How do I pair two phones with SYNC or Ford Digital Experience?

Ford Digital Experience®*, SYNC®** 4A, and SYNC 4 systems allow you to connect two phones simultaneously via Bluetooth®. Learn how to pair your phones using the information below.

This feature is particularly useful if you:

  • Are carrying both a work phone and a personal phone, and you would like to allow audio to come through from both calls.
  • Would like to use audio or music from one device and calls from another.

Once dual pairing is enabled, the system handles the two phones differently:

  • Primary Phone: This is the phone you use for outgoing calls, outgoing text messages, and voice commands (e.g., Siri®/Google Assistant™). It is usually the phone that was connected first or marked as the favorite.
  • Secondary Phone: This phone is in a standby mode for incoming calls only. If someone calls the secondary phone, the ringtone will play through the vehicle speakers, and you can answer using the touchscreen or steering wheel buttons.

Contents

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Dual Pairing Phones 

Important: 

  • Ensure Bluetooth is turned on for both mobile devices.
  • The vehicle must be in park (P) and the engine running (or in accessory mode) in an open, well-ventilated, and safe area.

Notes:

  • The primary phone (usually the one connected first or selected as favorite) is the only one that can make outgoing calls, send text messages, or use the voice assistant (e.g., Siri or Google Assistant). The secondary phone can only receive incoming calls.
  • You cannot use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto on both phones at the same time. If one phone is connected to Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, the second phone can only be connected via Bluetooth for calls.
  • Once configured, SYNC will attempt to connect to both phones automatically every time you enter your vehicle, provided Bluetooth is active on both devices.

Select your infotainment system from the drop-down options below for dual pairing instructions. If you need assistance identifying your infotainment system, refer to the Visual Reference Guide.

Ford Digital Experience

  1. Pair the first phone. Before you can enable dual mode, both devices must be individually paired with the vehicle.
    1. Tap the Settings (gear) icon in the quick-access bar (usually on the left or top) on your vehicle's Ford Digital Experience screen.
    2. Select Connectivity.
    3. Press Bluetooth.
    4. Choose Add Device and follow the on-screen prompts.
  2. Pair the second phone.
    1. Tap the Settings (gear) icon in the quick-access bar (usually on the left or top) on the main screen.
    2. Select Connectivity.
    3. Press Bluetooth.
    4. Choose Add Device and follow the on-screen prompts.
  3. Enable the dual phone connection. Once both phones are in the Paired Devices list, you need to tell the system to keep them both active.
    1. Press Settings.
    2. Tap Connectivity.
    3. Select Bluetooth. You will see your list of paired devices.
    4. Tap the Information (i) icon or the Settings (gear) icon next to the phone you want to use as the secondary device.
    5. Slide the Dual Phone or Secondary Phone Support toggle to the right to enable this feature.
    6. Tap the name of the second phone to connect to it. The system should now show both phones as "Connected" simultaneously.

Changing the Primary Phone

You may want to quickly swap which phone is primary (e.g., if the passenger wants to navigate using Apple CarPlay on their device).

To change the primary phone:

  1. Tap the Phone or Communication icon on the vehicle's touchscreen.
  2. Tap Change Device.
  3. Select the other phone from the list. The system will briefly disconnect and then re-establish the new primary connection.

If you require additional assistance, contact the Ford Customer Relationship Center using our Live Chat option or by calling 1-800-392-3673.

SYNC 4A

  1. Pair both phones.
    1. Tap the Vehicle icon at the top of your vehicle's SYNC screen.
    2. Select Settings.
    3. Choose Phone List.
    4. Tap Add Phone and pair your first device.
    5. Press Add Phone again and pair your second device.
  2. Enable Dual Phone Mode.
    1. Tap the Information (i) icon or the Settings (gear) icon next to the phone you wish to set as the secondary device in the Phone List menu.
    2. Slide the Dual Phone Connection toggle to the right to enable this feature. 

The system will now show both phones as "Connected" in the list.

If you require additional assistance, contact the Ford Customer Relationship Center using our Live Chat option or by calling 1-800-392-3673.

SYNC 4

  1. Pair the first phone.
    1. Press Settings on the Feature bar at the bottom of your vehicle's SYNC screen.
    2. Tap Phone List.
    3. Select Add Phone and follow the prompts to pair your first device via Bluetooth.
  2. Pair the second phone.
    1. Press Settings on the Feature bar at the bottom.
    2. Tap Phone List.
    3. Select Add Phone and follow the prompts to pair your second device via Bluetooth.
  3. Enable Dual Phone Mode.
    1. Look at the Feature bar at the bottom of the main touchscreen, and tap Settings.
    2. Select Phone List. You should see both of your paired phones on the list.
    3. Tap the name of the first phone you want to use. Ensure it shows as "Connected."
    4. Press the name of the second phone to select it.
    5. Toggle the Dual Phone Connection slider (it often looks like two overlapping phone icons) to the right to enable this feature.

Both phones should now show a "Connected" status simultaneously in the Phone List. 

Making the Secondary Phone Primary

You may have two phones connected and want to swap their roles so that the secondary phone can make outgoing calls or access its contact list.

To change your primary phone:

  1.  Press Settings on the bottom Feature bar on your SYNC screen and select Phone List.
  2. Tap the name of the phone that is currently acting as the secondary device.
  3. Set this phone as primary. 

    Note: In most SYNC 4 versions, tapping the phone name will prompt the system to switch it to the primary connection.
     
  4. Look for the Star icon next to the phone name in the Phone List.

    Note: The phone marked with the Star icon is the favorite. SYNC 4 will always attempt to connect to the favorite phone first and make it the primary device whenever you start the vehicle. 
     
  5. Ensure the Star icon is highlighted if you want a specific phone to always be the primary one.

If you require additional assistance, contact the Ford Customer Relationship Center using our Live Chat option or by calling 1-800-392-3673.

Troubleshooting

If the second phone is not connecting:

  1. Go to the Phone List and disconnect both phones.
  2. Reconnect the primary phone first.
  3. Manually tap the second phone in the list and ensure the Dual Phone toggle is still active.

If issues persist, forget the vehicle from the Bluetooth settings on both phones and restart the pairing process.

If you require additional assistance, contact the Ford Customer Relationship Center using our Live Chat option or by calling 1-800-392-3673.

Primary and Secondary Phone Capabilities

Refer to the table below for a list of features and the capabilities of the primary and secondary phones.

Feature 

Primary Phone 

Secondary Phone 

Receiving calls

Yes 

Yes 

Making calls 

Yes 

No 

Sending and receiving text messages 

Yes 

No 

Using the voice assistant 

Yes 

No 

Streaming music

Yes 

Only if selected as a source 

Using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto 

Yes 

No 

Additional Information

How do I pair my phone?

*Some Ford Digital Experience features require a Connectivity plan. Don’t drive while distracted or while using handheld devices. Use voice-operated systems when possible. Some features may be locked out while the vehicle is in gear. Not all features are compatible with all phones.

**Don’t drive while distracted or while using handheld devices. Use voice-operated systems when possible. Some features may be locked 
out while the vehicle is in gear. Not all features are compatible with all phones.

The Bluetooth word mark is a trademark of the Bluetooth SIG, Inc. 

Siri and Apple CarPlay are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

Android Auto and Google Assistant are trademarks of Google LLC.