The Volvo XC40 is a car that is coming from a very different place than many other cars. It is designed to be the most efficient car on the road, and it seems that Volvo has hit their target. That being said, it is still a good idea to know what the XC40 can do, so that you can figure out if this car is right for you.
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The first thing that you need to know about the Volvo XC40 is that it comes with Apple CarPlay. This means that it will be able to connect with your iPhone and let you use all of your favorite apps through Volvo’s built-in touchscreen.
What is an Apple CarPlay?
Apple CarPlay is the brand new way to access your iPhone apps. Among others, you can connect to iTunes, Google Maps, Spotify, and Waze all from the touch-screen of your vehicle. You can even access your Siri using voice commands, which opens up possibilities to many more actions, such as sending messages, making phone calls, and navigating the internet.
How to Turn on Apple CarPlay
To enable an Apple CarPlay in your beloved Volvo XC40, you need to first make sure to connect your Apple iPhone to the Volvo XC40 USB port by using the Apple-approved Lightning-to-USB cable.
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After that, tap on the Apple CarPlay icon; it should be in the Applications menu of your XC40. If this is your first time using it, you will be redirected to a Terms and Conditions page, which you will need to agree to. When you are prompted, tap “Allow” on your iPhone.
At this point, the Apple CarPlay should automatically launch your Volvo car’s infotainment system and configuration page. You should be set to use the Apple CarPlay when you’re driving your XC40, even if your iPhone is locked.
If you’re not sure whether there is a USB port that supports CarPlay on your particular XC40 variant, consult your vehicle’s owners manual. Or, you can always just try plugging the cable into each of the USB ports, one at a time, in the dashboard and center console.
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Ask a Mechanic Live NowWhat to Do if the CarPlay is Broken
If you have an issue with the Apple CarPlay in your Volvo XC40, you can contact the Volvo customer service and ask them to fix it or at least give you pointers. You can also reach out to your local car dealership and services company, but keep in mind that they may not be able to provide support for a Volvo-branded vehicle.
Aside from contacting the relevant support, there are other ways you can yourself troubleshoot the Apple CarPlay on your Volvo XC40.
Make Sure Your iOS Device is Up-to-Date
The first thing you need to do to make sure that your CarPlay is running properly is to make sure that your iPhone has the latest version of iOS. To check, simply go to the Settings menu on your iPhone and look for “Updates.”
So, make sure that your iOS device is running the latest version of iOS and that all the apps on the device have been updated. This may help in fixing your broken CarPlay issue.
Try Reinserting the iOS Device to Your USB Connection Port
The second thing you can do to fix your broken CarPlay is to try inserting your iPhone back into the USB port.
To do this in the event of a problem with your CarPlay, you must unplug the iOS device from the USB port and re-plug it in again. On the other hand, if it is possible, close the app on the iOS device that is not working, and then restart that app.
You can also close all other apps and then restart the device. To restart your iOS, simply press down on the volume buttons and the side button until the slider for powering off your device shows up. Drag the slider, wait for it to shut down, then just repeat the process to turn it back on.
Check That the App is Not Disabled on Your iOS Device
This is one of the most important steps you can take to make sure that your CarPlay is working properly. It can be that, for some reason, your iOS device has automatically disabled the app.
This can happen if you have just recently updated your iOS device, or if for some reason your iOS device had an error and mistook it for a security risk. Either way, you will need to rectify this.
If you do not want to lose the functionality of your Apple CarPlay, you can make sure that the app is not disabled. To do this, simply go to the Settings menu on your iPhone and look for “Screen Time.”
Afterwards, navigate your way to the “Content & Privacy Restrictions” tab and look for “Allowed Apps.” You will see a list of apps that are allowed to operate in your iOS.
Scroll down until you find “CarPlay,” in which you can then select the CarPlay app and make sure it is set to be enabled in your iOS device. You should also perform the same check on the Siri app, since Siri is oftentimes used in conjunction with CarPlay.
Check on the Lightning-to-USB Cable
This is a common issue that many people encounter when using CarPlay. The issue may be related to the Lightning-to-USB cable, or it may be that your car’s USB port is not working properly.
In either case, you can go to the USB port and check if the cable is still working. If it is not, try swapping out the cable with another one from your other devices and see if that will work.
If it still does not work, you can try using a different Lightning-to-USB cable. You can also take your device to an Apple Store and have them check if there are any issues with the Lightning-to-USB cable.
Reset the XC40 CarPlay System
Finally, you can also try giving your Volvo XC40 infotainment system a factory reset. Do this by pressing and holding the power button until it shuts off, then restarting it back up again. After doing this, try connecting your iPhone again and see if it works properly now.
Max Anthony
Max is a gizmo-savvy guy, who has a tendency to get pulled into the nitty gritty details of technology and cars. He attended UT Austin, where he studied Information Science. He’s married and has three kids, one dog and a GMC truck and a Porsche 911. With a large family, he still finds time to share tips and tricks on cars, trucks and more.
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