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Troubleshooting tips for SYNC with Voice-Activated Navigation

Ford owner driving a Ford and smiling.

Your SYNC® with Voice-Activated Navigation system was designed to provide you with years of entertainment, information, and convenience.

However, if you ever notice slower than normal operation or other issues, use the following troubleshooting tips to help keep your system operating in top shape.27

MAINTAIN GOOD SYSTEM PERFORMANCE BY ADJUSTING PHONE PAIRING AND MANAGING YOUR PHONEBOOK

If you’ve experienced slow operation or video/audio issues with SYNC, performing a clean phone pair and editing your phonebook contacts can help.

IMPROVE VOICE RECOGNITION BY EDITING YOUR PHONEBOOK

Your SYNC system’s voice recognition works better when your Phonebook contacts have a first and last name listed.

HOW TO HELP RESOLVE BLUETOOTH CONNECTION ISSUES

If your phone isn’t connecting to SYNC properly, try the following steps:

  1. Turn ignition off
  2. Open and close the driver’s door
  3. Wait for SYNC to turn off completely. Watch for the clusters to power off
  4. Wait 30 seconds before proceeding
  5. Turn ignition on
  6. Wait for SYNC to turn on completely. Watch for the clusters to power on

If your phone still has trouble connecting with SYNC, the following troubleshooting tips may be able to help.

TIP #1

On your phone, turn Bluetooth Off, then On.

  1. Find your phone's Bluetooth menu > tap Off > tap On

On SYNC, turn Bluetooth Off, then On.

Press the Phone button > scroll to System Settings > Press OK > scroll to Bluetooth Devices > Press OK > select Off > select On

  1. If this does not work, continue to steps 3 and 4.

Manually connect SYNC with the phone.

Press the Phone button > scroll to System Settings > Press OK= > scroll to Connect Bluetooth Device > Press OK > scroll to [select your phone] > Press OK.

  1. Note: If connection times out or connection takes longer than a minute, cancel the connection and go to Step 4.
  2. Manually connect the phone with SYNC.
  3. Find your phone's Bluetooth menu > tap SYNC to connect.
  4. Make sure your phone automatically connects to SYNC.
  5. Turn your vehicle off > Open the driver's side door > Start the vehicle > Wait for a confirmation of the connection to display on your SYNC screen

TIP #2

  1. Power off your phone and remove the battery, if possible.
  2. Make sure your phone automatically connects to SYNC.
  3. Turn your vehicle off > Open and close the driver's side door > Start the vehicle > Wait for a confirmation of the connection to display on your SYNC screen

TIP #3

Attempt a clean pairing. To start, delete your phone from SYNC.

  1. Press the Phone button > scroll to System Settings > Press OK > scroll to Delete Device > Press OK > scroll to [select your phone] > Press OK
  2. From your Bluetooth phone menu, delete SYNC from your phone.

Pair the phone.

  1. Press the Phone button > follow the display instructions

KEEP SYNC RUNNING SMOOTHLY WITH A MASTER RESET

If you are experiencing operational issues with your SYNC system that haven’t been resolved with any of the procedures on this page, you can perform a master reset. This will reboot your SYNC system to return it to the factory settings, and can help restore system performance.

A master reset completely erases all system information: phone book info, call history, text messages, paired devices, saved addresses, and navigation history. So be sure to back up your personal data before starting the process. And after the reset, be sure to pair your Bluetooth-connected devices again.