Mercedes Apple CarPlay Setup Guides

Jan 4, 2022
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There are more options than ever to take your iPhone on the road, thanks to digital vehicle keys and Apple CarPlay's already seamless experience. You can use your iPhone to unlock and start your car using car keys. Furthermore, CarPlay allows you to safely use the features of your iPhone while driving.

Apple CarPlay enables the driver to control and view certain iPhone or iPad-based apps through the -

  1. Dashboard’s media system
  2. Including moving-map navigation functionality.

With Apple CarPlay a driver can:

  1. Unlock and start a car with iPhone,
  2. Experience co-piloting, make calls,
  3. Writing and reading messages,
  4. Playing music,
  5. Navigate through calendar apps,
  6. Control your car with just a word or touch,
  7. Invite more apps along for a ride,
  8. Choose your favourite navigation apps.

This article gives a guide on how to set up and manage Apple CarPlay in your vehicle.



Table of Content -

  1. Apple CarPlay Setup Guide
  2. Does Mercedes Have Apple CarPlay?
  3. Which Are The Apple CarPlay Apps?
  4. How Do I Enable MBUX CarPlay
  5. How to Update Apple CarPlay
  6. How to Fix Apple CarPlay No Device Connected
  7. How To Lock And Unlock Mercedes Benz Using Apple CarPlay
  8. Conclusion

1. Apple CarPlay Setup Guide

Apple CarPlay is the finest way to connect your new Mercedes-Benz to your Apple iPhone. Below is an easy step-by-step instruction to pair your Apple iPhone with your new Mercedes-Benz using Apple CarPlay.

1.1 Connecting Using USB Cable

  1. Connect your iPhone to the USB port in your vehicle's centre console that has the smartphone integration sign using a USB cord.
  2. Select "Connect" from the menu on your infotainment screen the first time you connect your iPhone, then "Automatically" on the next pop-up. Your iPhone is now connected to the Apple CarPlay technology in your Mercedes-Benz. Your primary iPhone will now connect automatically in the future.
  3. If you want to link a friend's or family member's iPhone, you can choose "Manually."
  4. You can use the COMAND controller, hard keys on your centre console, or the Siri voice-activated control system to access CarPlay functionality.



1.2 Connecting Wirelessly

  1. Navigate to Bluetooth in your iPhone settings and make sure your phone is in discoverable mode.
  2. Select "connect device" from the Phone menu on your Mercedes-primary Benz's touchscreen display.
  3. Click "connect new device" if this is your first time wirelessly connecting your phone.
  4. When the device name shows on the screen, select your iPhone.
  5. To connect your iPhone to your vehicle's display, you'll be prompted to confirm a passcode; click to accept.
  6. After that, your iPhone will ask you if you want to sync your contacts and favourites to your vehicle's display; hit yes.
  7. After reading the Data Protection Notice, click "Accept and Start Apple CarPlay" on the primary vehicle display.
  8. Apple CarPlay has now allowed you to connect your iPhone to your vehicle's main display wirelessly. You may use the touch display to access all of your phone's features.


2. Does Mercedes Have Apple CarPlay?

Yes. Mercedes Benz Apple CarPlay merges your phone's display into your dashboard, basically turning your infotainment system into a tablet. In Mercedes-Benz automobiles, use Apple CarPlay for:

  1. Making phone calls
  2. Text message reading and dictation
  3. Stream music and listen to podcasts.
  4. Navigation
  5. IOS Apps
  6. Siri

3. Which Are The Apple CarPlay Apps?

Siri, Apple’s speech assistant, can help control CarPlay. Siri helps the driver to answer phone calls, reading of text messages, transmit dictated responses and add appointments to the calendar. CarPlay is also compatible with each car’s accessible knobs, buttons, and touchscreen and it includes a car app that returns you to the home screen with a single tap.

Default CarPlay apps include;

  1. iPhone
  2. Music
  3. Maps
  4. Messages
  5. Calendar

All these are included in the CarPlay dashboard.



However, there are also additional apps that you can use with CarPlay. And this is the most appealing aspect of it. CarPlay gives you the ability to customize it according to your preference. You can easily install additional apps from your iPhone and they will appear on your CarPlay screen. Some of the additional apps that you can use with CarPlay include;

  1. Music Apps: Spotify, YouTube Music, Tidal and Amazon Music.
  2. Radio Apps: Sirus XM Radio, CBS Radio News, iHeart Radio and Pandora.
  3. Podcast Apps: Overcast, Downcast, Pocketcast and Stitcher.
  4. News Apps: NPR One, MLB.
  5. Audiobook Apps: Audible and Audiobooks.
  6. Messaging Apps: WhatsApp and Messanger.
  7. Navigation Apps: Waze, Google Maps and Sygic.


4. How Do I Enable MBUX CarPlay?

If you are interested in understanding how to link your Mercedes Benz vehicle equipped with MBUX to Apple CarPlay then here is a step by step procedure.

  1. You'll need two things: A USB cord and an Apple mobile device are required. (A USB-C to USB port adaptor may be required depending on your iPhone model.)
  2. Find the smartphone integration icon on the USB port. This symbol resembles the outline of a mobile device's touchscreen combined with the outline of an infotainment screen.
  3. Connect the USB cable to the port.
  4. Connect your Apple mobile device to the USB port
  5. On your screen, a data protection message will show. To continue, select "Accept & Start"; to quit, select "Decline & End."
  6. A popup message will then appear on your Apple mobile device’s screen that prompts you to: “Allow CarPlay with “MB Infotainment #” while the phone is locked?” Select “Allow” to continue or “Don’t Allow” to quit
  7. MBUX CarPlay is now enabled in your car.


5.How to Update Apple CarPlay?

There are two ways on how you can update Apple CarPlay. You can update the software in your car, or update the iOS in your phone.

However, the simplest way will just require you to update Apple CarPlay in your phone to the most recent version. This will automatically update Apple CarPlay in your vehicle when you connect wirelessly or through a USB cable. You can follow the procedure below to do that successfully:

  1. Make sure that you are connected to Wi-Fi and set your iPhone to back up automatically.
  2. Now, go to the Settings app on your device.
  3. Navigate to General and tap on Software Update.
  4. Click on Customize Automatic Update or Automatic Updates.
  5. You can select to automatically download and install the latest updates on your device.


6. How to Fix Apple CarPlay No Device Connected?

To begin, verify if CarPlay is supported in your country or region, as well as in your vehicle. If you are not sure if your car is compatible with CarPlay, contact the manufacturer.

Make sure your iPhone is running the most recent version of iOS. If your iPhone is updated to the latest version of iOS, then follow the steps below to check CarPlay:

  1. Check your connection to your CarPlay stereo: If you have a wired connection, try connecting again with a different USB cable to a different USB port if you have one. If you have a wireless connection, make sure that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are enabled under Settings > Wi-Fi and Settings > Bluetooth.
  2. If CarPlay doesn't activate automatically, look for the CarPlay logo on your car's display.
  3. Restart your iPhone and your car.
  4. Make sure that Siri is on.
  5. If your iPhone isn't detected by CarPlay, make sure that CarPlay isn't restricted. Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions, tap Allowed Apps and make sure that CarPlay is enabled.
  6. Go to Settings > General > CarPlay, tap your car, then tap Forget This Car. Then set up CarPlay again.
  7. Make sure that your CarPlay stereo is using the latest firmware from the car manufacturer. Check your car's manual for more information.
  8. If you can still not connect to CarPlay, then contact Apple Support for assistance.

7. How To Lock And Unlock Mercedes Benz Using Apple CarPlay?

In 2020, Apple unveiled the ‘’Çar Key’’ feature of iOS 14 and iOS 13. This feature transforms the iPhone into a real car key that can lock, unlock and start a vehicle. The Car Key feature allows the driver to replace the physical key with the iPhone.

Car Key does not require authentification by default, thus it is used with just a tap. Apple ensures the process is safe and secure by using a unique token shared by your iPhone and vehicle. To avoid fraud, Apple uses your location and Apple ID information.

The Wallet app on the iPhone manages the Car Key feature. But you will also need the car manufacturer's app to get everything to function.

During the initial setup, you must place your iPhone on your car’s NFC scanner. To finish the process, iOS will recognize your vehicle and redirect you to the manufacturer's car app. Users can manually add the Car Key using a PIN supplied by the car manufacturer's app in case the automatic pairing fails.

Users may share their Car Keys with up to five individuals over iMessage and can choose whether each person gets full access to the vehicle, or only the ability to unlock the doors.


8. Conclusion

Whether Apple CarPlay will assist you in your everyday commute is determined by your level of smartphone attachment. Is listening to music on the go a part of your everyday routine? Is texting your second most important activity after breathing? Is your commute long enough to allow you to have a meaningful phone call?

If you answered yes to any of those questions, you'll likely benefit from having this system in your car to help you navigate through your phone easily without much difficulty when you are on the road. This helps enhance your safety while driving as you are not distracted trying to navigate through your phone.