How to Connect a Phone to a Car
Connecting your phone to your car can be a great way to get hands-free calls, listen to music and control your audio system. There are many ways to do this, ranging from simple auxiliary cables to high-tech Android Auto and Apple CarPlay options.
Bluetooth is a short-range wireless technology that allows you to connect your phone and other devices without wires. It’s usually found in your smartphone, earphones and speakers, but newer vehicles can also make use of Bluetooth to connect to your car’s audio system.
To use Bluetooth to connect your phone, simply follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer of your vehicle, which can be found in the owner’s manual or in the car’s instruction booklet. Once the connection is established, you can use the phone’s touchscreen to play songs or control your vehicle’s music and navigation features.
USB is another great way to connect your phone to your car’s audio system. This method is available on most car models these days, and it can be used to play songs through your car’s speakers or to charge your phone while you drive.
A growing number of cars are equipped with Apple’s CarPlay and Google’s Android Auto features, which can give you access to your iPhone’s media player on your car’s dashboard display. These slick apps are easy to use and feature voice integration with Siri and Google Assistant.
Android Auto is a good option for most modern Android phones, which can be connected to your car’s audio system via a USB cable. It also supports tethering, which can help you to get an Internet connection while your car is in motion.
If you have an older vehicle that doesn’t have a USB port, you can still connect your phone to your car’s audio by using an FM transmitter. This method is a cheap and easy option, but the sound quality might not be as good as you’d like.
Some car models can also be paired with your iOS device via iTunes. This is a very easy process, and it should only take you a few minutes. To connect your iOS device, you’ll need to make sure that your car supports Bluetooth and that your mobile phone is updated to the latest version of Apple’s operating system.
To pair with your phone, turn on your vehicle and park it in a safe location to begin the pairing process. After that, follow the instructions on your phone’s settings page and select your vehicle from the list of options.
You’ll see a code on your phone that matches the code that appears on your vehicle’s infotainment screen. If the codes match, your phone and vehicle will be paired immediately. If not, you’ll need to pair your phone and your vehicle again.
Some cars can be paired with multiple devices at the same time, so if you’re trying to connect your phone to more than one device, be sure to pair them with the same name. Otherwise, you might run into problems.