How to Hook Up an iPhone to a Car Stereo

Reviewed by Jason Shackelford

Last Updated: September 23, 2024 Tested

Most modern car stereos already support connection to iPhones. This way, you can be sure that you can always listen to your favorite music or use your phone hands-free whenever you are driving. To hook up an iPhone to your car stereo, connect via Bluetooth, aux cable, or Lightning USB cable. Set your car's audio to the proper mode.

Connecting an iPhone to a Car

To connect an iPhone to a car stereo, you can use Bluetooth, an Auxiliary Cable, or Lightning USB cable. Your car stereo must support Bluetooth to use the Bluetooth option, and you'll need available ports to use an Auxiliary or Lightning USB. Once connected, switch to the proper mode.

For popular FAQs on hooking up an iPhone to a car stereo, jump to more common questions.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Connect Using Bluetooth

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Read the owner’s manual to see if your head unit supports Bluetooth connectivity. You can also look for the Bluetooth logo on the stereo itself, indicating that the feature is supported.
Press the menu button on the car stereo to find the Bluetooth pairing menu. Check your car stereo’s manual if you do not know how to enable your car stereo’s Bluetooth.

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3
Enable Bluetooth on your iPhone. This is usually turned off to save battery. There are a couple of ways to turn Bluetooth on:
- Open the Settings app, tap "Bluetooth," then toggle Bluetooth on.
- Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and tap the Bluetooth button to turn it on.
As long as your car stereo is in pairing mode, you should see it listed in the available Bluetooth devices. It may be labeled with the stereo name, or may say something like "CAR_MEDIA."
If your stereo requires a passcode to connect, it will be shown on the stereo's display during the connection process, and you'll be prompted to enter it on your iPhone. Enter the passcode to connect.
Open your iPhone’s music app to start playing your music on your car’s entertainment system. If you place or receive a call, your car speakers will act as your iPhone speaker and hear the voice of the person you’re talking to.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Connecting Using an Audio Auxiliary Cable

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1
Check if your car stereo has an auxiliary port. Look at the face of your car’s head unit and check if there’s a 3.5 mm audio port, similar to the headphone port your iPhone has. Car stereos have built-in auxiliary ports to support MP3 players, smartphones, and other music playing devices.
- Check your car stereo’s manual if you can’t find or are unsure whether the head unit has an auxiliary port.
An audio auxiliary cable is a type of cord connector that has an audio jack on each end that lets you connect any music-playing gadget to any electronic device that has an auxiliary port. You can buy it from any electronic store for around $2 to $5 US dollars.
Plug one end of the audio auxiliary cable to the headphone port of your iPhone. Take the other end of the cable and plug it to the auxiliary port on the car stereo.
4
Set your car stereo to Auxiliary mode. Press the menu button on your car stereo and set it to auxiliary (AUX) mode. This will allow your car stereo to receive any information coming from your iPhone.
- Check your car stereo’s manual if you do not know how to set your specific car stereo to auxiliary mode.
Open your iPhone’s music app to start playing your music on your car’s entertainment system. If you place or receive a call, your car speakers will act as your iPhone speaker and hear the voice of the person you’re talking to.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Connecting Using a Lightning USB Cable

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1
Check if your car stereo supports iPhone connectivity. Look at the face of your car’s head unit and check if there’s a USB port, similar to what you have on your computer. Some modern car stereos have built-in USB ports to allow playing music from flash drives.
- Check your car’s stereo manual and see if it supports iPhone connectivity. iPhone connectivity lets you hook up your iPhone directly to your car stereo using its data or lightning cable. Not all car radios that have USB ports support iPhone connectivity, so make sure to check your head unit’s manual first.
- Newer cars may have an infotainment center that supports CarPlay, which is a more advanced way to connect your iPhone to your car using a Lightning USB cable.
Plug 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 to the USB port on the 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 will allow your car stereo to receive any information coming from your iPhone. Most car stereos will automatically change 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 on the menu after connecting your iPhone.
- Check your car stereo’s manual if you do not know how to set your specific car stereo to USB or iPhone mode.
4
Play music or make calls. Open your iPhone’s music app to start playing your music on your car’s entertainment system. If you place or receive a call, your car speakers will act as your iPhone speaker and hear the voice of the person you’re talking to.
- If you're using a CarPlay infotainment center, you can do a lot more than play music and make phone calls. See Use Apple CarPlay for more details.

Common Questions: Pairing an iPhone to a Car

Why won't my iPhone connect to the aux in my car?

Make sure you're updated to the latest version on your iPhone, and restart it. If that doesn't work, make sure your car supports AUX. Try using a newer cable in case the current cable is damaged.

How do I pair my iPhone to my car?

You can pair your iPhone to your car using Bluetooth if your car supports it. Open the Bluetooth menu in your iPhone's settings and in your car's display. Tap your car's name, and enter a code if necessary.

How do I turn on the aux in my car?

This will vary depending on your car model. Older cars require you to tune into a certain FM frequency while others have a setting you can enable in the audio settings. If you're still unsure, consult your vehicle's manual.

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Tips

Check your head unit’s manufacturer website and download the owner’s guide of your car stereo if you no longer have its manual with you.

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If your car head unit doesn't support any of the three methods above, you need to consider upgrading your car stereo.

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