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Connecting to the Stereo Using a Bluetooth Connection

If you have a compatible vehicle stereo, you can send the Garmin DriveSmart™ device audio to the vehicle stereo using a wireless Bluetooth® connection. This allows you to hear high-quality audio for navigation prompts, media, Alexa responses, and phone calls from your vehicle speakers without a wired connection.

NOTE: If your stereo does not have Bluetooth technology, you can send audio to the stereo using an auxiliary audio cable (Connecting to the Stereo Using an Auxiliary Audio Cable).
  1. Select an option:

    • During the initial Garmin Drive™ app pairing process, select Yes when the app asks whether you currently use Bluetooth technology to connect your smartphone to your vehicle.

    • After the initial pairing process, from your Garmin DriveSmart device, select Volume > Bluetooth Audio Setup, and verify Vehicle is selected for each audio type you want to send to your stereo using a Bluetooth connection. Audio types set to Garmin Device play from the Garmin DriveSmart device speaker.

  2. Set the audio source for your vehicle stereo to the Bluetooth input.
    NOTE: By default, the device sends audio to your stereo using Bluetooth media mode, which requires your stereo to be set to the Bluetooth source. You can change the Bluetooth mode settings to send some or all audio using Bluetooth hands-free calling mode instead (Bluetooth Audio Modes).
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