Hi everyone,

I’m hoping to get some guidance from those more experienced with Husqvarna embroidery machines. I own a Husqvarna Topaz 20, and it has worked flawlessly for about three years. However, after upgrading my software from the 2018 version to the 2020 release, I’ve run into an issue:

• I can open and edit .hus files in the software without a problem.

• When I save them to a USB drive, the machine shows the folders, but when I open them, the designs don’t appear — even though they are there on the drive.

• Older designs saved before the upgrade still read fine on the machine.

I’ve tried multiple USB drives (including smaller capacity ones), formatted to FAT32, and kept file names short, but the issue persists.

My questions:

1. Could this be caused by a change in the file format from the 2020 update?

2. Are there known USB compatibility issues with the Topaz 20?

3. Is it possible to downgrade back to the 2018 version if needed?

Any advice, solutions, or similar experiences would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance,
Rao

Hi Rao,

This is a common headache for Husqvarna owners, especially with the Topaz series. Let’s go step by step.

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1. File format changes between 2018 and 2020

Yes, this could be the root cause. Around the 2020 updates, Husqvarna’s Premier+ / mySewnet software started saving HUS files in a newer “version 6” format by default. Unfortunately, the Topaz 20 only recognizes HUS v5 (or older). That’s why your older designs still work, but anything saved after the upgrade doesn’t show up on the machine even though they’re present on the USB.

Fix: When saving/exporting, choose File > Export Embroidery (or “Save As”) and explicitly select HUS (v5), or export to VP3, which your Topaz 20 reads reliably. VP3 is often a safer bet.

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2. USB compatibility issues

The Topaz models are notoriously picky about USB sticks. Some tips:

• Stick to 2GB–8GB USB drives (larger ones can cause problems).

• Format in FAT or FAT32, not exFAT.

• Keep design files at the root level (avoid nested folders if possible).

• Stick with short names (8 characters max) and no spaces or special symbols.

You’ve already tried most of this, so the file version is more likely the real culprit.

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3. Downgrading back to 2018 software

Officially, Husqvarna doesn’t make older installers available once you’ve upgraded, but it is possible if:

• You still have your original 2018 installer saved (or on CD/USB).

• You contact Husqvarna / mySewnet support and ask for the earlier build. They sometimes provide older versions for exactly this reason.

If you don’t have it locally, the easiest fix is just to keep using 2020 but export in VP3 or older HUS.

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✅ Practical next step for you
Try resaving one of your new designs as VP3, put it on a small FAT32 USB (2–4GB if you have one handy), and test in the Topaz. If it shows up, you’ve confirmed the format issue.

Thanks! @diver361 for your guidance.