2021 BUICK ENCORE infotainment

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
118 Infotainment System
OnStar System
OnStar System (8 Inch Screen)
4G LTE
If equipped with 4G LTE, up to seven
devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and
laptops, can be connected to high-speed
Internet through the vehicle’s built-in Wi-Fi
hotspot.
Call 1-888-4ONSTAR (1-888-466-7827) to
connect to an OnStar Advisor for assistance.
See www.onstar.com for vehicle availability,
details, and system limitations. Service and
connectivity may vary by make, model,
year, carrier, availability, and conditions. 4G
LTE service is available in select markets. 4G
LTE performance is based on industry
averages and vehicle systems design. Some
services require a data plan.
The OnStar App
If equipped, the infotainment system has
OnStar controls in the embedded OnStar app
on the Home Page. All OnStar functions that
can be performed with the buttons can be
done using the app. To open the app, select
the OnStar icon on the Home Page. Featuresvary by region and model. Features are
subject to change. For more information on
this feature, see my.buick.com/learn
Voice Recognition
Voice Recognition (8 Inch Screen)
If equipped, voice recognition allows for
hands-free operation within the navigation,
audio, phone, and weather applications. This
feature can be started by pressing
gon the
steering wheel controls or by touching
gon
the infotainment display.
However, not all features within these areas
are supported by voice commands.
Generally, only complex tasks that require
multiple manual interactions to complete
are supported by voice commands.
For example, tasks that take more than one
or two touches such as selecting a song or
artist to play from a media device would be
supported by voice commands. Other tasks,
like adjusting the volume or seeking up or
down, are audio features that are easily
performed by pressing one or two controls,
and are not supported by voice commands. In general there are flexible ways to speak
commands for completing the tasks. Most of
them, except voice keypad, can be
completed in a single command. If the task
takes more than one command to complete,
the first command should be to indicate the
kind of task to be performed. The system
replies with prompts that lead you through
a dialog to enter the necessary information.
Voice recognition can be used when the
ignition is on or when Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) is active.Using Voice Recognition
Voice recognition becomes available once
the system has been initialized. This begins
when the ignition is turned on. Initialization
may take a few moments.
1. Press
gon the steering wheel controls
to activate voice recognition, or touch
g
on the infotainment display.
2. The audio system mutes and the system plays a prompt followed by a beep.
3. Wait until after the beep completes, then clearly speak one of the commands
described in this section.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
Infotainment System 119
A voice recognition system prompt can
be interrupted while it is playing by
pressing
gon the steering wheel
controls again.
For example, if the prompt seems to be
taking too long to finish, press
gagain
and the beep should happen right away.
There are two voice prompt modes
supported:
.Long verbal prompts: The longer prompts
provide more information regarding the
supported actions.
.Short prompts: The short prompts provide
simple instructions about what can be
stated.
If a command is not spoken, the voice
recognition system says a help prompt.
Prompts and Screen Displays
While a voice recognition session is active,
there will be corresponding options on
screens displayed. Manual interaction in the
voice recognition session is permitted.
Interaction during a voice session may be
completed entirely using voice commands,
or some selections may expedite a session.
If a selection is made using a manual
control, the dialog will progress in the same way as if the selection was made through a
voice command. Once the system is able to
complete the task, or the session is
terminated, the voice recognition dialog
stops.
An example of this type of manual
intervention is touching an entry of a
displayed number list instead of speaking
the number associated with the entry
desired.
Canceling Voice Recognition
.Touch the Home Page. Touching this icon
will terminate a voice recognition session
which was initiated by touching the icon
on the infotainment display.
.Touch or say
“Cancel”or“Exit” to
terminate the voice recognition session
and display the screen from which voice
recognition was initiated.
.Presscon the steering wheel controls
to terminate the voice session and show
the display from which voice recognition
was initiated.
Most languages do not support natural
language commands in sentence form. For
those languages, use direct commands like
the examples on the display.
Helpful Hints for Speaking Commands
Voice recognition can understand commands
that are either naturally stated in sentence
form, or direct commands that state the
application and the task.
For best results:
.Listen for the prompt and wait for the
beep before saying a command or reply.
.Say “Help” or look at the infotainment
display for example commands.
.Voice recognition prompt can be
interrupted while it is playing by pressing
gon the steering wheel controls again.
For example, if the prompt seems to be
taking too long to finish, to speak the
command without waiting for the prompt
to complete, press
gagain and wait for
the beep.
.Speak the command naturally, not too
fast, not too slow. Use direct commands
without a lot of extra words.
.Usually Phone and Audio commands can
be spoken in a single command.
For example, “Call David Smith at work,”
“Play” followed by the artist or song
name, or “Tune”followed by the radio
station number.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
120 Infotainment System
There is no need to memorize specific
command words. Direct commands might be
more clearly understood by the system. An
example of a direct command would be“Call
555-1212.” Examples of these direct
commands are displayed on most of the
screens while a voice session is active.
If “Phone” or“Phone Commands,” is stated,
the system understands that a phone call is
requested and will respond with questions
until enough details are gathered.
If the phone number has been saved with a
name and a place, the direct command
should include both, for example “Call David
Smith at work.”
Using Voice Recognition for List Options
When a list is displayed, a voice prompt will
ask to confirm or select an option from that
list. A selection can be made by manually
selecting the item, or by speaking the line
number for the item to select.
When a screen contains a list, there may be
options that are available but not displayed.
The list on a voice recognition screen
functions the same as a list on other
screens. Scrolling or flinging can be used to
help display other entries from the list. Manually scrolling or paging the list on a
screen during a voice recognition session
suspends the current voice recognition event
and plays the prompt
“Make your selection
from the list using the manual controls,
press
qBACK orSBACK on the center
stack, or touch the Back icon on the
infotainment display to try again.”
If manual selection takes more than
15 seconds, the session terminates and
prompts that it has timed out. The screen
returns to the screen where voice
recognition was initiated.
The Back Command
Say “Back,” press
qBACK orSBACK on
the center stack, or touch the Back icon on
the infotainment display to go to the
previous menu.
If in voice recognition, and “Back”is stated
all the way through to the initial display,
then “Back” is stated one more time, the
voice recognition session will cancel.
Help
Say “Help” on any voice recognition menu
and the help prompt for the display is
played. Additionally, a pop-up displays a
text version of the help prompt. Depending on how voice recognition was initiated, the
Help pop-up will either display on the
instrument cluster or the infotainment
display. Touch Dismiss to make the pop-up
go away.
Pressing
gon the steering wheel controls
while the help prompt is playing will
terminate the prompt and a beep will be
heard. Doing this will stop the help prompt
so that a voice command can be used.
Voice Recognition for the Radio
All audio screens have a voice recognition
icon (
g) to launch audio voice recognition.
If the voice icon is touched in a radio
display, the voice commands for radio and
media features are available.
“Switch to AM” :Switch bands to AM and
tune to the last AM radio station.
“Switch to FM” :Switch bands to FM and
tune to the last FM radio station.
“Switch to SXM” :Switch bands to SiriusXM
and tune to the last SiriusXM channel.
“Tune to AM” :Tune to
the radio station whose frequency is
identified in the command (like “nine fifty”).

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
Infotainment System 121
“Tune to FM”:Tune to the
radio station whose frequency is identified
in the command (like “one oh one
point one”).
“Tune to SXM ” :
Tune to the SiriusXM radio station whose
channel number is identified in the
command.
“Tune to SXM ” :Tune
to the SiriusXM radio station whose channel
name is identified in the command.
Voice Recognition for Audio My Media
If browsing My Media when the voice icon
is selected, the voice recognition commands
for My Media features are available.
“Play Artist” :Begin a dialog to enter a
specific artist name.
“Play Artist ” :Begin playback
of the media selection identified in the
command.
“Play Album” :Begin a dialog to enter a
specific album name.
“Play Album ” :Begin
playback of the identified album name in
the command. “Play Song”
:Begin a dialog to enter a
specific song name.
“Play Song ” :Begin playback
of the identified song name in the
command.
“Play Genre” :Begin a dialog to enter a
specific genre.
“Play Genre ” :Begin
playback of the media selection identified in
the command.
“Play Playlist” :Begin a dialog to enter a
specific playlist name.
“Play Playlist ” :Begin
playback of the identified playlist in the
command.
“Play ” :Play music from a
specific device identified by name. The
device name is the name displayed on the
screen when the device is first selected as
an audio source.
“Play Chapter” :Begin a dialog to enter a
specific name.
“Play Chapter ” :Begin
playback of the media selection identified in
the command. “Play Audiobook”
:Begin a dialog to enter
a specific name.
“Play Audiobook ” :
Begin playback of the media selection
identified in the command.
“Play Episode” :Begin a dialog to enter a
specific name.
“Play Episode ” :Begin
playback of the media selection identified in
the command.
“Play Podcast” :Begin a dialog to enter a
specific name.
“Play Podcast ” :Begin
playback of the media selection identified in
the command.
“Play Video” :Begin a dialog to enter a
specific name.
“My Media” :Begin a dialog to enter the
desired media content.
Handling Large Amounts of Media Content
It is expected that large amounts of media
content will be brought into the vehicle.
It may be necessary to handle large
amounts of media content in a different
way than smaller amounts of media. The
system may limit the options of voice

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
122 Infotainment System
recognition by not allowing selection of
song titles by voice at the highest level if
the number of songs exceeds the maximum
limit.
Voice command option changes through
media content limits are:
.Song files including other individual files
of all media types such as audiobook
chapters, podcast episodes, and videos.
.Album type folders including types such
as albums and audiobooks.
There are no restrictions if the number of
song files and albums is less than 4,000.
When the number of song files connected to
the system is between 4,000 and 8,000, the
content cannot be accessed directly with
one command like “Play .”
The restriction is that the command “Play
Song” must be spoken first; the system will
then ask for the song name. The reply
command would be to say the name of the
song to play.
Similar limits exist for album content.
If there are more than 4,000 albums, but
less than 8,000, the content cannot be
accessed directly with one command like,
“Play .” The command“Play
Album” must first be spoken; the system will then ask for the album name. The reply
would be to say the name of the album
to play.
Once the number of songs has exceeded
approximately 8,000, there is no support for
accessing the songs directly through voice
commands. There will still be access to the
media content by using commands for
playlists, artists, and genres.
The access commands for playlists, artists,
and genres are prohibited after the number
of this type of media exceeds 4,000.
The system will provide feedback the first
time voice recognition is initiated if it has
become apparent that any of these limits
are reached during a device initializing
process.
Voice Recognition for the Phone
“Call ”
:Initiate a call to an
entered contact. The command may include
location if the contact has location numbers
stored.
“Call At Home,” “At Work,”
“On Mobile,” or“On Other” :Initiate a call
to an entered contact and location at home,
at work, on mobile device, or on another
phone. “Call ”
:Initiate a call to a
standard phone number or to a local
emergency number.
“Pair Phone” :Begin the Bluetooth pairing
process. Follow instructions on the radio
display.
“Switch Phone” :Select a different phone
for outgoing calls.
“Voice Keypad” :Begin a dialog to enter
special numbers like international numbers.
The numbers can be entered in groups of
digits with each group of digits being
repeated back by the system. If the group
of digits is not correct, the command
“Delete” will remove the last group of digits
and allow them to be re-entered. Once the
entire number has been entered, the
command “Call”will start dialing the
number.
“Voice Mail” :Initiate a call to voice mail
numbers.
Voice Pass-Thru
Voice pass-thru allows access to the voice
recognition commands on the cell phone, for
example, Siri or Voice Command. See the
cell phone manufacturer's user guide to see
if the cell phone supports this feature. To

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
Infotainment System 123
activate the phone voice recognition system,
press and hold
gon the steering wheel
controls for a few seconds.
Phone
Bluetooth (Overview for 8 Inch
Screen)
The Bluetooth-capable system can interact
with many cell phones, allowing:
.Placement and receipt of calls in a
hands-free mode.
.Sharing of the cell phone’s address book
or contact list with the vehicle.
To minimize driver distraction, before
driving, and with the vehicle parked:
.Become familiar with the features of the
cell phone. Organize the phone book and
contact lists clearly and delete duplicate
or rarely used entries. If possible,
program speed dial or other shortcuts.
.Review the controls and operation of the
infotainment system.
.Pair cell phone(s) to the vehicle. The
system may not work with all cell
phones. See “Pairing”in this section. Vehicles with a Bluetooth system can use a
Bluetooth-capable cell phone with a
Hands-Free Profile to make and receive
phone calls. The infotainment system and
voice recognition are used to control the
system. The system can be used with the
ignition on or in ACC/ACCESSORY. The range
of the Bluetooth system can be up to 9.1 m
(30 ft). Not all phones support all functions
and not all phones work with the Bluetooth
system. See www.gm.com/bluetooth for
more information about compatible phones.
Bluetooth Controls
Use the infotainment display features on
the infotainment system or press the
steering wheel icon to operate the Bluetooth
system.
Steering Wheel Controls
g:
Press to answer incoming calls, confirm
system information, and start voice
recognition.
c: Press to end a call, decline a call,
or cancel an operation. Press to mute or
unmute the infotainment system when not
on a call. Infotainment System Features
For information about how to navigate the
menu system using the infotainment
features, see
Overview (8 Inch Screen) 0105.
Phone : Touch the Home Page to enter the
phone main menu.
Audio System
When using the Bluetooth system, sound
comes through the vehicle's front audio
system speakers and overrides the audio
system. Press
Oduring a call to change the
volume level. The adjusted volume level
remains in memory for later calls. The
system maintains a minimum volume level.
Bluetooth (Pairing and Using the
Phone for 8 Inch Screen)
Pairing
A Bluetooth-enabled cell phone must be
paired to the Bluetooth system and then
connected to the vehicle before it can be
used. See the cell phone manufacturer's user
guide for Bluetooth functions before pairing
the cell phone.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
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124 Infotainment System
Pairing Information
.A Bluetooth phone with music capability
can be paired to the vehicle as a phone
and a music player at the same time.
.Up to 10 devices can be paired to the
Bluetooth system.
.The pairing process is disabled when the
vehicle is moving.
.Pairing only needs to be completed once,
unless the pairing information on the cell
phone changes or the cell phone is
deleted from the system.
.One Bluetooth device can be connected to
the Bluetooth system at a time.
.If multiple paired cell phones are within
range of the system, the system connects
to the paired cell phone in the order that
they were last used in the system. To link
to a different paired phone, see
“Connecting to a Different Phone”later in
this section.
Pairing a Phone 1. Touch Phone on the Home Page.
2. Select Phones and select Pair New Device. 3. A four-digit Personal Identification
Number (PIN) appears on the display.
The PIN, if required, may be used in
Step 5.
4. Start the pairing process on the cell phone to be paired to the vehicle. See
the cell phone manufacturer's user guide
for information on this process.
5. Locate “Buick”on the display. Follow the
instructions provided in Step 3, to enter
the PIN. After the PIN is successfully
entered or the code is confirmed, the
system responds with “
has been successfully paired” when the
pairing process is complete.
6. If “Buick” does not appear, turn the
phone off or remove the phone battery
and retry.
7. If the phone prompts to accept connection or allow phone book
download, select Always Accept and
Allow. The phone book may not be
available if not accepted.
8. Repeat Steps 1−5 to pair additional phones.
Listing All Paired and Connected Phones 1. Touch Phone on the Home Page.
2. Touch Phones. Disconnecting a Connected Phone
1. Touch Phone on the Home Page.
2. Touch Phones.
3. Touch
znext to the phone to
disconnect.
Deleting a Paired Phone
Only disconnected phones can be deleted. 1. Touch Phone on the Home Page.
2. Touch Phones.
3. Touch
Mnext to the phone to delete
and follow the on-screen prompts.
Connecting to a Different Phone
To connect to a different phone, the new
phone must be in the vehicle and paired to
the Bluetooth system. 1. Touch Phone on the Home Page.
2. Touch Phones.
3. Touch the new phone to connect to from the not connected device list.
Switching to Handset or
Handsfree Mode
To switch between handset or handsfree
mode, touch Phone on the Home Page to
display “Call View.”

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
Infotainment System 125
.While the active call is hands-free, touch
the Handset option to switch to the
handset mode. The Handset option
changes to Handsfree once the Bluetooth
device confirms it is operating as handset.
.While the active call is handset, touch the
Handsfree option to switch to the
hands-free mode. The Handsfree option
changes to Handset once the Bluetooth
device confirms it is operating as
handsfree.
Making a Call Using Contacts and Recent
Calls
Calls can be made through the Bluetooth
system using personal cell phone contact
information for all phones that support the
Phone Book feature. Become familiar with
the phone settings and operation. Verify the
cell phone supports this feature.
When supported, the Contacts and Recent
Calls menus are automatically available.
The Contacts menu accesses the phone book
stored in the cell phone.
The Recent Calls menu accesses the recent
call list(s) from your cell phone.
To make a call using the Contacts menu:1. Touch Phone on the Home Page. 2. Touch Contacts.
3. Touch the name to call.
4. Touch the desired contact number to call.
To make a call using the Recent Calls menu: 1. Touch Phone on the Home Page.
2. Touch Recent.
3. Touch the name or number to call.
4. If necessary, select between Missed, Recent, and Sent calls by touching View
in the top right corner of the list.
Making a Call Using the Keypad
To make a call by dialing the numbers:
1. Touch Phone on the Home Page.
2. Touch Keypad and enter a phone number.
3. Touch Call to start dialing the number.
Accepting or Declining a Call
When an incoming call is received, the
infotainment system mutes and a ring tone
is heard in the vehicle.
Accepting a Call
To accept a call:
.Pressgon the steering wheel controls.
.Touch Answer on the infotainment
display.
Declining a Call
To decline a call:
.Presscon the steering wheel controls.
.Touch Ignore on the infotainment display.
Call Waiting
Call waiting must be supported on the
Bluetooth phone and enabled by the
wireless service carrier to work.
Accepting a Call
To accept a call-waiting call:
.Pressgon the steering wheel controls.
.Touch Switch on the infotainment display.
Declining a Call
To decline a call-waiting call:
.Presscon the steering wheel controls.
.Touch Ignore on the infotainment display.
Switching Between Calls (Call Waiting
Calls Only)
To switch between calls, touch Phone on the
Home Page to display “Call View.”While in
Call View, touch the call information of the
call on hold to change calls.