You can use one of three mobile apps to use Car-Net App-Link to connect your smartphone to the touch screen of your Volkswagen vehicle. We won’t take sides in the Apple vs. Android argument. Regardless of which side of the great divide you are on, your smartphone will be compatible with Car-Net App-Connect.
The following three apps can be used to connect:
- Google Auto On the go, enjoy the full ease of the Android operating system. Use Google voice commands to keep your eyes on the road.
- MirrorLink MirrorLink is an additional choice for Android users, allowing you to use your phone’s apps through the car’s receiver.
- Apple CarPlay allows iPhone owners to install a condensed version of iOS in their vehicles and utilize Siri voice commands to manage their phones hands-free.
All three allow you to browse your apps while driving and connect to your Volkswagen vehicle. You’ll have access to new entertainment, communication, and navigational choices, including:
- Join Audible, Spotify, and other compatible apps.
- having use of your contact list
- Use Google or Apple Maps to get real-time navigation.
- Listen to audiobooks, podcasts, and music
- Voice command for text messages and calls
In This Article...
What is the purpose of MirrorLink?
Similar to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, MirrorLink enables you to safely utilize a variety of apps, including music and navigation, by connecting your smartphone to a compatible infotainment system.
What distinguishes MirrorLink and CarPlay from one another?
MirrorLink is a technology system installed in cars that enables users to use the information, entertainment, and communication capabilities of their mobile phone while operating a vehicle safely.
Along with other similar systems like Apple CarPlay for iPhone users and Android Auto, MirrorLink has grown in popularity as smartphone users’ reliance on their devices has increased. This is because the benefits of having access to apps, playlists, and data while driving have become more and more alluring. While Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are closed proprietary systems with ‘built in’ software for features like navigation or voice controlsas well as the ability to run some externally developed apps, the main distinction between the three systems is that MirrorLink has been developed as an entirely open source system.
I need to connect to MirrorLink.
MirrorLink is a feature that Android users can use to view their mobile devices on their vehicles. When you require a mirrored app, you can rely on this common automotive technology. While the audio is being played over your car’s speaker, it runs in the background of your phone and is shown on your dashboard. This allows you to open the navigation, music, and other apps that are installed on your phone with ease while yet maintaining your safety. Additionally, it gives you a simple way to activate your blinkers. To mirror your phone to your car’s screen, follow these instructions.
- Before continuing, make sure your automobile is compatible with this app because not all Android devices and cars support MirrorLink. The list of compatible ones can be found on MirrorLink’s official website.
- Find a USB port on your automobile and plug your Android device into it using a USB cord.
- Go to “Settings” on your Android device and select the “MirrorLink” option. Open “Settings > “Connections > “More connection settings > “MirrorLink” on a Samsung device, for instance.
- After that, enable “Connect to automobile through USB” to connect your device successfully. This makes it simple to mirror an Android device to a vehicle.
MirrorLink is it free?
One of the top MirrorLink apps is Mirror Link Car Screen, which reliably mirrors the phone’s screen to the in-car display. This is what you require for simple and enjoyable driving, especially if you are traveling a distance.
The app not only supports connecting with car TV but also with home TV. When connected to a car’s built-in infotainment system, the flexible application highlights music playback automation. As a result, you can concentrate on the road rather than the devices.
AMF applications created Mirror Link Car Screen, which can be downloaded for free from the Google Play Store. It has a minimal download size, so it won’t use up a lot of your mobile device’s storage space. Get a complete mirror link with your car’s screen by connecting your gadgets.
Does iPhone support MirrorLink?
Only Android-powered devices are compatible with MirrorLink’s software. It is incompatible with any other available operating system, including the iOS used by Apple’s iPhones. There is a good probability that your phone will sync with MirrorLink because Android powers roughly 90% of devices.
But keep in mind that there can be compatibility difficulties that prevent you from using MirrorLink if your phone is substantially more recent than your car. A dealer should be able to let you know if updating the system is possible and do the update.
MirrorLink employs Bluetooth, right?
In order to duplicate Android device capabilities on the infotainment and digital dashboard of your car, Google released this solution in 2015. Depending on the year, make, and model of your car as well as the infotainment system you’re using, it allows you to connect your Android phone to your car by USB or Bluetooth.
Your suitable apps will start to show up on the infotainment screen of your car as soon as you link your Android phone to Android Auto. You may command it using voice commands using Google Assistant, which is compatible with it.
You can utilize three different sorts of apps with Android Auto: communication, entertainment, and navigation. You can use Waze and Google Maps for navigating. Additionally, it may be used to place calls, send texts, and participate in group chats on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Messenger. In terms of entertainment, Android Auto works with Google News, Spotify, and Google Play Books & Audiobooks.
In addition to these frequently used apps, you may download Android Auto-optimized apps from the Google Play Store.
Any smartphone running Android 6.0 Marshmallow and higher can use Android Auto. Even Android Auto might be used on your phone prior to Android 12. However, Android 12 removed this functionality in favor of Google Assistant driving mode, therefore in order to utilize it, your car’s infotainment system must be compatible with Android Auto.
What cell phones support MirrorLink?
There are many phones that are compatible with MirrorLink because it works with Symbian and Android-based smartphones. These include models from HTC, LG, Samsung, and Sony.
Can I add MirrorLink to an older car?
Yes, older automotive head units with screens are sold by manufacturers like Pioneer and Sony. The lowest devices available online cost about 90, but installing them in your car would require professional assistance.
How do I use MirrorLink?
The procedure may differ slightly depending on the brand of your phone, but in most situations, you use a USB cord to connect your phone to your automobile. The MirrorLink connection can then be enabled from the settings screen on your phone. The screen in your car should then display a condensed version of the one on your phone.
Does MirrorLink have an app?
The primary alternatives to MirrorLink, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, function similarly. In order to use MirrorLink, you will need a smartphone that supports it and runs either the Android or Symbian operating systems, but practically any Android phone should be able to do so. Apple iPhones and MirrorLink are incompatible with one another, thus you cannot connect one to the other.
The main distinction between MirrorLink and its competitors is that Android Auto and Apple CarPlay only support connectivity features like voice control and satnav that are integrated into their own proprietary software. Because MirrorLink was created from the ground up to be as simple and simply compatible as possible, it can be used with a far wider variety of apps. For this reason, MirrorLink is offered in a wide range of vehicles, including those made by Citroen, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, and Subaru, among many others.
You connect the smartphone using a USB cable or Bluetooth after downloading the MirrorLink app to your phone and verifying that your car’s infotainment system has the connectivity necessary to work with it. You will see the same screen on the infotainment display as on your phone, as the name implies.
The screen in the automobile will, however, have a far more condensed version of the phone’s display. You can check them on the MirrorLink website. Only apps that have the necessary connectivity to work with MirrorLink will be displayed. You may need to change the settings in your car to make MirrorLink the preferred choice when you connect your phone to the car if your car also has Apple CarPlay or Android Auto installed in its infotainment system.
Because you can’t use the phone’s screen when it’s connected to the car’s infotainment system, using the phone while driving is safe and hands-free. However, you must also refrain from using any apps like social media or video streaming while driving.
You may scroll and choose functions with remote steering wheel buttons, the stereo’s dials and rotary controls, as well as the car’s infotainment display, if it is equipped with MirrorLink. Using voice instructions, similar to how you might with an Amazon Alexa smart speaker, is an additional choice.
On my iPhone, how can I enable MirrorLink?
- Return to the dashboard and establish a connection with your iPhone Hotspot. Once you’re connected, return to the Apps menu and pick EasyConnection once more.
- On your iPhone, scroll up to reveal the Control Center. Tap Screen Mirroring, then select EC-Airplay from the list of options. Then, your automobile will display an image of your iPhone.
Bottom Line
These are the most effective and useful methods for mirroring your iPhone to your car’s display. Since CarPlay allows you to connect with or without a lightning cord, it is advised that you make that choice first. These techniques enable you to drive without being distracted by your iPhone in a safe manner.
Without CarPlay, how can I mirror my iPhone to my vehicle?
Everyone seems to be using their phones for something in the twenty-first century. It’s possible to use your phone while operating a vehicle, but it’s risky to do so when your eyes are off the road. This is where iPhone screen mirroring for some autos can help!
If your vehicle lacks CarPlay, you can install apps like ApowerMirror or EasyConnection and connect your phone to the USB connection in your vehicle to reflect the screen. The apps won’t be presented as well as they are with CarPlay, and touch input on the vehicle’s screen won’t work either.
What’s most important to remember is that you should test out whatever method you use to mirror your iPhone, and if it doesn’t feel any safer than using your phone, you might want to avoid it. However, for some individuals and use scenarios, this can be exactly what you’re searching for. You won’t need to become distracted while driving by playing with the iPhone once it is in close proximity to your line of sight. Let’s examine these options, how to configure these apps, and some other settings.
What alternative exists to MirrorLink?
The best free alternative is Android Auto. Similar to MirrorLink, Apple CarPlay, iCarMode: Drive Safely, and CarOS are also fantastic applications. Alternatives to MirrorLink often include map services, but they may also include cloud computing services.
CarPlay
To enable drivers to mirror their phones to the in-car entertainment systems, Apple introduced CarPlay. The finest iPhone screen mirroring application is CarPlay. It can run a number of iOS applications, including iMessage, Podcasts, Audiobooks, and Maps.
So using the CarPlay app to make calls, listen to music or audiobooks, or navigate a map will be simple. Apple has also added Siri, which uses voice recognition technology to let users manage their iPhones, to improve the user experience.
Take a look at how CarPlay mirrors your iPhone to the screen in your car:
Before beginning, confirm that both the environment where you will be traveling and your vehicle support CarPlay.
Utilize CarPlay on iPhone 5 or later as well. Now take these actions:
For Wireless Connection
- To enable Siri voice control on your iPhone, go to settings > Siri and Search and turn it on.
- Press the voice control button on your radio wheel to set up CarPlay Or for wireless CarPlay compatible vehicles.
- Enable Bluetooth on your iPhone and connect it to your vehicle.
- Go to Settings > General > CarPlay and choose your vehicle to mirror your iPhone’s display to the screens in your vehicle.
For Wired Connection
- Connect your iPhone to the USB port on your automobile using a lightning connection.
- Tap the CarPlay icon on your care screen. This will reflect your iPhone’s display onto the dashboard.
ApowerMirror
ApowerMirror is another excellent choice for screen mirroring iPhone to car screens in addition to CarPlay. APowerMirror can perform all tasks, like playing audio, watching videos, taking calls, and using maps. To use this app effectively, you must have an iPhone or version 5.0 or later.
An adaptor dongle is also required in order to effectively connect your iPhone to a screen using ApowerMirror.
Best Adapter Dongle
Currently, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto Adapter is the best adapter on the market. The finest iPhone or Android integration with the car is ensured by these adapters. With these adapters, you can use the navigation features, take calls, play music, use the touch screen to control anything, and listen to music.
The majority of adopters in this category offer Plug and Play connections, making the process of connecting them simple. Both Android Auto Adapter and Universal Wireless CarPlay come highly recommended.
Following are the procedures for using ApowerMirror to mirror your car’s screen:
- Connect your iPhone to the car’s USB port using an Apple CarPlay adaptor for a wired connection.
- Your iPhone will be displayed on the car’s screen when you tap the ApowerMirror symbol there.