 4. When the update is finished, an

“Installation Is Complete…” Pop-up will
1. Turn on your vehicle’s engine. Please appear on the screen. You may now remove
remove any other USB devices prior to the the USB Flash Drive.
installation and do not insert again until
the update is completed. To ensure the updates will take effect,
please perform a key cycle at your
2. Insert the USB Flash Drive into the earliest convenience. This requires the
vehicle‘s USB port. The USB Flash Drive following steps: 
will begin to be recognised by SYNC. This
might take few a minutes. • Stop driving
• Ignition OFF / Stop
A message at the top bar of the display • Open and close driver‘s door
will indicate that the software update and lock it
has started. This message is transient and • Wait at least 2 minutes (ensure
may disappear in the course of the SYNC Display shuts off) 
installation. • Unlock / open driver‘s door
• Ignition ON / Start
3. SYNC software update will continue for
approximately the next 20-30 minutes.  The vehicle software update is now completed.

The system may reboot during the

update. Do not remove the USB Flash
Drive from the USB port (the update is
not yet complete).

During the update, the following Pop-

up message may appear: “Automatic
software update”. In this case press “Not
right now”. Do not press “Yes“ or “No”.
The installation will proceed
automatically.

For further information please consult

the FAQ. 

3
STEP 3
UPDATING RECORDS

Once the installation is complete a log Here’s how to upload the log file using
file is generated on your USB Flash Drive. your PC:
Please upload this log file onto the Ford
SYNC & Maps software update website 1. Connect your USB Flash Drive to your PC
(https://www.ford.co.uk/owner/resources- and revisit the Ford SYNC & Maps software
and-support/sync-bluetooth/update#/) update website (https://www.ford.
to confirm the installation was successful. co.uk/owner/resources-and-support/sync-
This is required to offer you the latest bluetooth/update#/).
software and map updates in the future.
2. Click the button “Confirm your update”
and follow the instructions to upload the
log file from your USB Flash Drive.

The log file is stored in the SyncMyRide

folder on the USB Flash Drive.
The filename includes SYNC + serial
number + VIN and has the
extension .xml (e.g. Sync_WUB3A18V_
WF05MNGCC5FY12345.xml). 

3. You have now confirmed the update was

installed. Thank you!

4
FREQUENTLY
ASKED
QUESTIONS

1. How do I check my USB Flash Drive is ·   One folder with the title “SyncMyRide”
formatted to exFAT? including system update files
·    One file “autoinstall.lst”
Mac users · One file “DONTINDX.MSA”

1. Insert your USB Flash Drive into your 3. There is no “SyncMyRide” folder after
computer’s USB port uncompressing the downloaded archive file
2. Open Finder onto the USB Flash Drive. What do I need to
3. Right-click on your USB drive and select ‘Get do now?
Info’
4. Under Format, you should see the option If the “SyncMyRide” folder is missing, please
‘exFAT’ create it in the root folder of your USB Flash Drive
and move all files other than “autoinstall.lst” and
PC users “DONTINDX.MSA” into that folder. To enable a
proper update process, please make sure that only
1. Insert your USB Flash Drive into your the following is present in the root folder of the
computer’s USB port USB Flash Drive:
2. Open My Computer
3. Right-click on your USB drive and select ·   One folder with the title “SyncMyRide”
‘Properties’ including system update files
4. Under File System, you should see the option ·    One file “autoinstall.lst”
‘exFAT’ ·  One file “DONTINDX.MSA”
If your USB drive is not formatted to exFAT,
you’ll need to either manually format it as exFAT 4. The update failed. I got the following
or find another USB Flash Drive to use. error message: “Incorrect Hardware version.
Please remove the USB drive. SYNC will
Note: Formatting will remove any data restart automatically.”
stored on your USB Flash Drive.
The software on the USB Flash Drive is not
compatible with the hardware release in your
2. Nothing happens after plugging in the USB vehicle. Please visit the Ford SYNC & Maps
Flash Drive. What do I need to do? software update website (https://www.ford.co.uk/
owner/resources-and-support/sync-bluetooth/
The installation process may start with a delay of update#/) and enter your Vehicle Identification
up to 2 minutes due to very large file sizes and will Number (VIN) to get the correct software for your
not provide feedback messages during this period. vehicle. If you are still seeing this error message,
Please be patient. If it does not start, please check please get in contact with Ford.
the content of the USB Flash Drive and make sure
that the following files and folders are in the root
folder of the USB Flash Drive:

5
FREQUENTLY
ASKED
QUESTIONS

5. An error message “LST_ERR…” appeared. 7. The update in the vehicle was successful
What do I need to do? but I cannot find the log file that I should
upload back onto the Ford server? How can I
The folder structure may be unexpected. Please create the log file (again)?
make sure that (only) the following is present in the
root folder of the USB Flash Drive: The log file is stored in the SyncMyRide folder
on the USB Flash Drive. The filename includes
·   One folder with the title “SyncMyRide” SYNC + serial number + VIN and has the
including system update files extension .xml.
·    One file “autoinstall.lst”
If the file was not created or deleted by mistake,
If the “SyncMyRide” folder is missing, please you can download the logging tool separately
create it in the root folder of your USB Flash Drive from the Ford SYNC & Maps software update
and move all system update files other than website (https://www.ford.co.uk/owner/
“autoinstall.lst” and “DONTINDX.MSA” into that resources-and-support/sync-bluetooth/
folder. update#/)(in the Troubleshooting section).
Extract it to a USB Flash Drive. Please make
If the issue persists, the files may be corrupt or sure that following files and folders are in the
incomplete. Please ensure the archive file was root folder of the USB Flash Drive:
extracted fully and correctly onto the USB Flash
Drive. If this is the case, the archive file may be ·   One folder with the title “SyncMyRide”
corrupt. This may happen when the download including system update files
from the webpage was interrupted and not ·    One file “autoinstall.lst”
resumed successfully. Please download the files · One file “DONTINDX.MSA
for your vehicle’s Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) again from the Ford SYNC & Maps software Plug-in the USB Flash Drive into your vehicle’s
update website (https://www.ford.co.uk/ USB port and wait approximately two minutes
owner/resources-and-support/sync-bluetooth/ until an “Installation complete…” Pop-up appears
update#/).  on the screen.

6. An error message “PKG_ERR…” appeared. Please consider, the format of the USB Flash
What do I need to do? Drive needs to be exFat. Otherwise the log file will
not be created. To change the format please see
Probably the USB Flash Drive was removed FAQ item “How do I format the USB Flash Drive?”
before the update process was completed.
Please insert the USB Flash Drive again. The
update will restart with the next ignition cycle.
Do not remove the USB Flash Drive before you
get the “Installation Complete” message. 

6
FREQUENTLY
ASKED
QUESTIONS

8. The information in the top bar has 11. After the installation I can see the
disappeared. I am unsure if the installation language has changed. What should I do?
has been completed. What do I need to do?
This requires the following steps:
The installation status message in the top bar
is transient and may disappear due to other ·   Click the “Settings” button on your SYNC
transient messages (e.g. after changing the radio display 
station). Please do not remove the USB Flash ·    On the settings screen, select “General”
Drive until a Pop-up message appears on screen · On the General settings screen, click on
with further instructions (e.g. “Installation is “Language” and select the language you want
complete”).  to set

9. During the installation progress I can see a 12. The update of the log file failed or it was
Pop-up message. What should I do? uploaded successfully but on the Ford SYNC
& Maps software update website (https://
If the Pop-up message says “Automatic www.ford.co.uk/owner/resources-and-
software-update” press “Not right now”. Do not support/sync-bluetooth/update#/) the
press “Yes” or “No”. Leave the USB Flash Drive same update is provided to me again. How
installed in the USB port. The installation will should I proceed?
proceed automatically. A key cycle is required
before the updates will take effect. It may take time for the data to synchronise.
Please be patient and try again later. If the
If the Pop-up message says “Installation is update of the log file fails or the same software
complete” just confirm by clicking “Ok”. A key update is offered continuously, the log file may
cycle is required before the updates will take be corrupt. In this case please create the log file
effect. again in your vehicle. Please refer to the above
for details.
10. After the installation I can see functions
are missing or different. What should I do?

This requires the following steps:

·   Stop driving 

·    Ignition OFF / Stop
• Open and close driver‘s door and lock it 
• Wait 2 minutes
(ensure SYNC Display shuts off)
·   Unlock / open driver‘s door
·   Ignition ON / Start