With the variety of audio amusement available on your phone, you probably want an like shooting fish in a barrel mode to enjoy your music, podcasts, audiobooks, and other content in your vehicle. But what'southward the best and easiest way to play music in your motorcar from your device?

Allow'due south explore your options for playing music from your phone to your car, no matter how old or new information technology is.

The Universal Pick: Phone to Automobile Bluetooth FM Transmitters

Almost every modern car has an FM radio and a cigarette lighter/ability outlet, which you tin combine to play your music using an FM transmitter. This is a great all-around option if your car doesn't take Bluetooth or an AUX port; the needed devices are relatively cheap and easy to gear up.

The exact setup varies by device, but these transmitters ordinarily plug into your auto's outlet (or cigarette lighter in an older car) and connect to your telephone via Bluetooth. Later setting the device to broadcast on an unused FM station in your expanse, you tin can play your phone'due south audio through your machine stereo by tuning it to that station.

FM Radio Transmitter

However, depending on the number of FM stations in your surface area and the specific device yous buy, audio quality may vary. Music won't audio as skillful through an FM transmitter as it does through using some of the other options here.

To clarify: it's not possible to play music through the cigarette lighter in your car alone. While FM adapters plug into this outlet, yous can't play music directly through the lighter port.

Take a look at the best Bluetooth machine adapters to find the correct option for your needs.

For Older Cars: Play Music Using a Cassette Adapter

If your car is former enough that it has a cassette actor, you can make employ of that for playing audio from your phone. Cassette adapters are basic devices, shaped like a cassette tape, that include an auxiliary sound cord on the outside.

You but plug the adapter into your cassette player, then connect information technology to your phone via the attached 3.5mm auxiliary cable. Then play whatever yous'd like from your phone, and you'll hear it through your auto's stereo.

Reviews vary for these, but this Arsvita cassette adapter should work fine, and won't pause the bank.

Compared to FM transmitters, cassette adapters don't take many advantages. Cassette sound quality isn't great, and yous'll have an auxiliary wire hanging around your dash. Plus, most phones these days don't accept an AUX port, rendering this option impractical unless you also buy an adapter for your phone.

We only recommend using a cassette adapter if your cigarette lighter/ability outlet doesn't work, or if you can't get a clear indicate with an FM transmitter.

For Reliability: Play Music Using an Auxiliary Cord

Most modern cars feature a 3.5mm auxiliary jack, either on the stereo unit or underneath it. This allows you to plug in a cable from your device's headphone port directly into your stereo. From at that place, simply play any sound on your telephone that you'd like to hear through your car.

Auxiliary audio will sound clearer than both the cassette and FM transmitter options. Of course, this won't work (without an adapter) if your device doesn't have a 3.5mm headphone jack. But if both your automobile and telephone accept a stereo jack, information technology's a simple style to play audio without any fuss, as long as yous don't mind a wire.

If y'all don't have an auxiliary cord yet, Anker's auxiliary audio cable should serve y'all well. Just think that playing music through an AUX cord is a "impaired" method, and then you'll take to alter the track and brand similar changes on your device. You tin't apply the controls on your auto stereo or steering wheel with an auxiliary cord.

For Convenience: Play Music Over Bluetooth Audio

Even if y'all don't have an AUX port on your device, newer cars permit you lot play music from your telephone thanks to your auto's built-in Bluetooth. Simply connect your phone to your car's Bluetooth similar yous would any other device (following the instructions in your vehicle's manual), and y'all tin play media in the car from any apps you like.

Depending on your vehicle, you may exist able to control the media using your car'south controls, plus encounter song data on its display.

Bluetooth is convenient considering once paired, your phone will automatically connect to your car for easy streaming. It also has the benefit of allowing hands-costless calling, which doesn't work seamlessly with an auxiliary cable.

Notwithstanding, depending on your motorcar, Bluetooth audio's quality may be junior to what you go from an auxiliary cable. Try both methods to see which y'all prefer.

The Best of All Worlds: Play Music Through USB

Lots of cars now include a USB port inside, making this the most modern way to play music from your phone to your motorcar. Having a USB port in your car allows yous to charge your devices without an adapter, and y'all can even plug in a USB wink drive for music if you like. But you can besides plug your phone in to play music straight.

If your vehicle has a USB port, using that is the all-time fashion to play audio to your car's stereo. Not just does information technology provide a reliable connection and clear audio, just it also charges your device and lets you make hands-free calls.

Of form, you'll demand a spare USB cable for your automobile to do this (an accessory you should keep in your automobile at all times). Depending on your phone, this could exist an Apple Lightning cable, USB-C cable, or an older micro-USB cord.

USB input is the but pick that lets you lot play music from your phone to your car without whatever form of AUX or Bluetooth. It's also the just way to use a handy function of your phone that's built for playing music in the automobile, namely...

Play Music Using Android Auto and Apple CarPlay

A growing number of cars support Apple tree's CarPlay and Google's Android Automobile functionality. These allow you to connect your phone to your motorcar'due south caput unit to conveniently access music, navigation, messaging, and more.

Not every car supports them, simply if your car does, you lot should definitely have advantage of these features. Slick interfaces, every bit well as voice integration with Google Assistant and Siri, make them a joy to apply. Nosotros've covered how to get started with Android Auto as well as how Apple CarPlay works.

Even if your car'south infotainment unit doesn't back up information technology, you lot can use Google Assistant driving mode, which is similar to Android Auto, correct on your phone's display. Combined with Bluetooth or a USB cable for audio, this setup offers nearly the same experience equally having Android Automobile on your caput unit. CarPlay has no equivalent for this, unfortunately.

Upgrading to an Aftermarket Stereo Unit

USB flash drive inserted into car stereo
Image Credit: Santeri Viinamäki/Wikimedia Commons

We've only covered factory options and simple upgrades here. If y'all take an older car without born USB, Bluetooth, or auxiliary options, and don't want to apply an FM transmitter or cassette adapter, you can supervene upon your entire stereo unit of measurement. This will let you utilise modern functions like USB and Bluetooth connections—some even include Android Auto and CarPlay support.

Doing the replacement is a moderately intensive task, not to mention that information technology's more expensive than annihilation in a higher place. Thus, nosotros don't recommend this unless yous have some experience with that kind of work, and really don't want to employ any of the above options.

If you're interested in this, Crutchfield is a neat website to check out. It guides you lot through finding stereos that will fit your car, and every purchase includes a detailed setup guide.

What's the All-time Choice for Playing Music in Your Car?

The above options all vary in audio quality and convenience. USB and auxiliary connections provide the best audio quality only aren't available on older automobile models, while cassette adapters and FM transmitters are the lowest quality just work with most cars.

Keep in mind that other factors can affect the quality of your telephone's audio in your motorcar. If you accept an older car with lousy speakers, you probably won't be able to tell much difference between an auxiliary cablevision and an FM transmitter. The same goes if your car is especially loud, or if yous drive in noisy areas.

That being said, from best to worst sound quality, we recommend the following methods for playing music in your car using your phone:

  • If your car has a USB input, utilize that. Android Auto or Apple tree CarPlay back up is even ameliorate if it's available in your vehicle.
  • Without USB input, use Bluetooth or auxiliary based on your preferences for convenience and hands-free calling, and whether your phone has an AUX jack.
  • If your automobile has no USB, auxiliary, or Bluetooth congenital-in, apply an FM transmitter.
  • Only use a cassette adapter if your power socket doesn't piece of work or FM transmitters don't part reliably enough.

Beginning Enjoying Music From Your Phone in Your Automobile

We've covered how to play music from your telephone to your auto, with options for every phone and vehicle. Once you've gotten connected, all you lot have to do is starting time the music or other media you desire on your phone and allow the tunes roll. Merely remember to keep your focus on the road while driving.

And retrieve that in that location are many useful apps for driving beyond music and navigation.

6 iPhone and Android Apps Every Driver Needs

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Virtually The Author

Ben Stegner (1805 Articles Published)

Ben is the Editor in Chief at MakeUseOf. He left his IT job to write full-time in 2016 and has never looked back. He'southward been roofing tech tutorials, video game recommendations, and more than every bit a professional writer for over eight years.

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