We are in an age where everyone is constantly on the go. Between business meetings or taking the next best Instagram photo, our phones are nearly always attached to us. But using a phone while driving is dangerous.
So what if there was a way to avoid the accidents associated with using a phone and driving.
Here’s everything you need to know on how to sync your phone to your car.
1. Hooking Up Phone via Bluetooth
If you’re driving a 2012 car or later, chances are it has Bluetooth enabled. Those rocking modern-day phones or smartphones will also have Bluetooth capabilities.
You can typically hook up your phone to the car this way and it has the benefit of being wireless as well. This saves time of having to plug in the phone and hope that the cord is working.
To pair your phone with your car, make sure that both have Bluetooth enabled. They will each have their own settings meant to help walk you through this.
Once both are on, you can then pair the two together through the phone itself. Once paired, you are free to enjoy wireless connectivity to your car.
To switch over to using Bluetooth from the stereo to understand what is going on, be sure that your radio system is set to play the Bluetooth device. This can be under Bluetooth devices or “connected” devices.
Now that you are streaming right from the device, you are free to set up your phone to read out messages to you once they are received. If you have a microphone in your car, you can then use that to talk on the phone.
If your car has wheel controls over your device, you are free to utilize those as well. This can include turning the volume up and down, switching between songs, and using the voice command option.
2. Hooking Up Phone via Android Auto or CarPlay
For those cars 2017 or later, chances are that it comes with a touchscreen display. This touchscreen display may give you the option for Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. Both help revolutionizes the phone-free experience in your vehicle.
If your car as a USB port (not a car charger USB), then you can plug a charging cable straight into your phone. From there, you will be presented with onscreen options about what Andoird Auto or Apple CarPlay can do.
Both pieces of software will give you the option to have messages read out loud, display maps, and display the current track. The push to talk button on the wheel will then transfer over to your phone’s AI. This means Google Assistant for Android and Siri for Apple.
If you are someone that has trouble remember every little appointment, both give you the option to display your calendar. This makes it perfect for those mornings when you are rushing out the door and need to know what is going on that day.
Each option plays to the user’s experience that they have on their device and tries not to go overboard. Presenting too many apps or options can actually increase the amount of distraction caused by phones. So don’t be surprised when you don’t see your favorite game included here.
Always drive safely. Be aware of your surroundings and don’t get too caught up in learning everything about your apps while driving. Wait till you’re safely parked somewhere to learn more about how these apps can help you.
Having an open-source option for your apps is one of the most popular reasons why people will choose Android over Apple. To learn more about an open-sourced based driving app, be sure to check out Mirrorlink vs Android Auto.
3. Hooking Up Phone via USB or Aux
This would be considered the most basic but also most limited way to sync your phone to your car. Many cars from 2012 or later will come with a built-in USB port, but it does not actually connect to the car’s computer.
This gives it limited capabilities, such as only being able to listen to music, change music, or take calls. While this does cover the basics, it can be frustrating when trying to do anything more complicated, like using the phone’s built-in GPS.
One option is to get a phone holder for while you are driving. This turns your phone into a display that is above the dash and easy to see, just like old-school GPS’s. This way, you can have the display of your phone in an easy to see spot, but still get the audio capabilities that are provided by your car.
The oldest way to hook up your phone is through an auxiliary jack. This is a dying way to hook up phones, as most modern-day phones do not have a headphone jack like they use to. Even most cars are starting to forgo the jack because of its lack of use.
If you do have an auxiliary jack, it will work similarly to the USB method of using your phone. Just keep in mind that these jacks are more prone to damage compared to their USB counterpart.
This is because of the electric “noise” that can clog up your listening experience while driving. This can usually translate into loud whiney high pitched noises or “white noise”, which sounds like static.
How to Sync Your Phone to Your Car: Key Takeaways
Regardless of how you go about hooking up your phone, the key is to be safe. There is no use in learning how to sync your phone to your car if you are going to continue to be reckless with its use. A phone is to help you stay connected with others, don’t lose that connection because you couldn’t put the phone down for a specific amount of time.
If you’re looking to learn about more automobile tips and making sure you get the most out of your vehicle, be sure to check out our other articles. If you know someone that can be a little careless while driving, be sure to share this article with them.