What It Is
The following guide and downloadable file will help you to update the Bluetooth, Voice Control and USB module in the following Ford vehicles. The release date was November 2012, and was the third publicly released firmware update. According to the Ford documentation the update is valid for the following vehicles and build dates:
- Fiesta: July 2008 – December 2011
- Focus: February 2008 – January 2012
- C-MAX: February 2008 – January 2012
- Kuga: February 2008 – January 2012
- Mondeo: September 2008 – January 2012
- S-MAX: September 2008 – January 2012
- Galaxy: September 2008 – January 2012
- Transit: from June 2009
- Ranger: from April 2009
The Ford Ka is not compatible, because it’s a rebodied Fiat Panda/500 and uses their electronics.
The following instructions and Zip file used to be freely available from Ford at the address www.ford-mobile-connectivity.com as described in the audio system user guide. The website was taken down some time in about 2014, presumably for one of two reasons. Either people were messing up their radios and requiring dealership service, or they realised that they were missing out on a source of service revenue by giving away the updates. I’ll not speculate…
I’ve succesfully carried out the update on two different cars, my Mondeo with Sony DAB headunit, and my wife’s Fiesta with the more basic (orange dot matrix display). The actual Bluetooth/USB module is the same throughout the range, with the exception of a few models.
Please note that if your car does not have a USB port you will not be able to do the update, and the only way to get it is via a visit to the dealership.
What Do You Get?
There are several improvements to be gained from updating your Bluetooth firmware. The level will depend on the age of your vehicle, as models later in the run will have been shipped with more up to date versions. The major differences are:
- Compatibility. My phone (Sony Experia Z5) wouldn’t connect reliably and take calls properly in my 2011 Mondeo. The update fixed that. The same for the Fiesta (a 2009 model) which wouldn’t connect properly to any smartphone.
- iPod Useability. The original firmware required use of a special Y-cable, which connected to both the USB port (for control and track name display) and the 3.5mm Aux in socket (for analogue audio). The new version allows use of standard Apple 30pin-USB cables, with the car stereo doing the audio decoding from the digital stream.
- USB Playback. Allows use of MP3s saved on a USB stick. I don’t know if or how well this worked earlier, I never tried until after updating.
- Bluetooth Audio Streaming. The update adds compatibility for Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) or Streaming Music in English. This can also be used for Sat Nav directions through the speakers when using Google Maps on an Android device.
How Do I Do It?
- Put the kettle on.
- Download THIS ZIP FILE, which contains the Bluetooth firmware and voice control files in seven European languages.
- Unzip the files to the root folder of a USB drive. (i.e. not in a subfolder) The USB drive should NOT contain any music files, and for best results should probably be blank just in case.
- Make yourself a nice cup of tea or coffee and pick up a newspaper or magazine. This stage will come in handy later, trust me…
- Get in the car, and switch on the radio WITHOUT TURNING THE IGNITION ON. It may say something like 1 Hour Mode on the display.
- Insert the USB drive into the USB port. Depending on your car model this may be in the glovebox (Mondeo), centre console (Fiesta) or armrest. The stereo will display a message saying that no valid files were found to play. This is normal.
- Switch on the ignition until the dashboard lights come on (but don’t start the engine). Do this by turning the key to the second position, or pressing the Ford Power button without pressing the brake/clutch for keyless models.
- You should now see the message “Update running… Please wait! So now you wait. This is where the hot coffee and magazine come in handy, as the update takes around 20 minutes to complete, and you can’t go back in the house to keep warm because you’d be leaving the car unlocked with the keys in!*
- Once the update has finished the display will say “Update successfully finished”. The message doesn’t stay on the screen for long, so keep an eye on it. Once complete the radio will come back on to whichever station was playing before the update.
- If something goes wrong and the installation fails you will get a warning on the display. Again, it doesn’t stay on for more than a few seconds, so keep a look out. Just start the process again from the beginning and it will eventually complete.
Whilst updating my Mondeo the car gave a Low Battery warning, and the radio shut off. I started the engine, and was amazed to see that the radio came back to life with the update still running. It had carried on even with the radio off (the bluetooth module is a separate box behind the glovebox area). I don’t recommend relying on this method though!
Here is a very useful summary video. I didn’t make it, so claim no credit for it. It’s also out of date, as it shows the original website up and running, but the update demonstration is very useful if you’re not confident.
Video produced by iNath, over at Ford Owners Club
Any questions, feel free to comment below. Thanks for visiting my site.
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So I’ve tried update on 2 different USB sticks both formats to fat32 but when I carry out instructions I get nothing on the radio about any files when USB is inserted so don’t get anything saying updating its the black sony radio as pictured in the top of this post I have a focus 2011 sport mark 2.5 I believe when trying to connect to Bluetooth normally I don’t get a code I’ve tried the 0000 and 1234 but tries to connect then says phone not connected can anyone help please!
If your Bluetooth is working correctly, when you try and pair a phone it should give you the code you need on the radio display, along with voice instructions. If it isn’t there is something wrong. Go into the radio menu and see if there are existing pairings with old phones from previous owners. Delete all of them if there are. After that try resetting the radio (press and hold on/off until reboots).
I am trying this on a march 2011 c max with the premium sony unit. Seems to be taking ages up to 35 minutes now and still going. Is this normal?
Not really, no!
Hi, I updated my BT module, after it, it showed BT stream on Convers+ and the FX navigation, but i couldn’t play any music via BT. After switching the igniton on/off several times, the funcion disappeared from convers and navigation. Anyone knows whats wrong?
The Ford stereo firmware is crap!
My wife’s Fiesta did the same, but weirdly I could still activate Bluetooth playback using the voice commands, even though it wasn’t available in the menu.
Try disconnecting the battery or fuse, to fully reset everything.
Hi Will.
I’ve Googled, YouTubed and read many forums regarding the Sync update for my 2015 FIESTA ST3.
I’ve tried three USB sticks, the latest a Sandisk USB 3.0 and all formatted to FAT32. I have two .lst files and a syncmyaudio folder unzipped on the sticks but whatever I do I just get “no files on USB”. Tried the drag and drop option too.
I can’t see what I’m doing wrong but a trip to a dealer isn’t an option to be honest.
Thanks for all the previous comments and replies.
A bit more information I forgot to use:
I’ve gone through Ford and entered my VIN number which suggests the only update which is SyncUpdate1_1
It also says on their website that it’s 2016 FIESTA, but it was registered September 2015. I’m wondering if this could be a conflict.
No, the model year is probably correct, the 2016 models come out late in 2015, then are replaced by the 2017 model in late 2016…
It doesn’t necessarily make sense, but that’s just the way they do it.
Sync updates are supposed to be available online, but I’ve not got a car that has it, so never tried looking properly.
Hi Will.
Many thanks. Got my first car (2009 Fiesta Titanium 1.4 Auto) in 2018 and it just would not have my phone at all. Followed your instructions and it worked first time after waiting for about 10-15 mins. Now everything works as it should. Can’t believe the previous owner just left it as it was given they got a Ford service every year. Cheers pal.
Harry.
Hi having read a few comments from those who unfortunately failed to get the update to work. Im wondering if it is possible to recover / backup the existing firmware from the head unit. Since it would be nice to update with the latest but if it means a trip to the dealers if i fail, then ill stick with what i’ve got.
Between several organisations and Ford i am still using 2009 maps in my Fx navigation as my maps are it seems only possible to update at a cost far exceeding that of a basic Tom Tom, crazy eh. So i guess now that my car will last a bit longer than the one i brought back in 1966 it will still finish up in the breakers but this time because its software is out of date rather than the headlights and sills are rusted through..progress!!!
I know what you mean. The bluetooth update, if it fails, doesn’t break anything, it simply doesn’t update.
Your point above is exactly the reason I’m yet to buy a car with integrated sat-nav. I bought my car at 5 years old, would I want to buy a 5 year old electronic device with limited potential for updating, along with 5 years out of date processing power? Not so much!
I have a UK Nov 2008 Fiesta (not SYNC) and I’ve replaced the BT unit with the ‘AN’ model (which worked in my Focus) and updated the software successfully (trying again says the software is up to date), but I have no way of selecting BT audio or USB.
I’ve debonded and reset the connection from my phone and it says it’s connected with A2DP available, but nothing plays on the stereo
Repeatedly pressing ‘AUX’ does nothing: it only allows line in
I tried using the voice commands:
-External Device > Bluetooth > Play
-External Device > USB > Play
and in both cases, the screen says ‘Not acessible’
I tried briefly unplugging fuses 15 and 21 but this didn’t appear to affect the audio system at all.
I wanted to try a sys reset, but the 15 seconds on the power button thing didn’t do anything.
Anyone got any ideas at all?
No, unfortunately not, that’s a puzzle. Only thing I can think of is that the stereo head unit is too old, as it pre-dates the models that officially supported BT audio.
It might be worth looking for a control unit (no need to change the display) from a later year car, eg 2011. Just a thought, and no guarantee implied that it will work!!
I just can’t seem to get it to update. I get the Updating message and then no other activity after 1 hour+. I have used all files and also just 2 English files. I’m running a Ford Mondeo 2009 model. My symptoms is that my iphone 8 will see Ford Audio, attempt to connect with the Code and not be successful. I have reset the Fuse and turned off the radio sever times and used multiply USB 2.0 sticks running a Fat32 format. I’m a loss.
Hmm. Bugger!
Not really sure what to suggest, other than the dreaded trip to the dealership, sorry.
Hi 🙂
I’ve tried a few times, but as soon as I initialise the update, I get an error message saying: Update failed. Please restart update.
Would anyone have an idea what might be the problem?
Have a look through the replies to previous comments. Assuming the system is compatible, deleting unnecessary language files can usually help.
It worked! Thank you! 😀
Another quick question… Do you know why I might not be able to reboot the player? Pressing and holding the on/off button 15 secs, while the player is on doesn’t seem to work. The player immediately turns off rather than reboots..
Hi my 2011 fiesta radio cuts out and goes on to Ford audio display,also get a CD malfunction message occasionally, any ideas what could be causing this or what to look at when opening up the head unit thanks in advance Hendry
No, sorry, it does just sound like the CD unit is dying.