Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Connect via Bluetooth
• Method 2 of 3: Connect with an audio cable
• Method 3 of 3: Connect with a Lightning USB cable
• Tips

Most modern car radios already support a connection to iPhones. This way you can be sure that you can listen to your favorite music or use your phone hands-free while you drive. Connecting your iPhone to a car stereo is a fairly straightforward procedure and can be done in an instant.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Connect via Bluetooth

1. Check if your car radio has Bluetooth. Read the owner's manual to find out if your car stereo supports Bluetooth connectivity. You can also look for the Bluetooth logo on the radio itself, which indicates that the feature is supported.
2. Start the Bluetooth pairing mode on your car stereo. Press the menu button on the car stereo to find the Bluetooth pairing mode. Check the manual of your car radio if you do not know how to turn on the Bluetooth of your car radio.
3. Turn on Bluetooth on your iPhone. This is usually turned off to save battery. There are a number of ways to turn on Bluetooth:
   • Open the Settings app, tap "Bluetooth" and turn on Bluetooth.
   • Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and tap the Bluetooth button to turn it on.
4. Select your car stereo from the list of Bluetooth devices on your iPhone. As long as your car stereo is in pairing mode, you should see it listed among the available Bluetooth devices. It can be labeled as the radio name, or say something like "AUTO_MEDIA".
5. Enter the Bluetooth password on your iPhone when prompted. If your radio requires a password to connect, it will be shown on your radio's display during the pairing process, and then you will be prompted to enter it on your iPhone. Enter the password to connect.
6. Play music or make a call. Open your iPhone's music app to play music on your car entertainment system. When you make or receive a call, your car speakers act as your iPhone speaker and hear the voice of the person you're talking to.

Method 2 of 3: Connect with an audio cable

1. Check if your car radio has an aux port. Look at the front of your car's main unit and check that there is a 3.5mm audio port, similar to your iPhone's headphone port. Car radios have built-in auxiliary ports to support MP3 players, smartphones and other music players.
   • Consult your car stereo manual if you cannot find it or are unsure whether the main unit has an auxiliary port.
2. Buy an audio cable. An audio cable is a type of cable connector with an audio jack on each end, which allows you to connect any music-playing device to any electronic device with an auxiliary port. You can buy it from an electronic store for around € 2 to € 5 euros.
3. Connect the cable to the headphone jack of your iPhone and the aux port of your radio. Plug one end of the audio cable into the headphone port on your iPhone. Take the other end of the cable and plug it into the aux port on the car stereo.
4. Set your car stereo to aux mode. Press the menu button on your car stereo and set it to aux mode. This allows your car radio to receive all information from your iPhone.
   • Consult your car stereo manual if you don't know how to put your particular car stereo into aux mode.
5. Play music or make a call. Open your iPhone's music app to play music on your car entertainment system. When you make or receive a call, your car speakers act as your iPhone speaker and hear the voice of the person you're talking to.

Method 3 of 3: Connect with a Lightning USB cable

1. Check if your car stereo supports iPhone connectivity. Look at the front of your car's main unit and check if there is a USB port, which is similar to your computer's. Some modern car stereos have built-in USB ports to play music from flash drives.
   • Check your car stereo manual to see if it supports iPhone connectivity. With iPhone connectivity, you can connect your iPhone directly to your car stereo using the data or lightning cable. Not all car stereos have USB ports that support iPhone connectivity, so check your main unit manual first.
   • Newer cars may have an infotainment center that supports CarPlay, which is a more advanced way of connecting your iPhone to your car via a Lightning USB cable.
2. Connect your iPhone to your car radio. Connect one end of your iPhone's data or lightning cable to the port at the bottom of your iPhone. Take the other end of the cable and plug it into the USB port on your car stereo.
3. Set your car stereo to iPhone / USB mode. Press the menu button on your car stereo and set it to USB or iPhone mode. This allows your car radio to receive information from your iPhone. Most car stereos automatically switch to iPhone or USB mode the moment you connect your iPhone to it.
   • If your infotainment center supports CarPlay, tap or select the CarPlay option that appears in the menu after connecting your iPhone.
   • Consult your car stereo manual if you don't know how to set your particular car stereo to USB or iPhone mode.
4. Play music or make a call. Open your iPhone's music app to play music on your car entertainment system. When you make or receive a call, your car speakers act as your iPhone speaker and hear the voice of the person you're talking to.
   • If you use a CarPlay infotainment center, you can do a lot more than just play music and make calls.

Tips

• If your car stereo does not support any of the three methods above, you should consider upgrading your car stereo.
• Consult the manufacturer's website and download the user manual of your car radio if you no longer have the manual.