CarPlay Connectivity Issues
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Airdrie, Alberta
Finally someone with a similar issue as I have. I haven't been able to pinpoint it to the Sync SW or my phone, because I'm busy driving through construction when it happens. For me I've only had it happen right at the MI / IN state line on I-69. It happens every time either going North or South. But this is the only place I have encountered it. It appears to be the Sync Carplay just quits or loses connection, but the phone itself seems to continue working. Would love to figure out some ideas to try to narrow down the issue.
I’m at the point now where it’s expected that I’ll lose the connection at one point in particular. Every time I take one particular highway exit the connection gets dropped. There are a few other areas where I drive where the audio will stutter for a few hundred meters but I don’t typically lose the connection completely. In every case there is a comms tower visible nearby.
Despite multiple phone software updates as well as sync software updates the issue persists. I’m not sure it can be solved as I’m fairly certain it’s radio interference. The only possibility would be if one could change the wifi channel that car play uses to connect I think. I’m not sure if that can be done.
Last edited by gardingh; Jan 16, 2022 at 06:53 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 155
Likes: 20
From: Westchester County, NY
At 600 miles, first Sync 4 hiccups happened today. After starting the car, Wireless CarPlay no longer auto-connects. Instead (similar to what the OP experienced), my iPhone’s WiFi automatically connected to the Hotspot network (trucks own onboard hotspot), and at the same time, the Wireless CarPlay network of PRO—- simply disappeared. So I couldn’t even force the phone out of the Hotspot one into the PRO one. And, probably because of the disappearance of PRO, my phone wouldn’t connect with truck via Bluetooth either. I “forget the Ford F-150” Bluetooth, then, the phone just could not even find the truck anymore, disconnected just like that.
I did resolve it by following the Master Reset sequence, but did not go as far as disconnect the battery. I just sat in the truck. after screen restarting, the PRO network appeared again and so did the F150 Bluetooth. Then, via a standard Bluetooth pairing, everything back to normal.
I do have a question, where do I find the password of the PRO network? I know it is not needed if you do the Bluetooth pairing method, the PRO just automatically follows suit. But, technically there is a password for it. Where🎥🔋
I did resolve it by following the Master Reset sequence, but did not go as far as disconnect the battery. I just sat in the truck. after screen restarting, the PRO network appeared again and so did the F150 Bluetooth. Then, via a standard Bluetooth pairing, everything back to normal.
I do have a question, where do I find the password of the PRO network? I know it is not needed if you do the Bluetooth pairing method, the PRO just automatically follows suit. But, technically there is a password for it. Where🎥🔋
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
So from day one I never had any issues with connecting my phone, FordPass, CarPlay, etc...but now after 2500 miles and 3 months, my CarPlay started acting up. No phone update recently (it has been updated in the past with no issues) and no OTA update.
The only thing I've noticed different is that now my phone wants to connect to the truck's wifi network when I get in. It never used to do this and connecting to CarPlay wirelessly would actually turn my phone's wifi off! That was a great feature as I arm my alarm at home and other items while pulling out of my driveway.
CarPlay works when connected to truck's wifi. But my truck's wifi has no internet connection as I don't use that feature. When I disconnect my phone from the wifi, my CarPlay disconnects. If I hold out for a few minutes, my phone realizes that my truck's wifi has no signal and disconnects on its own and CarPlay is unaffected.
So what am I missing? I use wireless CarPlay daily and this is frustrating when I made absolutely zero setting changes on phone and truck.
The only thing I've noticed different is that now my phone wants to connect to the truck's wifi network when I get in. It never used to do this and connecting to CarPlay wirelessly would actually turn my phone's wifi off! That was a great feature as I arm my alarm at home and other items while pulling out of my driveway.
CarPlay works when connected to truck's wifi. But my truck's wifi has no internet connection as I don't use that feature. When I disconnect my phone from the wifi, my CarPlay disconnects. If I hold out for a few minutes, my phone realizes that my truck's wifi has no signal and disconnects on its own and CarPlay is unaffected.
So what am I missing? I use wireless CarPlay daily and this is frustrating when I made absolutely zero setting changes on phone and truck.
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
So from day one I never had any issues with connecting my phone, FordPass, CarPlay, etc...but now after 2500 miles and 3 months, my CarPlay started acting up. No phone update recently (it has been updated in the past with no issues) and no OTA update.
The only thing I've noticed different is that now my phone wants to connect to the truck's wifi network when I get in. It never used to do this and connecting to CarPlay wirelessly would actually turn my phone's wifi off! That was a great feature as I arm my alarm at home and other items while pulling out of my driveway.
CarPlay works when connected to truck's wifi. But my truck's wifi has no internet connection as I don't use that feature. When I disconnect my phone from the wifi, my CarPlay disconnects. If I hold out for a few minutes, my phone realizes that my truck's wifi has no signal and disconnects on its own and CarPlay is unaffected.
So what am I missing? I use wireless CarPlay daily and this is frustrating when I made absolutely zero setting changes on phone and truck.
The only thing I've noticed different is that now my phone wants to connect to the truck's wifi network when I get in. It never used to do this and connecting to CarPlay wirelessly would actually turn my phone's wifi off! That was a great feature as I arm my alarm at home and other items while pulling out of my driveway.
CarPlay works when connected to truck's wifi. But my truck's wifi has no internet connection as I don't use that feature. When I disconnect my phone from the wifi, my CarPlay disconnects. If I hold out for a few minutes, my phone realizes that my truck's wifi has no signal and disconnects on its own and CarPlay is unaffected.
So what am I missing? I use wireless CarPlay daily and this is frustrating when I made absolutely zero setting changes on phone and truck.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,534
Likes: 2,586
From: Livonia, MI
Before getting too into it, you understand that wireless carplay uses Wifi right? You can't connect your phone to another wifi network if using Wireless CarPlay. The phone needs to be connecting to a wireless SSID your truck creates for Wireless CarPlay, but it's a different SSID than what the truck uses for Hotspot.
So like the OP of this post from a year ago, you need to be clear on your exact issue. Are you using wired or wireless carplay, and does it ever connect properly?
I think some are creating their own issues because they don't understand that wireless CarPlay uses Wifi, and they start messing with their Wifi settings thinking the phone is trying to connect to Wifi like it was for internet.
So like the OP of this post from a year ago, you need to be clear on your exact issue. Are you using wired or wireless carplay, and does it ever connect properly?
I think some are creating their own issues because they don't understand that wireless CarPlay uses Wifi, and they start messing with their Wifi settings thinking the phone is trying to connect to Wifi like it was for internet.
Member
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 58
Likes: 29
Same thing with my 2021 KR. I can no longer access the internet from my phone while connected to Carplay. I used to be able to do this, but no longer. I have no idea what is up. I have deleted and added back my phone, reset Synch password, reset Synch, nothing changes.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,534
Likes: 2,586
From: Livonia, MI
Yeah, 10,000% sure. You can see your phone connected to it. You only use bluetooth with CarPlay when making the initial connection, after that it's all wifi.
No way bluetooth could do screen projection and audio at the quality of AA or Carplay.
No way bluetooth could do screen projection and audio at the quality of AA or Carplay.