Sync Update Won't Initiate

[hunter031789]

I purchased my 2018 Screw back in September 2023 and didn't realize till the other day that the Sync system could be updated. Naturally I first attempted to do so using the Wifi connection which each time just ends with the system logging the "check for updates" attempt and doing nothing else. I currently have 3.0.19205 so it is pretty out of date. I entered my VIN on Ford's Sync website and downloaded the files to attempt to use a thumb drive to complete the update. I start the vehicle and put the drive in the top front USB port and then wait a couple of minutes and nothing happens, no prompt, no message, nothing. I have reformatted the drive and tried several times (FAT32 and exFAT) with the same result. Absolutely nothing happens so I am stuck. Anyone else ever experience this or have any suggestions?

 

[blwn]

Your USB drive needs to have a MBR partition and be formatted FAT32 from what I remember. I suggest using Cyanlabs Synupdater, its an easy tool and will update you all the way to 3.4 if you want, whereas Ford won't update you past 3.0

 

[smurfslayer]

Correct. Make sure you have a relatively new USB, formatted correctly and as mentioned, Ford won’t update the pre ’19 trucks past 3.0 something. For the newer 3.4, you need to use the cyan labs files.

Don’t waste your time with an attempted wifi update, it will stall or fail.

 

[hunter031789]

I was putting off buying a new laptop for as long as possible but it looks like between Forscan and Cyanlabs I'm going to have to make the jump. My work laptop is locked out of any installation without admin permissions. My wife has a nice Mac but that looks to be just as problematic maybe? as manual installation of the Cyanlabs files.

 

[hunter031789]

Actually just watched one of the videos Cyanlabs posted about the procedure and when he talked about some owners who didn't realize their previous APIM modules had been replaced by Ford accidentally bricking their units it got me thinking. I went through the previous owner's records and sure enough he had the entertainment system replaced in January of 2020. I don't think there is any way for me to know if it is for sure a pre-2020 APIM or not so I don't think I'll be able to go the Cyanlabs route. What are the 2020+ folks doing for updates, just sticking with Ford?

 

[Lane2018]

I bricked my APIM on my 2018 during update from Cyanlabs. It turned out that previous owner replaced with an updated version… And I didn’t check. I ended up buying a new one that was updated and installed it. Here’s the link of the guy I got it from. Hope this helps.

Ford Sync 3 Gen 3 Navigation APIM 3.4/2024 Maps | eBay

I will pre-program these APIMs for free to all factory Sync 3 vehicles if a VIN is provided.

www.ebay.com

 

[hunter031789]

I bricked my APIM on my 2018 during update from Cyanlabs. It turned out that previous owner replaced with an updated version… And I didn’t check. I ended up buying a new one that was updated and installed it. Here’s the link of the guy I got it from. Hope this helps.

Ford Sync 3 Gen 3 Navigation APIM 3.4/2024 Maps | eBay

I will pre-program these APIMs for free to all factory Sync 3 vehicles if a VIN is provided.

www.ebay.com

That absolutely helps! Thank you for the information! So is Cyanlabs update not good for anything after the 2020 APIMs then? Or is this simply an issue with the manual style of update rather than using the updater software? For whatever reason the 2020+ warning only appears on the manual update page so I wasn't sure if the issue was specific to that mode of updating?

 

[Lane2018]

I can’t answer that. It’s been a minute since I did it, and don’t remember specifics about the process. I do remember Cyanlabs instructions were adamant about the APIM date. And I didn’t check… so totally my fault. I had a 2019 Platinum F150 before this Raptor and got used to the newer SYNC 3.4 it had. I hated that my hand was forced by me bricking it… but I would have eventually replaced it with the new version since the 2018 SYNC version could not be updated. It was super easy to swap out, and all updates were pre installed. It’s been rock solid.

 

[blwn]

I don't think a MY20 APIM can run Sync 3.0 so if that's what version you are on you're probably safe to upgrade with cyanlabs

 

[hunter031789]

Update - I was able to get Sync updated to the latest Ford approved software. It seems the difference maker was the flash drive I was using. The flash drive I used originally was unlabeled. I took a shot and bought a SanDisk brand flash drive to see if the Sync was that finnicky. Same formatting procedure and copy/paste as before but the SanDisk booted up almost immediately and only took about 5 minutes to download. I figured there was no reason to waste fuel so I did it as I drove home after work and everything still worked even while it was updating.

The flash drive I bought:


I checked the Sync version this morning to confirm and sure enough, it is now up to date.

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions and help!