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Cell phone issues
Possible solution
Possible cause
Issue
iPhone •Go to your cell phone's Settings.
• Go to the Bluetooth Menu.
• Press the blue circle to the right of the device named with the your
vehicle make and model to enter the next menu.
• Turn Show Notifications on.
• Disconnect then reconnect your iPhone from the SYNC 3 system
to activate this settings update.
Your iPhone is now set up to forward incoming text messages to
SYNC 3.
Repeat these steps for every other SYNC 3 vehicle that you connect.
Your iPhone will only forward incoming text messages to SYNC 3 if
the iPhone is not unlocked in the messaging application.
Replying to text messages using SYNC 3 is not supported by iPhone.
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Cell phone issues
Possible solution
Possible cause
Issue
Text messages from WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger are not
supported.
Your cell phone must support downloading text messages through
Bluetooth to receive incoming text messages.
This is a cell phone-dependent feature.
Audible text messages do
not work on my cell phone. Because each cell phone is different, refer to your device's manual
for the specific cell phone you are pairing. In fact, there can be
differences between cell phones due to brand, model, service provider
and software version.
This is a cell phone limitation. USB and Bluetooth Stereo issues
Possible solution
Possible cause
Issue
Disconnect the device from SYNC 3. Try switching your device off,
resetting it or removing the battery, then reconnect it to SYNC 3.
Possible device malfunction.
I am having trouble
connecting my device. Make sure you are using the manufacturer's cable.
Make sure to correctly insert the USB cable into the device and your
vehicle's USB port.
Make sure that the device does not have an auto-install program or
active security settings.
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USB and Bluetooth Stereo issues
Possible solution
Possible cause
Issue
Make sure your device is unlocked before connecting it to SYNC 3.
The device has a lock screen enabled.
Make sure you are not leaving the device in your vehicle during very
hot or cold temperatures.
This is a device limitation.
SYNC 3 does not recog-
nize my device when I start
my vehicle.
Make sure you connect the device to SYNC 3 and that you have
started the media player on your device.
This is a device-dependent feature.
Bluetooth audio does not
stream. The device is not connected.
Make sure that all song details are populated.
Your music files may not contain the
correct artist, song title, album or genre
information.
SYNC 3 does not recog-
nize music that is on my
device. Try replacing the corrupt file with a new version.
The file may be corrupted.
Some devices require you to change the USB settings from mass
storage to media transfer protocol class.
The song may have copyright protection
that does not allow it to play.
Convert the file to a supported format. See Entertainment (page 396).
The file format is not supported by SYNC
3.
Perform a master reset. See Settings (page 434).
The device needs to be re-indexed.
Make sure your device is unlocked before connecting it to SYNC 3.
The device has a lock screen enabled.
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USB and Bluetooth Stereo issues
Possible solution
Possible cause
Issue
Disconnect the device from SYNC 3. Try switching your device off,
resetting it or removing the battery, then connect it back to SYNC 3.
This is a device limitation.
When I connect my device,
I sometimes do not hear
any sound. To listen to Apple devices through USB, select AirPlay from the devices
Control Center, then select Dock Connector.
To listen to Apple devices through Bluetooth Stereo, select AirPlay
from the devices Control Center, then select SYNC. Wi-Fi Issues
Possible solution
Possible cause
Issue
Verify password.
Password error.
Failed connection.
Check for a poor Wi-Fi signal.
Weak signal.
Use a unique name for your SSID, don’t use
the default name unless it contains a unique
identifier, such as part of the MAC address.
Multiple Access points within range with the
same SSID.
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Wi-Fi Issues
Possible solution
Possible cause
Issue
Position the vehicle close to the hotspot with
the front of the vehicle facing the hotspot
direction and remove obstacles if possible.
Other Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, microwave and cord-
less phones may cause interference.
Weak signal probably due to distance from
the hotspot, obstruction or high interference.
Disconnecting after successful connection.
If the vehicle is equipped with heated wind-
shield, try positioning the vehicle so that the
windshield is not facing the hotspot. If you
have metallic window tinting but not on the
windshield, position the vehicle to face the
hotspot. If all windows are tinted, you can
open the windows in the direction of the
hotspot if that is feasible.
There may be an obstruction between SYNC
3 and the hotspot.
Poor signal seen by Sync despite being near
a hotspot.
Try to remove other obstructions that may
impact signal quality such as opening the
garage door.
Please set the network to visible and try again.
The hotspot was defined as a hidden network.
A hotspot is not listed in the list of available
networks.
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Wi-Fi Issues
Possible solution
Possible cause
Issue
SYNC 3 currently does not provide a hotspot.
SYNC 3 does not provide a hotspot.
SYNC 3 is not seen when searching for Wi-Fi
networks from your phone or other devices.
Check the signal quality (under network
details), if SYNC 3 indicates good or excellent,
test with another high-speed equipped
hotspot where the environment is more
predictable.
Poor signal strength, too far from the hotspot,
hotspot is supporting multiple connections,
slow Internet connection or other problems.
Software download takes too long.
Test the connection with another device, if the
hotspot requires a subscription, you may
contact the service provider.
It is possible that there is no new software.
The connected hotspot may be a managed
one and it requires either a subscription or
agreeing to the terms and conditions.
SYNC 3 seems to connect with a hotspot and
the signal strength is excellent but the soft-
ware is not being updated.
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AppLink issues
Possible solution(s)
Possible cause(s)
Issue
Make sure you have a compatible smartphone;
an Android with OS 2.3 or higher or an iPhone
3GS or newer with iOS 5.0 or higher. Addition-
ally, make sure you pair and connect your
phone to SYNC 3 in order to find AppLink-
capable apps on your device. iPhone users
must also connect to a USB port with an Apple
USB cable.
You did not connect an Applink Compatible
phone to SYNC 3.
AppLink Mobile Applications: When I select
"Connect Mobile Apps," SYNC 3 does not find
any applications.
Make sure you have downloaded and installed
the latest version of the app from your phone's
app store. Make sure the app is running on
your phone. Some apps require you to register
or login to the app on the phone before using
them with AppLink. Also, some may have a
"Ford SYNC" setting, so check the app's
settings menu on the phone.
AppLink-enabled apps are not installed and
running on your mobile device.
My phone is connected, but I still cannot find
any apps.
Closing and restarting apps may help SYNC
3 find the application if you cannot discover it
inside the vehicle. On an Android device, if
apps have an 'Exit' or 'Quit' option, then select
it and restart the app. If the app does not have
that option, select the phone's settings menu
Sometimes apps do not properly close and
re-open their connection to SYNC 3, over
ignition cycles, for example.
My phone is connected, my app(s) are running,
but I still cannot find any apps.
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AppLink issues
Possible solution(s)
Possible cause(s)
Issue
and select 'Apps', then find the particular app
and choose 'Force stop'. Do not forget to
restart the app afterward, then select "Connect
Mobile Apps" on SYNC 3.
On an iPhone with iOS7+, to force close an
app, double tap the home button then swipe
up on the app to close it. Tap the home button
again, then select the app again to restart it.
After a few seconds, the app should then
appear in SYNC 3's Mobile App's Menu.
Switch Bluetooth off and then on to reset it on
your phone. If you are in your vehicle, SYNC
3 should be able to automatically re-connect
to your phone if you press the "Phone" button.
There is a Bluetooth issue on some older
versions of the Android operating system that
may cause apps that were found on your
previous vehicle drive to not be found again
if you did not switch Bluetooth off.
My Android phone is connected, my app(s)
are running, I restarted them, but I still cannot
find any apps.
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