How do I connect my iphone to my Kenwood radio?
Connecting your iPhone to your Kenwood car stereo provides a convenient way to access your music library, streaming apps, maps, and more through your vehicle’s speaker system. The process involves enabling Bluetooth connectivity on both devices and pairing them to create a wireless connection. Once established, the connection allows you to play audio, charge your phone, and access other features using your car stereo’s controls.
The pairing process itself takes just a few minutes when you follow the step-by-step process outlined here. These instructions apply to most recent Kenwood stereo models. If you run into any issues getting your iPhone connected, this guide also provides troubleshooting tips at the end.
Prepare Your iPhone
To prepare your iPhone for pairing with your Kenwood head unit:
First, ensure your iPhone is running the latest version of iOS. To check for and install the latest iOS update, go to Settings – General – Software Update on your iPhone. Updating to the latest version can fix issues with Bluetooth connectivity and make the pairing process smoother.
Next, you’ll need to enable Bluetooth on your iPhone. Bluetooth is the wireless technology that will allow your iPhone and Kenwood radio to “talk” to each other. To enable Bluetooth, open the Settings app on your iPhone and select Bluetooth. Toggle the Bluetooth switch to turn Bluetooth “On.” Doing so will start broadcasting your device’s Bluetooth connection and allow your iPhone to discover nearby Bluetooth devices.
Once these steps are completed, your iPhone will be ready for initiating the pairing process with your Kenwood stereo.
Prepare Your Kenwood Radio
Before pairing your iPhone with your Kenwood radio, you first need to make sure Bluetooth is enabled on your Kenwood radio.
Check your specific Kenwood radio manual to confirm Bluetooth compatibility. For example, the Kenwood DPX500BT and DPX300U models are compatible with Bluetooth and have instructions for pairing.
On your Kenwood radio deck, turn on Bluetooth discoverable mode so your iPhone will be able to find it during the pairing process. Refer to your model-specific Kenwood manual for exact instructions, as steps may vary.
For many Kenwood head units like the DPX500BT, you need to press the [BLUETOOTH] button on the radio which will enable pairing mode for around 60 seconds during which your iPhone will see it for pairing.
Initiate Pairing
On your iPhone, open the Settings app and select Bluetooth. Make sure Bluetooth is turned on. Your iPhone will then search for nearby Bluetooth devices. Under “OTHER DEVICES” you should see your Kenwood car stereo listed. Tap on the device to initiate pairing.
According to this source, when initiating the pairing process on your iPhone to connect to a Bluetooth device, you want to “Tap the device you want to connect to initiate the pairing process.”
Confirm Pairing
After initiating pairing, you may be prompted on one or both devices to enter a passcode or PIN in order to confirm the pairing request. The default passcode for most Bluetooth devices is “0000” or “1234”. Enter the passcode on your iPhone or Kenwood radio as needed, then accept the pairing request on both devices when prompted.
Accepting pairing connections allows the two devices to communicate directly over Bluetooth. This establishes what is known as a trusted relationship between the devices (source). Make sure to accept pairing when prompted on both your iPhone and Kenwood radio in order to complete the connection process.
Connect and Play
After successfully pairing your iPhone to your Kenwood radio, your phone will now connect automatically when your Kenwood audio system is powered on. When your phone connects to your radio, any media audio that is playing on your iPhone will also begin playing through your radio speakers.
Additionally, incoming or outgoing calls on your iPhone will use your radio and car speakers to transfer the call audio. Most Kenwood systems have built-in microphones to pick up your voice while on calls, but you can also enable speakerphone on your iPhone if you prefer. Your radio should automatically lower the volume of any media playing during phone calls.
To begin streaming media or handling calls from your iPhone, simply make sure the device’s Bluetooth setting is turned on from the Settings menu. As long as your Kenwood system is powered on, your phone should connect automatically within a few seconds without any additional steps needed. All audio, including music, podcasts, audiobooks and more will now play through your car stereo system. Incoming or outgoing calls will also transition to playing over your car speakers while lowering the volume of any background media.
Adjust Settings
After successfully pairing and connecting your iPhone to your Kenwood head unit, you may want to adjust some settings for the best bluetooth audio experience.
To change the default audio source that the Kenwood unit uses when turning on or connecting a device, go to the main settings menu by pressing the [Ú] button. Use the control knob to select “SETTINGS” then scroll to “SYSTEM” and select “SOURCE SELECT.” Choose your preferred default audio source from the list. Typically “BT AUDIO” is selected if you want to always stream from your Bluetooth connected iPhone automatically (Kenwood manual 14-2, https://manual.kenwood.com/ce/im369/NorthAmerica/English(en)/IM369_13-2DIN_K_r1-68.html).
You can also enable auto connection with your iPhone under bluetooth settings so it automatically reconnects each time. Press the settings button [Ú] then select “SETTINGS” > “BLUETOOTH” > “AUTO PAIRING.” Set this to ON and your iPhone will automatically reconnect to your Kenwood stereo when back in range or when the stereo is powered on, for seamless audio streaming.
Troubleshooting
If you are having issues connecting your iPhone to your Kenwood car stereo system via Bluetooth, there are some troubleshooting steps you can try:
On your iPhone, open Settings and go to General -> Reset -> Reset Network Settings. This will reset all network settings on your device, but should help resolve any Bluetooth issues (source).
On your Kenwood car stereo system, go to Settings -> Bluetooth -> Bluetooth Reset. This will reset all Bluetooth settings on the device, which can help with connection issues (source).
Also try Forgetting the device from each device’s Bluetooth menu. This removes the previous pairing and will force them to pair again from scratch. After Forgetting, repair your iPhone to the Kenwood system to establish a brand new connection (source).
Follow the connection process again from the beginning to pair your devices. Make sure the iPhone and Kenwood system are in close proximity during pairing. This can help resolve general connectivity issues.
Alternative Connection Methods
If Bluetooth is not available or not working properly between your iPhone and Kenwood radio, there are a few alternative wired connection methods you can try:
Aux Cable
An aux cable (3.5mm headphone jack) can be used to connect your iPhone directly to your Kenwood radio. This will allow you to play music, podcasts, audiobooks, and other audio content from your iPhone through your car speakers. Aux generally provides better sound quality than Bluetooth. Make sure your head unit has an aux input jack.
USB Cable
Connecting an iPhone to a Kenwood head unit via USB allows both charging and audio playback over USB. You will need a USB cable designed for iPhone connection. This method also supports covers, track titles, and playlists if the stereo supports iOS device connectivity over USB. Sound quality over USB is also quite high.
Radio Transmitters
If your Kenwood stereo does not have Aux input or USB connectivity, an radio frequency (RF) transmitter can be an easy alternative. These devices transmit audio over an empty FM radio frequency, allowing your car stereo to pick up the iPhone audio like a radio station. The iPhone connects to the transmitter via Bluetooth or a wired connection. Just tune your car stereo to the transmitter’s selected frequency.1
Summary
Here are some key points to recap on connecting your iPhone to a Kenwood receiver:
- Make sure both your iPhone and Kenwood receiver have the latest software updates installed.
- On your iPhone, go to Settings > Bluetooth and ensure Bluetooth is turned on.
- On your Kenwood deck, go to the Bluetooth or Connectivity settings and put it into pairing mode.
- On your iPhone, go to the Bluetooth settings again and select your Kenwood receiver when it pops up to pair the devices.
- For the best connection, plug your iPhone directly into the USB port on the Kenwood deck.
- You may need to adjust settings on both devices like Auto Connect, Allow Contact Sharing, etc.
- If you have issues, reset network settings on your iPhone or reset the Kenwood deck to factory defaults.
Following these basic steps carefully should result in a smooth, seamless connection between your iPhone and Kenwood car stereo. Don’t hesitate to consult your product manuals or go back through the steps if you encounter any hiccups. With a little time and patience, you’ll be listening to your favorite playlists and enjoying hands-free calling in no time.