Support Home Sync Module Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting a USB drive or MicroSD card

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 removable storage device connected to your Sync Module (either a USB drive for Sync Module 2 or a MicroSD card for Sync Module XR), it may be due to one of the following reasons:

  • The removable storage device is incompatible with the Sync Module.
  • The removable storage device requires reformatting.
  • The removable storage device is full.

First, verify that your USB drive or MicroSD card 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 indicator.
  2. Tap Local Storage. If the message “USB Drive Connected” or “MicroSD Card Connected” is displayed, this indicates the removable storage device is connected. If a different message appears, use the dropdowns below to troubleshoot the specific issue.

USB Drive / MicroSD Card Not Compatible

If the message “USB Drive Not Compatible” or “MicroSD Card Not Compatible” is displayed, this indicates a compatibility issue with the Sync Module. First, ensure that you are using a compatible removable storage device (USB drive or MicroSD card). If you are using a compatible device, try reformatting it. If the issue continues after reformatting, the removable storage device may be damaged and need to be replaced.

Learn more about Local Storage with Sync Module.

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Format USB Drive / MicroSD Card

Reformatting your removable storage device will permanently erase all data. It is recommended to back up your files to prevent loss.

If the message “Format USB Drive” or “Format MicroSD Card” is displayed, this indicates the inserted removable storage device must be formatted before use. 

To format the removable storage device device:

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

Learn how to reformat a USB Drive or MicroSD Card From a Computer.

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USB Drive / MicroSD Card Full

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

If the message "USB Drive Full" or "MicroSD Card Full" is displayed, it indicates that your removable storage device is full.

To address this issue, consider the following:

  1. Free Up Space on the Current Removable Storage Device:
    • Delete unnecessary clips to make space for new ones.
    • Reformat the removable storage device. 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 Removable Storage Device: If necessary, switch to another formatted removable storage device.
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Removable Storage Requirements

Sync Module XR

  We recommend using a Blink MicroSD card with Sync Module XR, available on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca.

A MicroSD card is required for Local Storage and Clip Backup with Sync Module XR and must meet the following requirements:

  • A MicroSD card in a supported format (ExFAT recommended).
  • Minimum read/write speed of 10 Mbps.
  • Storage capacity between 1 GB and 256 GB.
  • At least 375 MB of free space.

Sync Module 2

A USB drive is required for Local Storage and Clip Backup with Sync Module 2 and must meet the following requirements:

  • A 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 Removable Storage Formats

The removable storage device inserted into the Sync Module 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 or MicroSD Card From a Computer

If you’re experiencing issues with your removable storage device (USB drive or MicroSD card), ensure that it is compatible with your Sync Module. If the device is compatible, reformatting it to exFAT may resolve the issue. 

For instructions on how to reformat your removable storage device, select the dropdown that corresponds to your operating system below.

macOS

Reformatting your removable storage device will permanently erase all data. It is recommended to back up your files to prevent loss.

To format a removable storage device (USB drive or MicroSD card) 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 removable storage device 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 removable storage device from your computer and place it back into your Sync Module.
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Windows

Reformatting your removable storage device will permanently erase all data. It is recommended to back up your files to prevent loss.

To format a removable storage device (USB drive or MicroSD card) to exFAT on Windows:

  1. Insert the drive into your Windows computer and open File Explorer.
  2. Find the removable storage device, 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 removable storage device from your computer and place it back into your Sync Module.
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Chromebook

Reformatting your removable storage device will permanently erase all data. It is recommended to back up your files to prevent loss.

To format a removable storage device (USB drive or MicroSD card) to exFAT on Chromebook:

  1. Insert the removable storage device 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 removable storage device from your computer and place it back into your Sync Module.
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