Question: I was trying to jam to my favorite playlist on my commute just like I do every morning, but for some reason, my music now isn’t playing in my car. Can you tell me why my Mercedes Bluetooth isn’t working?
Answer: Not being able to listen to your favorite music is a subpar way to start your day—here’s hoping it gets better with a quick fix! There are a few easy explanations as to why your Mercedes Bluetooth is not working, but they all require some simple troubleshooting.
Check the following the next time you’re in your car:
Is your phone properly connected to the car?
Be sure you follow the correct steps for connecting your phone and Mercedes via Bluetooth:
- Check that your phone’s Bluetooth is turned on under Settings > Bluetooth.
- On your Mercedes infotainment screen, navigate to Settings > System > Internet and Bluetooth and make sure the toggle for Bluetooth is on.
- Connect the devices by using your Mercedes infotainment screen to navigate to Home > Telephone > Settings > Devices > My devices > Connect new device.
- Choose your phone from the list, then verify that you see the same code on the multimedia system and phone.
Tip:Even if your phone was properly connected, it may help your connection issues to delete the pairing, then follow these steps again to reconnect.
Are there too many phones connected to your car?
If your Mercedes has too many connected phones, it could prevent you from properly connecting to Bluetooth.
You can connect up to 15 phones to your Mercedes Bluetooth, but only four of those devices will automatically connect when you get into the car. Go through the settings in your infotainment to delete a few of those phones from your car’s Bluetooth profile, then reconnect your phone to see if it works.
Check whether the phone is compatible with your Mercedes Bluetooth
If you drive an older Mercedes, the system software may need to be updated. Outdated software, or your car’s older Bluetooth technology, could prevent your phone from connecting.
An easy way to fix this is by checking whether your phone has any available updates that need to be installed. For a software update to your Mercedes, you’ll likely need to bring your car to an authorized dealership.
Make sure music permissions are turned on
On some phones, you have to turn on permission for a Bluetooth device to access your music. Look through your phone’s Permissions or general Bluetooth settings to determine if this is the issue. You can also double-check that your car’s infotainment system is selected as the audio source for playing music.
If all of these steps fail, it’s probably time to take your Mercedes to an authorized dealership or a professional audio technician.
Expert insurance writer and editor Amy Bobinger specializes in car repair, car maintenance, and car insurance. Amy is passionate about creating content that helps consumers navigate challenges related to car ownership and achieve financial success in areas relating to cars. Amy has over 10 years of writing and editing experience. After several years as a freelance writer, Amy spent four years as an editing fellow at WikiHow, where she co-authored over 600 articles on topics including car maintenance and home ownership. Since joining Jerry’s editorial team in 2022, Amy has edited over 2,500 articles on car insurance, state driving laws, and car repair and maintenance.
Pat Roache is an insurance writer with over two years of experience in the automotive industry. With a focus on car insurance, maintenance, and brand reviews, Pat’s mission is to create engaging and accessible content that empowers readers to take autonomy over their car ownership. As a writer and editor with Jerry, Pat has penned over 600 original articles and edited over 1,000. Pat’s 8+ years of experience in the performing arts as a writer, director, producer, and performer lend to their keen eye for research and presentation. Most recently, Pat’s new English translation of Donizetti’s Italian opera “D[x]n Pasquale” had its world premiere in 2022 with Opera MODO (Detroit, MI). Pat also writes grants for an LGBTQ arts non-profit in Chicago, IL.
Everett Cook is an award-winning journalist and editor with more than 10 years of experience across a variety of industries. In editing for Jerry, Everett’s mission is to help readers have a better understanding of the costs of owning or leasing a car and to better understand their vehicle in terms of insurance and repairs. Prior to joining Jerry, Everett was an editor for Axios. His previous work has been featured in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Atlantic, Atlantic Re:think, The Boston Globe, USA Today, and others. He’s also been a freelance writer and editor with experience in SEO, audience building, and long-term content roadmaps. Everett is a proud graduate of the University of Michigan.
