If you want to listen to music or use the hands-free function in your car, you usually need the radio to connect to the speakers. More and more people want to connect their cell phone to the car radio for this reason. We’ll show you how it’s easy to connect your phone via cable (USB, AUX) or bluetooth.
While many everyday vehicles are still equipped with a car radio that has a cd or cassette player, the smartphone generation uses a completely different medium for media consumption on the road. Music streaming services like apple music or amazon music unlimited offer almost any music on demand.
Some users also have their own MP3 collection on their smartphone that they would like to use. others simply want to play phone calls through the car speakers. All you have to do is connect your cell phone to your car radio. Here are the simplest options for you to use.
Connect your cell phone to the car radio: USB and AUX cables
Many modern radios already have an audio input (AUX), which allows you to easily connect to your cell phone. Alternatively, this also works via a USB cable. With the help of a USB port, the smartphone can also be additionally charged.
Connect your cell phone via AUX cable
- Most often, the audio input is located on the front of the car radio. Here you can easily connect a 3.5 mm jack plug, which transmits the audio signal directly to your car speakers.
- Rarely, the AUX input is also installed in the center console or near the cigarette lighter.
- Notice: you need a special audio cable that has a 3.5 mm jack on both sides. The one side you then plug into the phone, the other into the input on the car radio. Then set the radio to AUX mode so that the sound is output through the speakers.
© syncwire via amazon
If your smartphone does not have a 3.5 mm jack input, but a lightning port or USB-C, for example, a jack adapter can remedy the situation. Files cannot be transferred via this cable.
Connect your cell phone via USB cable
- New radios, such as the JVC-KD-R871BT, now also have a USB input on the front panel.
- Some of these radios can play files directly from a USB stick.
- To output the sound of your smartphone via the speakers, you only need to connect it to the car radio via a USB cable.
- Often the smartphone can also be charged via the USB port on the car radio if you have connected it with the cable.
© JVC via amazon
Connecting your cell phone to your car radio: bluetooth and FM transmitter
If your radio has a bluetooth receiver, the smartphone can also be connected wirelessly. Another "wireless alternative is a FM transmitter.
Connect your smartphone to the radio via bluetooth
- simply activate the bluetooth function on your radio. In some cases this is also already activated or permanently switched on. This often happens with retrofitted bluetooth receivers.
- now you only have to pair your cell phone with the car radio via bluetooth. After that, you simply play your music on the smartphone or start a conversation with activated hands-free function.
- If you have problems with the connection, we show you in two other articles what to do if you have problems with the bluetooth connection on an iphone or android device.
© djedzura / istock
You want to change the name of your bluetooth device? In the picture section we show you how it works in android:
Connect your smartphone to your car via an FM transmitter
- an FM transmitter allows you to receive the audio signal of your cell phone with a normal radio.
- Here you connect your smartphone via bluetooth with the FM transmitter and then set a frequency. This can then be received in FM mode of the car radio.
- At amazon you can find cheap FM transmitters. some of them also use a simple cable to connect to your phone. The device usually draws its power from the cigarette lighter.
There are enough ways to connect your cell phone to your car radio in any case. If all the suggested methods do not help or you have a very old radio, you can also buy a special cassette that transmits the sound.
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