MG4 thinks my iPhone 12 is an iPod

[Logie Baird]

I’m a technically challenged 70 year-old MG4 owner. I go on long journeys from Scotland to London every 6 weeks or so. I have been told that I can use Apple car play in this car. That would be brilliant as I have a lot of podcasts and music on my iPhone which would help pass the long journeys. I’ve tried to connect my iPhone 12 to the MG4 system. Many times. As soon as I plug it in a message comes up on the screen that says “iPod not recognised”. I’ve tried an assortment of different cables. Same result. The car thinks it’s a iPod. What am I doing wrong ?

 

[GaryMG4]

I tried a few cables before mine would connect (iPhone 12 mini to MG4 Trophy), I think I got one from Amazon that worked ok, are you using the USB A to connect? I don't think the USB c works with CarPlay.

 

[Logie Baird]

I tried a few cables before mine would connect (iPhone 12 mini to MG4 Trophy), I think I got one from Amazon that worked ok, are you using the USB A to connect? I don't think the USB c works with CarPlay.

Yes. I’ve only tried USB A cables. thank you for replying

 

[ReintjeWA]

Might be worth trying a CarPlay dongle too?

There are a bunch of threads discussing different dongles;

Search results for query: Carplay

www.mgevs.com

 

[Logie Baird]

Might be worth trying a CarPlay dongle too?

There are a bunch of threads discussing different dongles;

Search results for query: Carplay

www.mgevs.com

Ah right - thank you. I haven’t a scoobie what a CarPlay dongle is but I will now set about finding out. Thanks for replying

 

[Diggsy]

Probably sounds daft, but is Siri turned on? CarPlay needs it to work

 

[ReintjeWA]

Ah right - thank you. I haven’t a scoobie what a CarPlay dongle is but I will now set about finding out. Thanks for replying

A dongle is just like a little usb stick that sits in the USB-A port. The dongle connects to the phone wirelessly, but the car thinks it’s plugged in (because it reads the dongle). Most people use it so the phone connects when they get in the car and they don’t need to bother with plugging in the cable. I figured it may fix your issue of finding a cable that works (seeing as you don’t need a cable at all then).

 

[GaryMG4]

Probably sounds daft, but is Siri turned on? CarPlay needs it to work

Good point I'd forgotten that.

 

[gary333]

Probably sounds daft, but is Siri turned on? CarPlay needs it to work

Since when? I don't have Siri turned on but CarPlay works?

 

[GaryMG4]

Since when? I don't have Siri turned on but CarPlay works?

I set mine up under instruction from the salesman when I picked the car up 3 years ago, maybe it either wasn't actually necessary or has changes since then.

 

[Logie Baird]

Probably sounds daft, but is Siri turned on? CarPlay needs it to work

Oh thank you. I would never have thought of that.

 

[Logie Baird]

A dongle is just like a little usb stick that sits in the USB-A port. The dongle connects to the phone wirelessly, but the car thinks it’s plugged in (because it reads the dongle). Most people use it so the phone connects when they get in the car and they don’t need to bother with plugging in the cable. I figured it may fix your issue of finding a cable that works (seeing as you don’t need a cable at all then).

Oh that sounds like a very good idea. Thank you. Will get hold of one asap

 

[Wadda]

Oh that sounds like a very good idea. Thank you. Will get hold of one asap

The cheap Chinese ones work great i have tired loads of diffrent ones but still come back this one

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/14717276...oJOOxAL+Nt5atqvnKyqxfyoA==|tkp:Bk9SR8qDr7fSZw

when you get it follow the instructions to set a 30 second start up delay.

 

[Diggsy]

Oh thank you. I would never have thought of that.

If it doesn’t work, might be worth one of two things (or even both)…

1. forget the car in the CarPlay settings of your phone

2. remove the phone (iPod as it’s recognised) from the car infotainment settings

Once done, reboot both. Car infotainment can be rebooted by holding the home button for 10s until the screen turns off.

If you get that done, then simply plug in and see if the car adds it properly this time.

 

[securespark]

Probably sounds daft, but is Siri turned on?

If I turned Siri on, Mrs S would give me a good slap!

 

[ReintjeWA]

@Logie Baird I just remembered, when you use the dongle, it’s best to only use CarPlay. Don’t pair the iPhone over Bluetooth with the car. The CarPlay connection will handle anything the Bluetooth would anyway, but it can confuse the phone if it has two different connections with the same machine.

 

[securespark]

Talking of the USB A port, ours is good for Android Auto, but rubbish at charging.

We use a quality lead with heavy gauge cable and all pins connected.

Anybody else experience this?

 

[siteguru]

Talking of the USB A port, ours is good for Android Auto, but rubbish at charging.

We use a quality lead with heavy gauge cable and all pins connected.

Anybody else experience this?

I use a wireless dongle in the USB A port, and have a 12V to USB charger plug in the 12V utility socket. If I need to charge my phone when in the car then I simply plug it into the cable I have connected to that charger (which is run up through the hole in the tray and ready for easy connection).

 

[Wadda]

Talking of the USB A port, ours is good for Android Auto, but rubbish at charging.

We use a quality lead with heavy gauge cable and all pins connected.

Anybody else experience this?

The front usbs are only 7w. The rear one is 12w use that or a 12v charger if you need to charge faster.

 

[SWK74]

I have an iPhone 12 running iOS 18.7. I have always used Anker cables (and only Anker cables) and never had an issue - it’s important to use Apple MFI certified cables only. Make sure the “CarPlay” setting for the car (named “SAIC”) are on in the “settings” menu of the phone. Otherwise @Diggsy’s suggestions above are good ones to try. Only use the front USB of the car too.