Support>SYNC>Getting Started with SYNC>How do I reverse pair a phone with SYNC?

How do I reverse pair a phone with SYNC®*?

Reverse pairing instructions are available below.

Reverse pairing is an alternate method of connecting your device to your SYNC system.  Please use the standard method of pairing first.  If you are unable to establish a connection using the standard method, you may attempt the reverse-pairing method. 

Identifying Your Ford's SYNC Generation

There are two resources to help you identify your vehicle's SYNC generation:

  • SYNC and Navigation Updates page, which allows you to enter your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) or Login with your Ford credentials, and select Check for update. Your current SYNC generation will appear on the right-hand side of the page.
  • SYNC Visual Reference Guide, which has example images of each generation of SYNC Ford has offered.

SYNC Reverse Pairing Instructions

SYNC 3

Before pairing your phone and SYNC using reverse pairing, verify the following:

  • Turn on your phone's Bluetooth®**.
  • Put your phone in discoverable mode.
  • Ensure your vehicle is completely stopped (e.g. in park).

Note: The pairing process can be different on each phone. Watching both the phone and the SYNC system for any messages is the best way to successfully pair a phone.

Reverse Pairing Your Phone with SYNC 3
  1. Turn on Bluetooth on the phone or device.
  2. Turn on discoverability on the phone or device. This is normally a timed function, so you will want to work quickly to complete the pairing from this point.
  3. Press Settings.
  4. Touch Phone.
  5. Tap Add Bluetooth Device. 
  6. Press Discover Other Bluetooth Devices and then select your device name from the list.
  7. On the phone, go to the Bluetooth settings and press SYNC.
  8. Depending on your software version, your phone may prompt you to enter the 6-digit PIN, or it may display the PIN automatically. Confirm that the PIN matches.
  9. The device should pair, and you should receive a message that the pairing was successful.

SYNC® with MyFord® Touch

Before pairing your phone and SYNC using Reverse Pairing:

  • Turn on your phone's Bluetooth.
  • Put your phone in discoverable mode.
  • Ensure your vehicle is completely stopped (e.g. in park).

Note: The pairing process can be different on each phone. Watching both the phone and the SYNC system for any messages is the best way to successfully pair a phone.

Reverse Pairing Your Phone with MyFord Touch Note: To scroll through the menus, press the up and down arrows on your audio system.
  1. Press the Phone button to enter the Phone menu.
  2. Scroll repeatedly until "SYSTEM SETTINGS" appears in the radio display. You may have to select Return up to two times to find it. If you see "Add Bluetooth Device," you can select that and proceed to step 7.
  3. Press OK to confirm and enter the SYSTEM SETTINGS menu.
  4. Scroll repeatedly until "BT DEVICES / BLUETOOTH DEVICES" appears in the radio display.
  5. Press OK to confirm and enter the BT DEVICES / BLUETOOTH DEVICES menu.
  6. Scroll repeatedly until "ADD DEVICE / ADD BLUETOOTH DEVICE appears in the display. Press OK to confirm.
  7. Scroll repeatedly until "FIND BLUETOOTH DEVICES" appears in the display. Press OK to confirm.
  8. The vehicle will search for nearby discoverable Bluetooth devices. Once SYNC is finished searching, it will display the devices it has found. Scroll through until the device you wish to pair is displayed. Press OK.
  9. The vehicle will ask you to provide a PIN. We recommend verbally saying 0000. When the PIN is confirmed back, press OK or verbally say "enter."
  10. Your phone should prompt you with a message that SYNC wants to pair to it. The phone will likely ask you to enter the PIN that you choose in step 9. Enter that PIN and select the OK or Enter button on your phone.
  11. Listen and watch for any prompts on the SYNC and/or phone screen. Make sure to answer any questions that either device asks.

If you are still experiencing issues, follow the troubleshooting steps listed here.

SYNC with MyFord

Before pairing your phone and SYNC using Reverse Pairing:

  • Turn on your phone's Bluetooth.
  • Put your phone in discoverable mode.
  • Ensure your vehicle is completely stopped (e.g. in park).

Note: The pairing process can be different on each phone. Watching both the phone and the SYNC system for any messages is the best way to successfully pair a phone.

Reverse Pairing Your Phone with SYNC with MyFord

Note: To scroll through the menus, press the up and down arrows on your audio system.

  1. Press the Phone button to enter the Phone menu.
  2. Scroll repeatedly until "SYSTEM SETTINGS"appears in the radio display. You may have to select Return up to two times to find it. If you see "Add Bluetooth Device," you can select that and proceed to step 7.
  3. Press OK to confirm and enter the SYSTEM SETTINGS menu.
  4. Scroll repeatedly until "BT DEVICES / BLUETOOTH DEVICES" appears in the radio display.
  5. Press OK to confirm and enter the BT DEVICES / BLUETOOTH DEVICES menu.
  6. Scroll repeatedly until "ADD DEVICE / ADD BLUETOOTH DEVICE" appears in the display. Press OK to confirm.
  7. Scroll repeatedly until "FIND BT DEVICES / FIND BLUETOOTH DEVICES" appears in the display. Press OK to confirm.
  8. The vehicle will search for nearby discoverable Bluetooth devices. Once SYNC is finished searching, it will display the devices it has found. Scroll through until the device you wish to pair is displayed. Press OK.
  9. The vehicle will ask you to provide a PIN. We recommend verbally saying "0000." When the PIN is confirmed back, press OK or verbally say "enter."
  10. Your phone should prompt you with a message that SYNC wants to pair to it. The phone will likely ask you to enter the PIN that you choose in step 9. Enter that PIN and select the OK or Enter button on your phone.
  11. Listen and watch for any prompts on the SYNC and/or phone screen. Make sure to answer any questions that either device asks.

If you are still experiencing issues, follow the troubleshooting steps listed here.

SYNC with Voice-Activated Navigation

Before pairing your phone and SYNC using Reverse Pairing:

  • Turn on your phone's Bluetooth.
  • Put your phone in discoverable mode.
  • Ensure your vehicle is completely stopped (e.g. in park).

Note: The pairing process can be different on each phone. Watching both the phone and the SYNC system for any messages is the best way to successfully pair a phone.

Reverse Pairing Your Phone - SYNC with Voice-Activated Navigation
  1. Press the PHONE hard button on the system.
  2. The screen may read "NO PHONE CONNECTED." Press the Settings tab on the touchscreen.
  3. Press Add. A six-digit PIN will appear on the radio display. Press FIND OTHER DEVICES.
  4. The vehicle will search for nearby discoverable Bluetooth devices. Once SYNC is finished searching, it will display the devices it has found.  Select the device you wish to pair.
  5. The vehicle will ask you to provide a PIN. We recommend entering "0000" and selecting Enter.
  6. Your phone should prompt you with a message that SYNC wants to pair to it. The phone will likely ask you to enter the PIN that you choose in step 5. Enter that PIN and select the Ok or Enter button on your phone.
  7. Listen and watch for any prompts on the SYNC and/or phone screen. Make sure to answer any questions that either device asks.

SYNC Gen 1.1

Reverse pairing is not available on SYNC Gen 1.1. systems.  Please pair your device using Standard Pairing.

SYNC Gen 1

Before pairing your phone and SYNC using Reverse Pairing:

  • Turn on your phone's Bluetooth.
  • Put your phone in discoverable mode.
  • Ensure your vehicle is completely stopped (e.g. in park).

Note: The pairing process can be different on each phone. Watching both the phone and the SYNC system for any messages is the best way to successfully pair a phone.

Reverse Pairing Your Phone - SYNC Gen 1
  1. Press the Phone button to enter the Phone menu.
  2. Scroll repeatedly until "SYSTEM SETTINGS" appears in the radio display. You may have to select Return up to two times to find it. If you see "Add Bluetooth Device," you can select that and proceed to step 7.
  3. Press OK to confirm and enter the SYSTEM SETTINGS menu.
  4. Scroll repeatedly until "BT DEVICES / BLUETOOTH DEVICES" appears in the radio display.
  5. Press OK to confirm and enter the BT DEVICES / BLUETOOTH DEVICES menu.
  6. Scroll repeatedly until "ADD DEVICE / ADD BLUETOOTH DEVICE" appears in the display. Press OK to confirm.
  7. Scroll repeatedly until "FIND BT DEVICES / FIND BLUETOOTH DEVICES" appears in the display. Press OK to confirm.
  8. The vehicle will search for nearby discoverable Bluetooth devices. Once SYNC is finished searching, it will display the devices it has found. Scroll through until the device you wish to pair is displayed. Press OK.
  9. The vehicle will ask you to provide a PIN. We recommend verbally saying "0000." When the PIN is confirmed back, press OK or verbally say "enter."
  10. Your phone should prompt you with a message that SYNC wants to pair to it. The phone will likely ask you to enter the PIN that you choose in step 9. Enter that PIN and select the OK or Enter button on your phone.
  11. Listen and watch for any prompts on the SYNC and/or phone screen. Make sure to answer any questions that either device asks.

Actual screens may vary. See your Owner’s Manual for information specific to your vehicle.

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