How to Connect a Phone With a Car
Getting your phone to connect with your car is the easiest way to get hands-free calling and listening to music. It also allows you to avoid the risk of being ticketed by law for using a handheld device while driving.
The best method for connecting a phone to a car is Bluetooth, but there are other ways you can do it as well. Regardless of how you choose to connect your phone, the basic steps are the same: You need to enable Bluetooth on your phone, then you need to pair your phone with your car.
Enable Bluetooth on your phone by accessing your Control Panel or Quick Settings menu and tapping the Bluetooth icon to turn it on. You’ll also need to make sure you have Bluetooth turned on in your car and that the radio is set to Bluetooth.
If your car has Apple CarPlay support, you can use the iPhone to play music through your car’s audio system via USB or wirelessly. The exact setup varies depending on your vehicle, so you’ll need to check the manual that came with your car for the specifics.
Some cars have voice command capabilities that you can use to set up the hands-free phone function, which enables you to operate your iPhone or Android device without touching it. The instructions will vary from car to car, but most of them involve pressing a button or saying a voice command.
Another popular method of pairing a phone to a car is through the built-in Bluetooth function on your car’s stereo. This feature is usually free, though it can be a little confusing.
Most modern car audio systems have a built-in Bluetooth connection that will allow you to sync your phone with the system and stream songs from it to the speakers in your vehicle. It’s also possible to use a Bluetooth adapter for older devices.
The Bluetooth connection process is similar to the one for using your phone’s hands-free calling function. It varies from vehicle to vehicle, but the basic steps are the same: Once your phone has been paired with the stereo, you’ll be able to start making and receiving calls through the car’s system.
Some car stereos will also let you play songs through the stereo’s speakers, so this is a great option for those who don’t want to use their hands when driving.
If you have a newer model phone, it may be compatible with the Google Android Auto app, which is designed to connect your Android smartphone with your car’s infotainment system. You’ll need a compatible phone, a car stereo that supports Android Auto, and a high-quality USB cable to complete the set-up.
Once your phone is paired with the stereo, you’ll need to activate the voice control feature that lets you say commands like “Play next song” and “Return to home screen.” You can also select the “Show artist name” feature on some car audio systems.