Bronco Nation

Bronco Hotspot and Apple CarPlay

SlashRacer
Oct 03, 2023
Moderator

Defeated by Mickey’s Hot Tub

Oct 03, 2023

Why can’t we use the Bronco Hotspot and Apple CarPlay at the same time? When I connect to the Bronco Hotspot(AT&T) because I don’t have Verizon service, it tells me I have to disconnect from Apple CarPlay.

I lose Onx off-road, imaps on the 12” screen and lose Pandora.

I believe I lost being able to use both together in the last update.

@Ford Motor Company
2021 Badlands, 4 door, 2.7L, Auto, LUX, SAS, Tow Package, MIC, Velocity Blue.
Deano Bronc, Laura
Last edited by a moderator: Oct 03, 2023

Burrito Connoisseur

Oct 03, 2023

#1
Oooo!! I know this one.

Apple CarPlay uses Bluetooth to initiate the connection between your phone and the car. During that initiation process, a private Wifi network is created between your car and your phone, and the credentials for that Wifi network is passed over the Bluetooth connection. Once established, the private Wifi network it creates is what is used to communicate between the car and the phone.

Because the Wifi radio is busy running CarPlay, it cannot be used for the AT&T hotspot. Some Ford vehicles can do both at the same time (not sure about the Bronco to be honest), but it's a mute point anyway because the iPhone is only capable of doing one or the other.

Theoretically if you plug in your phone via USB, it will switch over to using wired CarPlay over USB. And once it does, that you should regain access to the hotspot feature. The switch is supposed to be seamless, but in my experience sometimes it's a bit stubborn and you have to toggle on/off Airplane mode on your phone force it to switch over.
2022 4dr Badlands, 2.3L Manual, Mid pkg
YouTube: youtube.com/@ragnarkon
Instagram: @ragnar.kon
TK1215, Deano Bronc
Moderator

Defeated by Mickey’s Hot Tub

Oct 03, 2023

#2
RagnarKon
Oooo!! I know this one.

Apple CarPlay uses Bluetooth to initiate the connection between your phone and the car. During that initiation process, a private Wifi network is created between your car and your phone, and the credentials for that Wifi network is passed over the Bluetooth connection. Once established, the private Wifi network it creates is what is used to communicate between the car and the phone.

Because the Wifi radio is busy running CarPlay, it cannot be used for the AT&T hotspot. Some Ford vehicles can do both at the same time (not sure about the Bronco to be honest), but it's a mute point anyway because the iPhone is only capable of doing one or the other.

Theoretically if you plug in your phone via USB, it will switch over to using wired CarPlay over USB. And once it does, that you should regain access to the hotspot feature. The switch is supposed to be seamless, but in my experience sometimes it's a bit stubborn and you have to toggle on/off Airplane mode on your phone force it to switch over.
This might be why(plugged into USB) I had it working before and couldn’t get it to work last weekend.
2021 Badlands, 4 door, 2.7L, Auto, LUX, SAS, Tow Package, MIC, Velocity Blue.
TK1215, Deano Bronc

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