Connecting your smartphone to your car audio system can enhance your driving experience by allowing you to access your favorite music, podcasts, and navigation apps without fumbling with your phone. With the abundance of options available in the market, choosing the best app to connect your smartphone to your car audio system can be overwhelming. In this article, we’ll explore some of the top apps that offer seamless integration and advanced features to help you make an informed decision.
We have compiled a list of 8 Best Apps To Connect Your Smartphone To Car Audio System for your consideration, which have undergone rigorous testing and evaluation by our team of experts.
Table of Contents
8 Best Apps To Connect Your Smartphone To Car Audio System
1. Car Music Streaming – Listen to BT Bluetooth Music
This app enables users to transfer their favorite songs and audio books to common car radios and navigation systems with a Bluetooth hands-free kit. To use the app, users need to download it and establish a Bluetooth connection between their phone and radio/navigation system before clicking the “Start” button.
Users may encounter difficulty transferring music via Bluetooth without the A2DP protocol, but this app provides a free solution that eliminates the need to purchase additional devices or upgrade navigation systems. The app allows users to connect their smartphones to their BT headset and listen to music via their BT headset. However, the transmission quality may not be optimal due to the unavailability of the A2DP protocol.
The app comes with several features, including the ability to stream music and audio books via Bluetooth to popular car radios and radio/navigation systems from various brands such as Audi, BMW, Mercedes, and Volkswagen. The app also automatically activates the Bluetooth connection when started, and users can configure it to automatically start transmission. Additionally, the media volume is increased to the maximum volume at the beginning of transmission and set to the original value at the end of transmission. Visual notifications are also displayed in the status bar during active transmission.
The app supports a wide range of car brands and navigation systems, including Alfa Romeo, Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Citroen, Daihatsu, Dodge, Fiat, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Isuzu, Jaguar, Jeep, Kia, Land Rover, Lexus, Mazda, Mercedes Benz, Mini, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opel, Peugeot, Porsche, Renault, Saab, Seat, Skoda, Smart, Subaru, Suzuki, Tesla, Toyota, Volvo, and VW.
2. EasyConnection
EasyConnection is a driving assistant application that integrates various functions such as navigation, music, and telephone. Users can also add their favorite applications to the app. With the interconnection of EasyConnection App on the navigator, the mobile phone screen can be projected onto the navigator screen and operated from there.
However, Android system limitations have caused Android 10 users to lose access right to control the app from the car display. The company is working on launching personal software for Android car display to solve the issue. The problem for WinCE headunit users is the ‘Start Project’ alert on the phone appearing for only three seconds at the installation. While there is no solution yet, tapping the ‘Start’ button quickly can cast the phone screen to the headunit.
The company has also launched a new Beta function that forces the application into landscape mode when connecting to the head unit. However, this feature is not supported by some devices. Users can enable this function by long-pressing the application on Easycon, ticking the ‘adapt to landscape’ checkbox, and following the prompts.
For feedback and advice, users can reach out to the company via email or visit their official website.
3. Advanced car audio setting
The Advanced car audio setting app is a tool designed to control Sony’s Car receiver via Bluetooth. It is embedded within the Sony | Music Center app as a plug-in. This means that the devices that were compatible with the SongPal app are also compatible with the Sony | Music Center app after it has been renewed.
One of the main features of the Advanced car audio setting app is its ability to provide a custom sound setting. This feature enables smartphone users to access full settings of Fader/Balance/Subwoofer and Listening Position, using their device as a remote screen.
It is important to note that certain devices may not support some of the features provided by the Advanced car audio setting app. Similarly, some functions and services may not be supported in certain regions or countries. As a result, it is essential to update the app to the latest version to ensure that all supported features are available.
It is important to recognize that the Bluetooth® word mark and logos are owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc. Any use of such marks by Sony Corporation is under license. Additionally, other system, product, and service names used herein are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective manufacturers. However, the ™ and ® marks are not used in text.
4. App Remote
The “App Remote” application safely connects Sony Car Audio and smartphones, allowing for two-way source control. The application offers several capabilities, including fully synchronized function integration with car audio or personal audio systems, voice communication, smartphone visualization, and custom sound setting. Users can control their music and applications from their car audio or smartphone, safely operate their smartphone in the car through voice operation, enhance their music experience with their smartphone display, and access full settings of DSP features using their smartphone as a remote screen.
The “App Remote” application is compatible with several Sony products, including MEX-N4000BT/N4000BE/N4050BT/N4070BT/N5000BT/N5000BE/N5050BT/N5070BT/GS610BT/GS610BE/N6050BT/N6000BH/N6000BD/GS810BH/M70BT and XSP-N1BT. However, the application has limitations for some products, such as no voice communication or custom sound setting for MEX-BT3100P/BT3100U/BT3150U/BT3153U/BT4100P/BT4100U/BT4100E/BT4150U/GS600BT and no app control from car audio for XAV-602BT/612BT/712HD/712BT. Additionally, the GTK-N1BT does not have app control from personal audio systems or voice communication, and users cannot set fader/balance/subwoofer/listening positions.
It is important to note that voice recognition function may not work depending on the user’s smartphone. In such cases, users can navigate to “Settings” and select “Voice Recognition.” The “App Remote” application is trademarked by Sony Corporation, along with the Sony logo, Xplod, and all other trademarks or registered trademarks of Sony Corporation or their respective owners.
5. Car Connect
This article outlines a simple automation application that enables users to automate the playing and pausing of music when their device connects to their car’s Bluetooth. This eliminates the need to fiddle with the device when entering and exiting the car, allowing users to focus on more important tasks such as adjusting mirrors, fastening seat belts, and styling their hair.
One of the noteworthy features of this app is that it is entirely free and will remain free. Additionally, it does not require any permission to run.
Another important factor to consider is that the app does not continuously run in the background, thereby preventing it from consuming any device battery when it is not running.
6. Auto+Show
Auto+ Show is an app that can be utilized in certain vehicle models in conjunction with the infotainment system. This app allows for control from both a smartphone and the car infotainment system screen. Functions include adding shortcuts for preferred apps, using Google maps, and watching online video streaming.
Auto+ Show is designed to improve user experience in controlling the car launcher, media playback, online video streaming and using Google maps to reach destinations.
Auto+ Show requires a device running Android 5.0 or higher and Bluetooth connectivity to the infotainment system.
For compatibility between Android smartphones and vehicle models, please refer to http://www.garmin.com.sg/products/ontheroad/autoplus-show.
7. CarAuto BT: Bluetooth Car Home
CarAuto BT is an all-in-one application that includes a trip computer, speedometer, automatic Bluetooth connection, map view, music controls, trips diary, and car locator, with various kinds of customization. The free version has advertising banners and some feature limitations. Users can unlock full features and remove banners by purchasing the CarAuto BT Unlocker.
The application allows users to save time on everyday in-car phone configuration by enabling Bluetooth automatically when the phone is plugged into a USB car-charger and connected to a preferred A2DP Bluetooth device. Users can configure a set of predefined actions to be automatically executed.
The trip computer provides information on distance, speed, and duration. Users can collect and review past trips and compare similar paths. They can order trips by date, distance, duration, show similar trips, and view trip maps and details. The full version provides details for trips older than three days.
The map view provides three different views to quickly check streets and traffic. The car locator feature allows users to easily find their parked car using the integrated map and radar. GPS position is automatically stored when trips end, but users can also manually update it.
The dashboard page displays various features, including a configurable speedometer, geolocation with the current street address, current artist/track information for music playback, quick music commands to play/pause and change tracks using the user’s favorite music player, digital clock, and interactive screen.
Users can access up to five configurable shortcut pages to quickly access the application they need. The free version provides only one page. Users can personalize the dashboard look and feel using different themes, which is available in the full version.
Permissions are required to interact with system settings such as GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and display, and to access the Google services such as geolocation and maps. The application can be very battery intensive with all settings enabled and users are recommended to use it preferably with a car charger.
8. Bluetooth Pair – BLE Auto Connect
The app being discussed is intended for use by app developers and requires GPS and Bluetooth to function. Its functionality and user interface are limited to tasks such as scanning, pairing, unpairing, viewing UUIDs, reading and setting device discoverability and Bluetooth signal strength. An added feature is that it is now possible to read heart rate using LE scan.
The Bluetooth device finder functionality incorporated within the app aims to aid in locating any Bluetooth-enabled device. With the vast array of Bluetooth devices available, such as audio speakers, headsets, and car speakers, connecting to a specific device could be a hassle. The app solves this issue by using the received signal strength indication (RSSI) to locate and find Bluetooth devices. As one gets closer to a device, the signal strengthens. It is worth noting that the app’s scanner can track other Bluetooth 4.0 devices, like hearing aids, that are powered on and actively advertising.
This Bluetooth device finder app is designed to locate wireless headphones, earbuds, speakers, wearables, and phones, among other devices. The app ensures that one never loses their headphones, as it can locate them anywhere. It works with headphones from various brands, including Beats, Bose, Jabra, Jaybird, JBL, and many others.