Mercedes Apple CarPlay Setup Guides

Jan 4, 2022
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To set up Apple CarPlay in a Mercedes-Benz, plug your iPhone into the USB port marked with the smartphone integration symbol, select "Connect" on the infotainment screen, then "Automatically". From then on your iPhone connects by itself. Cars with wireless CarPlay pair over Bluetooth from the Phone menu instead, and you confirm the passcode and accept the data protection notice. If CarPlay will not connect, change the cable or port, check Siri and the Screen Time restrictions, then forget the car and pair again.

Apple CarPlay lets the driver use certain iPhone apps through the car's media display, including moving-map navigation. With CarPlay you can make calls, read and dictate messages, play music and podcasts, check your calendar, use the navigation app you prefer, and control it all by voice or touch. Separately, Apple's digital car keys in the Wallet app can turn a compatible iPhone into a key that locks, unlocks and starts the car.

TL;DR

  • Set up: USB port with the smartphone integration symbol, "Connect", then "Automatically"; or pair wirelessly from the Phone menu.
  • Current US models such as the GLA and CLA have standard wireless CarPlay and two 10.25 inch displays.
  • Not connecting: new cable or port, Siri on, CarPlay allowed in Screen Time, forget the car and pair again.
  • Updates come with iOS on the iPhone; car keys live in Apple Wallet, not in CarPlay.

If this is not your case, read Activate Apple Carplay and Android Auto features on your Mercedes-Benz using OBD 2.



Table of Content -

  1. How Do You Set Up Apple CarPlay In A Mercedes?
  2. Does Mercedes Have Apple CarPlay?
  3. Which Are The Apple CarPlay Apps?
  4. How Do I Enable MBUX CarPlay?
  5. How Do You Update Apple CarPlay?
  6. How to Fix Apple CarPlay No Device Connected?
  7. Can You Lock, Unlock And Start A Mercedes With Your iPhone?
  8. Conclusion

1. How Do You Set Up Apple CarPlay In A Mercedes?

Apple CarPlay is the simplest way to connect your iPhone to your Mercedes-Benz. Mercedes-Benz Canada's owner support page gives the same wired steps as below.

1.1 Connecting Using USB Cable

  1. Connect your iPhone with a USB cable to the USB port in the centre console that has the smartphone integration symbol.
  2. The first time you connect, select "Connect" on the infotainment screen, then "Automatically" on the next pop-up. Your iPhone is now connected to CarPlay, and your primary iPhone will connect automatically from now on.
  3. To link a friend's or family member's iPhone, choose "Manually."
  4. Use the COMAND controller, the hard keys on the centre console, or Siri voice control to use CarPlay. (On cars with MBUX, COMAND control does not apply.)



1.2 Connecting Wirelessly

  1. Go to Bluetooth in your iPhone settings and make sure the phone is discoverable.
  2. Select "connect device" from the Phone menu on the car's main touchscreen display.
  3. Tap "connect new device" if this is the first time you are connecting the phone wirelessly.
  4. When the device name shows on the screen, select your iPhone.
  5. Confirm the passcode to connect the iPhone to the display.
  6. Your iPhone will ask whether to sync contacts and favourites to the car; tap yes.
  7. After reading the Data Protection Notice, select "Accept and Start Apple CarPlay" on the car's display.
  8. CarPlay is now connected wirelessly, and you can use your phone's features from the touch display.


2. Does Mercedes Have Apple CarPlay?

Yes. Mercedes-Benz Apple CarPlay puts your phone's interface on the dashboard display. Mercedes-Benz Canada notes that CarPlay may not be available on all models, so older cars may need it activated (see the OBD activation guide) or an aftermarket Android head unit. On current US models, mbusa.com lists it as standard:

Current US modelDisplaysCarPlay
GLA SUVSide-by-side 10.25 inch displaysStandard, wireless
CLA CoupeDual 10.25 inch displaysStandard, wireless, plus 4 USB-C ports

In a Mercedes-Benz you can use Apple CarPlay for:

  1. Making phone calls
  2. Reading and dictating text messages
  3. Streaming music and listening to podcasts
  4. Navigation
  5. iOS apps
  6. Siri

3. Which Are The Apple CarPlay Apps?

Siri can control CarPlay. It can answer calls, read text messages, send dictated replies and add appointments to your calendar. CarPlay also works with the car's own knobs, buttons and touchscreen, and has a home button that takes you back to the home screen with a single tap.

Default CarPlay apps include:

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

All of these are on the CarPlay dashboard.



You can also add more apps. Install a supported app on your iPhone and it appears on the CarPlay screen. Some apps that work with CarPlay:

  1. Music apps: Spotify, YouTube Music, Tidal and Amazon Music.
  2. Radio apps: SiriusXM, CBS Radio News, iHeartRadio and Pandora.
  3. Podcast apps: Overcast, Downcast, Pocket Casts and Stitcher.
  4. News apps: NPR One, MLB.
  5. Audiobook apps: Audible and Audiobooks.
  6. Messaging apps: WhatsApp and Messenger.
  7. Navigation apps: Waze, Google Maps and Sygic.


4. How Do I Enable MBUX CarPlay?

Here is how to link a Mercedes-Benz with MBUX to Apple CarPlay.

  1. You need a USB cable and an iPhone. (A USB-C adapter may be needed depending on your iPhone and car.)
  2. Find the USB port with the smartphone integration icon. It looks like the outline of a phone combined with the outline of an infotainment screen.
  3. Connect the USB cable to the port.
  4. Connect your iPhone to the cable.
  5. A data protection message appears on the screen. Select "Accept & Start" to continue or "Decline & End" to quit.
  6. Your iPhone then asks: "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. For more on the system, see these MBUX tips and tricks.


5. How Do You Update Apple CarPlay?

There are two parts to update: the software in your car, and iOS on your phone.

The simplest is to keep iOS up to date, because CarPlay updates with it. You can set this to happen automatically:

  1. Connect to Wi-Fi and make sure your iPhone is backed up.
  2. Open the Settings app.
  3. Go to General and tap Software Update.
  4. Tap Automatic Updates.
  5. Turn on automatic download and install of updates.


6. How to Fix Apple CarPlay No Device Connected?

First check that CarPlay is supported in your country or region and in your car. If you are not sure about the car, ask the manufacturer.

Make sure your iPhone has the latest version of iOS. Then work through Apple's CarPlay troubleshooting steps:

  1. Check the connection to the car: If you use a cable, try a different USB cable and a different USB port if the car has one. If you connect wirelessly, make sure Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are on under Settings > Wi-Fi and Settings > Bluetooth.
  2. If CarPlay does not start automatically, look for the CarPlay logo on the car's display.
  3. Restart your iPhone and the car.
  4. Make sure Siri is on.
  5. If CarPlay does not detect your iPhone, make sure CarPlay is not restricted. Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions, tap Allowed Apps and make sure 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 the car's head unit runs the latest firmware from Mercedes-Benz. Check the owner's manual for details.
  8. If it still will not connect, contact Apple Support.

7. Can You Lock, Unlock And Start A Mercedes With Your iPhone?

Not through CarPlay itself. Apple added car keys to the Wallet app in 2020 (iOS 13 and iOS 14). A car key turns the iPhone into a real key that can lock, unlock and start a compatible car, so you can leave the physical key at home.

According to Apple's car key support page, Express Mode is turned on automatically when you add a car key, so you can use it without unlocking the phone or authenticating with Face ID, Touch ID or a passcode. Apple uses a token shared between your iPhone and the car, and which features you get depends on the car model, so check with Mercedes-Benz or your dealer whether your car supports it.

The Wallet app manages the car key, but you also need the car maker's app to set it up.

During setup you hold your iPhone on the car's NFC reader. iOS recognises the car and sends you to the manufacturer's app to finish. If automatic pairing fails, you can add the car key manually with a PIN from the manufacturer's app.

Depending on the car, you can share your car key through Messages and other apps, set permissions for each person, and require an activation code. If you are having trouble with a regular key instead, see how to reset a Mercedes key fob.


8. Conclusion

Whether CarPlay helps your daily drive depends on how much you use your phone in the car. If you listen to music, take calls or follow navigation on most trips, having your phone's apps on the car's screen means less reason to pick up the phone while driving.