Support>SYNC>Troubleshooting>Why is my phone not connecting to SYNC?

Why is my phone not connecting to SYNC®*?

Your Bluetooth®**-enabled phone lets you make hands-free calls, connect to a 911 Assist Operator, stream audio, and more. If you are having issues connecting your phone to SYNC, follow the steps below.

Important: Ensure your vehicle's SYNC software is up-to-date.

Troubleshooting Steps

Follow the steps below and check for a connection after completing each step.

Reset Bluetooth

  1. On your phone, turn Bluetooth off and turn it back on.
  2. On your SYNC system, turn Bluetooth off and turn it back on.
  3. Manually connect SYNC with your phone.
    1. Touch Phone.
    2. Press Settings.
    3. Tap Bluetooth Devices.
    4. Select your phone.
    5. Touch Connect.

Note: If the connection times out or takes longer than a minute, cancel the connection on your phone and go to the step titled Reverse Pair Your Phone.

  1. Manually connect the phone with SYNC.
    1. Find your phone's Bluetooth menu.
    2. Tap SYNC to connect.
  2. Verify that your phone automatically connects to SYNC after performing a key cycle. If your phone does not connect, proceed to the next step.

Perform a Soft Reset on Your Phone

  1. Power off your phone and remove the battery, if possible.
  2. Replace the battery and power on your phone.
  3. Verify that your phone automatically connects to SYNC after performing a key cycle. If your phone does not connect, proceed to the next step.

Delete the Phone and SYNC Connections

  1. Delete the phone from the SYNC system.
  2. Delete SYNC from your phone’s Bluetooth menu.
  3. Pair your Phone.
    1. If the pairing fails on your vehicle's touchscreen, proceed to the next step.
    2. If the pairing was successful, verify that your phone automatically connects to SYNC after performing a key cycle. If your phone does not connect, proceed to the next step.

Reverse Pair Your Phone

  1. For instructions on reverse pairing your phone based on your specific SYNC version, click here.
  2. If the pairing was successful, verify that your phone automatically connects to SYNC after performing a key cycle.

If the above steps fail to resolve your connection issue, contact Lincoln Concierge at 800-521-4140 for further assistance.

Additional Information

How do I check for SYNC updates?
How do I perform a key cycle on my Lincoln?
How do I remove a paired device from SYNC?
How do I pair my phone with SYNC?
How do I reverse pair a phone with SYNC?

*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. 

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