Ford Sync Bluetooth Not Turning On? Try These 17 Fixes

Bluetooth is a wonderful piece of technology that allows its users to access certain features through a signal, not unlike Wi-Fi, without the need of a cable wire. For example, you can stream your GPS or music to your Force vehicle’s SYNC feature. This leaves your hands free and away from your device while you’re driving. On a side note, you should be watching the road anyways and not fiddling with your device. You are still driving, after all, and no amount of “hands-free” alternatives are going to relieve you of your responsibility as a driver.

If you notice that your audio has stopped playing on your Sync, and you’ve received an error on the Sync saying [device name] disconnected, or [device name] error disconnected.

Ford Sync Bluetooth issues are popular on these models: Fusion, Focus, Transit, F150, Edge, F150, Expedition, Taurus, Ecosport, and Escape. If you have any of these Ford models and you’re experiencing Bluetooth issues with Ford Sync, then you’re not alone because a lot of drivers of these models experience the same problem.

With that being said, if Ford SYNC isn’t working, then you should know that you aren’t alone. There are a number of issues why Bluetooth and Ford SYNC aren’t playing nice with each, but you can bet you’ll find the solution to your problem with one of the troubleshooting guides below. But do note that every Android device is slightly different, as well as the versions of Ford’s SYNC technology. The steps provided are as broad as you can get.

Why Is My Ford Sync Not Working?

When Ford Sync isn’t working, then depending on your situation, whether it’s a Bluetooth problem, your songs not playing, or any type of problem that you’re experiencing, then it’s being caused by a specific issue that you need to diagnose on your Ford Model. Whether you’re driving a Fusion, Focus, Transit, F150, Edge, F150, Expedition, Taurus, Ecosport, or Escape, there’s a specific problem that’s causing the SYNC issue and not allowing the Bluetooth connection to work properly.

1. Fuse Issue

If your Sync Bluetooth music has stopped working out of nowhere, there might be a problem with the Sync Bluetooth Fuse. You need to fix the problem using the steps below. This involves removing the Sync Bluetooth fuse and putting it back in again.

2. Possible Cell Phone Malfunction (Glitch or Bug)

If your ford sync Bluetooth audio has stopped working, maybe there’s a glitch or bug, it might stop it from being able to connect to your Ford Sync using Bluetooth. Bugs and glitches occur all the time in smartphones and this can cause them to stop working properly. A bug is a failure in the software and this can sometimes cause unexpected errors to occur with one of them being Bluetooth errors. If the glitch is preventing your phone from connecting to your Ford Sync, you need to get rid of it.

3. The Device is Not Connected

If your phone isn’t connected to the Ford Sync, then this might lead you to think that your Ford Sync isn’t working properly when it actually is working properly, it’s just that your device isn’t connected to the Ford Sync. The Ford Sync works on a Bluetooth connection and if you’ve decided not to use a USB or iPhone dock, then you need to make sure that you try and connect the SYNC device to your phone using Bluetooth. That’s the only way your Ford Sync will be able to work.

4. The File May Be Corrupted

If you think that your audio isn’t working because you have Bluetooth problems on your Ford, the file that you’re trying to play may just be corrupted instead. You need to make sure that you’re playing music from certified sources like Spotify, Apple Music, or Amazon music. If you’ve downloaded music onto your device and you’re trying to play it through Ford Sync, you need to play the music on your device and check that it’s actually playable. Sometimes when you download songs from YouTube and convert them to mp3 then download them to your phone, they can be corrupt and sometimes unplayable.

5. The Bluetooth Volume on the Phone May Be Low

If you haven’t turned up the volume on your Ford Sync or your device, then you’re going to think that your Ford Sync isn’t working when in fact it actually is working, your volume is just too low. There are knobs on your Ford as well as buttons on your phone that’ll allow you to turn up the volume so that you can hear whatever you want to hear. Whether that’s music, a call, if your Bluetooth has connected properly, check your volume too. If you’ve noticed that it’s started to work, then it wasn’t your Sync’s Bluetooth that wasn’t working, it was actually your volume.

6. Song is Not Playing

If your song isn’t playing in your Ford, then this can lead you to think that the sync isn’t working. If your Ford Sync isn’t working, then make sure that your device is connected and you actually click play on the song that you want to play. If the song isn’t playing, then the SYNC is going to appear as if it’s not working. If you press play and you notice that no music is playing, then you can conclude that your Ford Sync isn’t working.

7. Your music files may not contain the correct artist, song title, album or genre information

If you notice that your Sync isn’t recognizing the audio on your device and playing it, it could be that your music file doesn’t contain the correct artist, song title, album, or genre information. If the file is essentially corrupt and contains the wrong information, then it may appear as if your Ford Sync isn’t working or that there’s a Bluetooth problem when it’s just the file you’re trying to play. Try playing music from certified apps like Spotify or Apple Music and see if you have better luck with your music playing.

8. The Song May Have Copyright Protection That Does Not Allow It to Play

If the song you’re trying to play has copyright protection, then it won’t work when you’re trying to play it in your car. Some apps like Soundcloud have copyright protection that prevents you from being able to listen to the full version of the song unless you pay to unlock it. If you’ve noticed that your song has stopped playing, check the source of where you’re playing it and check that the music isn’t copyright protected. If it is copyright protected, then this could be why you’re having issues.

9. Your Phone Isn’t Compatible

If your cell phone isn’t compatible with your Ford, the SYNC isn’t going to work and it only works with compatible devices. If your phone is pretty old and doesn’t have Bluetooth, it won’t be able to connect to your Ford SYNC. The Ford Sync only works with Bluetooth-compatible devices so you need to make sure that you’re not using an old device that may not have Bluetooth. All smartphones have Bluetooth so if you’re using a smartphone, you know that you’re good.

How to Fix Ford Sync Bluetooth Issue

Now that you’ve diagnosed why your Ford Sync isn’t working, you can start to fix the issue. If it’s a general glitch that’s causing Bluetooth issues on your Sync, then this can be cleared with someone’s reset and restart methods. If it’s more specific, then you can use the specific fixes below to solve your problem.

1. Pull Fuse Associated to Sync Bluetooth

There are fuses behind the glove box for your vehicle and one of them is associated to the sync. To fix the sync Bluetooth issue, you’ll need to look on your manual and look at the fuses chapter which can be located in the contents page. From here, you need to look for the passenger compartment fuse box. Then, you need to look for “Sync Bluetooth” and identify the fuse number. You can locate this on the diagram before you find this on the fuse box itself. You need to open the glove compartment and pull the sides of the compartment with force (it’ll feel like something you’re not meant to do) so that the compartment falls out and the fuse box is exposed.

You’ll notice that the malfunctioning fuse is facing the opposite way. What you want to do is pull out the fuse that you located on the manual, wait for 10 seconds to a minute, then put the fuse back in. Then your Sync issue should be fixed.

2. Perform a Master Reset of the Ford Sync System

If Sync is still not working, then you can perform a master reset and this should clear any bugs or glitches that are causing problems.

To perform a master reset of the Sync system:

1. Open Bluetooth on your phone and delete SYNC.
2. Push the “Phone” button on the SYNC screen, then use the Arrows or Seek buttons until you see the “Advanced” display.
3. On the Advanced display, select the Master Reset option and press OK.

3. Reset Connection In Sync

The best thing to do when your Ford Sync isn’t working is to reset the connection in Sync. This will allow you to restart the connection to see if there’s a glitch in Synch that was causing issues to begin with.

1. Turn Bluetooth Off, then On on your phone. Swipe down from the control or notification center to do this.
2. On SYNC, turn Bluetooth Off, then On. Press the Phone button > scroll to System Settings > Press OK > scroll to Bluetooth Devices > Press OK > select Off > select On
3. Manually connect SYNC with your phone. Press the Phone button > scroll to System Settings > Press OK > scroll to Connect Bluetooth Device > Press OK > scroll to [your phone name] > Press OK. If the connection process takes longer than a minute, cancel the connection and try it again.
4. Manually connect your phone with SYNC. Go to Bluetooth in your settings > tap SYNC to connect.
5. Wait and make sure your phone automatically connects to SYNC.
6. Turn your vehicle off > Open the driver’s side door > Start the vehicle > Wait for a confirmation of the connection to display on your SYNC screen.

4. Check the Security and Auto Accept Prompt On Your Device

Usually when you connect your device to any car, even your Ford, there’s a security/auto-accept prompt that shows up just before the connection is finalized. To see the prompt, you need to unlock your device and check if anything pops up. Usually, there’s an accept button, or you’ll need to put in your passcode so that your SYNC can access things on your device. So if you haven’t unlocked your phone yet before concluding that your Ford Sync isn’t working, then you should check it properly.

5. Turn Off Your Ford Vehicle

Technology can be really touchy sometimes, especially when it comes to wireless hardware. In this case, your Ford SYNC is refusing to connect with your device. That’s not an uncommon problem and is generally the root cause of the problem.

1. Shut off your Ford vehicle entirely.

2. If you’re on the driver’s side, open and close the door. This will trigger SYNC to shut down.

3. Wait for SYNC to shut down completely.

4. Once SYNC has completely shut down, you are welcome to start your Ford vehicle back up.

5. Press and hold the Power button until your power options menu appears.

6. In your power options, choose Shutdown or Power Off; it depends on your device.

7. Wait 60 seconds. This ensures that your Android device has been successfully shut down.

8. Press and hold the Power button again until you see your Android light up.

9. Attempt reconnection with your Ford SYNC.

6. “Forget” Your Ford Vehicle

In the event that your Ford and device do not sync, then you should “forget” the car on your list of devices within your Bluetooth settings, like so:

1. Locate and launch the Settings app.

2. In your Settings menu, scroll down until you locate Bluetooth.

3. In your Bluetooth menu, you’ll see your car listed as a linked device. Select it.

4. In the popup box that appears, select Forget.

5. While you’re at it, turn your Bluetooth OFF, and then turn it back ON, by using the slider to the right of Bluetooth.

6. On the SYNC screen, highlight Add a Device and select it by pressing OK.

7. Follow through with the on-screen instructions.

8. When you reach the section that asks for a 6-digit pin, instead, highlight Special PIN and select it. When prompted, punch in 4 zeroes.

7. Spotify Refusing to Work

When Bluetooth is working, all you want to do is enjoy your music on Spotify. But what if it isn’t working? There’s a solution for that, too.

Here’s what you do:

1. Locate and launch the Settings app.

2. In your Settings app, locate and select Apps. You may have to scroll down to find it.

3. Locate Spotify in your Apps menu. It’s in alphabetical order.

4. On Spotify’s app info page, first select Force Stop. This will ensure that none of Spotify’s processes were causing any problems.

5. Next, choose Storage in the same menu.

6. Tap Clear Cache and then select Clear Data.

7. Attempt to play Spotify again.

8. Try Switching Off Your Device

Restarting your device will refresh the software it’s running on. If there’s a bug or glitch that’s causing your phone not to connect your Ford Sync via Bluetooth, then restarting your phone may get rid of it which could fix the problem you’re experiencing.

9. Force Restart Device

Since you’re not able to connect to your Ford due to Bluetooth problem, there could be a glitch on your device that’s preventing this. If you’re still experiencing problems, then you have the option to force restart your phone. When you force restart your phone, rather than the software being shutdown (like it does when you restart your iPhone,) the hardware gets shutdown. All it does is cut the power of your device and restart it again. Doing this could get rid of bugs and glitches that could be causing Bluetooth problems with your Ford Sync.

Force Restarting iPhone

For iPhone 8 or Later:

Quickly press-release the volume up button, then press-release the volume down button in quick succession. Once done, press-hold the sleep/wake button until the Apple logo appears on the screen.

For iPhone 7 & 7 Plus:

Press-hold the sleep/wake button in tandem with the volume down button for at least 7-10 seconds. Do not release them until the Apple logo appears on the screen.

For Restarting Android:

If the standard restart doesn’t help, simultaneously press and hold the power and volume down keys for more than seven seconds. This will force your phone to restart.

10. Update Your Software

Your phone is continually being improved and enhanced. The software is undoubtedly new on the latest models, but so are new features on the latest OS versions as a result. When it comes to glitches or problems, it is always a good idea to upgrade your software to the most recent version available on the market. This has been known to remove Bluetooth issues and this could allow your Ford Sync to connect.

Android:

1. Locate and launch the Settings app.
2. In your Settings menu, choose About Phone or Above Device. You’ll find it at the bottom of the menu.
3. Select Check for System Updates.
4. If any are available, select Install.

iPhone:

Plug your device into power and connect to the internet with Wi-Fi. Go to Settings > General, then tap Software Update. If you see two software update options available, choose the one that you want to install. Tap Install Now.

11. Reset Network Settings

The next thing that you should do to try and get rid of any glitches that could be causing Bluetooth issues between your device and your Force Sync is to reset your network settings.

iPhone:

1. From the home screen, tap Settings
2. Scroll down to, then tap General
3. Scroll down to, then tap Reset
4. Tap Reset Network Settings
5. Tap Reset Network Settings to confirm
6. After doing this, go try and connect to your Ford Sync and see if it works.

12. Try Replacing the Corrupt File with a New Version

If the file that you’re trying to play in your Ford is corrupted, then you need to either replace it with a new version or you need to play something else. If you do play something else, then it should start working and you should no longer be experiencing problems.

13. Make Sure You Are Not Leaving the Device in Your Vehicle During Very Hot or Cold Temperatures

If you’re unable to connect your phone to your Ford Sync, you need to check that your device isn’t malfunctioning. If your car is too hot or too cold and you’ve left it in the car, this can cause it to malfunction so when you’re trying to connect to your Ford, it might have some issues. Sometimes your phone might stop working temporarily when you’ve left it in weather that’s not correct. You need to make sure that you get the device back to an appropriate temperature before you conclude that your Ford Sync isn’t working.

14. Check Your Phone’s Compatibility

In order for your Ford Sync to connect to your device properly, it needs to be Bluetooth compatible. If you’re not trying to connect it via Bluetooth, then you need to check that it’s compatible via USB or an iPhone dock. But if you are trying to use Bluetooth, you can’t be using an old phone that doesn’t have Bluetooth capabilities. To check this, you need to look in settings or your notification bar for the Bluetooth icon. if you can see it here, then you know that your device is compatible with your Ford Sync.

15. Update Ford Sync

Sync is continually being improved and enhanced. The software is undoubtedly new on the latest models, but so are new features on the latest OS versions as a result. When it comes to glitches or problems, it is always a good idea to upgrade your Sync’s software to the most recent version available on the market. This has been known to remove Bluetooth issues and this could allow your Ford Sync to connect.

If your Ford comes with SYNC 4/4A, then you don’t need to do much to update it as Ford Power Up will push the updates over the air. All you have to do is connect your Ford to a Wi-Fi network which can be done with your home’s network.  If your Ford doesn’t come with Sync 4/4A, then you’ll need to go to the Ford Update Sync help page, enter your VIN, and click Check for Updates. If there is an update, you can install it by:

• Via USB flash drive
• Via a Wi-Fi network
• Via a Ford dealer

16. Factory Reset

A factory reset will be needed if a force restart doesn’t work. A factory reset involves wiping your device clean and restoring it back to its normal settings. For this to work, you’ll need to be willing to lose all of your data in the process, but if it’s backed up, then you’ll get it back.

iPhone

1. Open Settings.
2. Select General.
3. Go to Reset and choose to Erase All Content and Settings
4. You will be prompted to backup your data at this point. Tap Back Up Then Erase.
5. Enter your passcode to confirm the factory reset. Once you have entered the passcode and hit OK, then your iPhone will start erasing.
6. Once the reset is complete, then check to see if you can connect your device to your Ford Sync.

Android

1. Open Settings, and select System.
2. Select Reset options.
3. Select Erase all data (factory reset).
4. Select Reset Phone or Reset Tablet at the bottom.
5. You’ll be asked to confirm, select Erase Everything.
6. Your device should reboot and may show a progress screen indicating that it is erasing the data.

17. Getting in Touch with Ford

You may need to seek council with Ford if none of the solutions are working for you; in fact, SYNC may even be out of date. If your device is too far ahead in updates, it may be giving SYNC issues with being out of date. In that case, a Ford representative can give you options best suited for professionals.

If you don’t want to go to Ford and you want to go to a local mechanic that has experience with the Sync infotainment system, you should speak to some mechanics in your area. You’ll be able to get good quotes from some over the phone but if you can, go to them in person to make sure that they can actually deliver on the quote that they stated. If you’ve only been able to get one quote for the replacement, you should check with other dealerships in your area to check if you can get other competitive prices.

Bottom Line

Even though wireless technology like Bluetooth can be touchy sometimes, it doesn’t happen often enough to shelve the usefulness. When it works, it works.