iPhone XS Max too smart for head unit

So, got the XS max a couple months ago and it wouldn’t connect. Spent 2 hours on the phone with Apple one day and the conclusion was my 2013 Tundra didn’t have Bluetooth. I’ve had several iPhones connected over the course of owning this truck so that’s BS. Today I finally got around to calling Toyota about this. After an hour or so, the result I got was the phone was too smart for my base head unit and that they have no plans of upgrading it. When I asked if Toyota was willing to help with the cost of a unit that would work I was told that it would have had to have been purchased with a nav unit, you couldn’t add one later on. Again, BS! Anyone have any suggestions? I really need to be able to talk hands free as I drive a bunch for work.

 

My XS Max works with all my old crap.

 

I’ve done everything I know to do and everything that Apple and Toyota suggested. I don’t know what else to do.

 

I replaced my head unit with a Pioneer 8200NEX. sounds great, works great with my 8+.

 

My old head unit worked with an 8+ too. I don’t know what changed.

 

Weird, both iP8+ and iPXSM are Bluetooth version 5.0. Have you tried going to the Entune website to check for an update you can apply via USB?

Also, I read this worked on a 2014 having BT issues:

"I read about turning ignition to on but not starting engine and letting the radio power on then holding in the "app" button at the same time turning lights on then off 3 times (I thought someone was jerking my chain) brought up a diagnostic screen. In the bottom left corner toggle button "INT" it will say something about personalize data yes or no, I pressed yes and exited out by holding in the power button and then blue-tooth was working again. "This is a genuine fix!

 

No update available for my basic no touch screen, no entune radio.

 

Looks like your options are a new HU or something like this as a workaround:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01K7OHDKS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_9XlYCbHPH2HEM

 

On my 2013 Rav4 there was more than one way to connect the phone. It has Entune so that was how I did it. But the manual talked about another way. I have an Android phone so maybe there's some differences. Can you connect with a USB cable? I rarely connect that way so I don't know if it works.

 

Not according to Toyota, at least as far as phone calls. It connects fine with usb to play music.

 

It is tough with the technology happening in cycles far faster than we cycle through vehicles, but I think you're best bet over all is a new headunit at this point. I really would have like to have been a fly on the wall at Toyota when you asked if they would help upgrade your 6 yr old truck

 

Lol, it was worth a shot. What really pissed me off was instead of just saying no, they tried to act like it wasn’t possible. Oh well, I went with a $20 plug in thing for right now, will eventually get a new head unit.

 

I think they’re following a script within policy. It’s like when I walk into Apple and I can do all this different stuff on my jailbroken iPhone and staff can’t comment or talk about it.

 

So true, 2013 isn’t considered old for a Toyota but 5y in the tech world and it’s obsolete, no more support. The only way to adapt is to upgrade components ourself.

 

Yea it's crazy. My current Pixel 2 worked fine the stock base HU. Everything worked including all the Google Assistant functionality. That is until the Android Pie came out. Now Google Assistant audio won't work. So no reading SMS messages hands free.

 

Come to think of it I just got a new iPhone XS max and it hasn’t connected to my head unit yet either but I haven’t really had time to mess with either lol will try today and post something later if I crack the code lol

 

Make sure only one item is connected via Bluetooth to your vehicle at a time. That issued plagued me and my wife for months until we found out our sons iPad was connected

 

I’ve deleted everything off the head unit to the point it gives me the welcome speech the first time a try to connect. I read somewhere that some had luck putting phone in airplane mode and tried that too, but nothing. It pops up on the phone as car multi media when trying to do the pairing, but it just never pairs. Seems weird to me that it would even show up if they weren’t compatible with each other.

 

Plug 5mm cord into the HU AUX, plug other end into iPhone.
Press AUX on HU and report back.

 

Haven’t tried it with an aux cable, tried with usb just to see and it didn’t work. I’ll try it when I get a few.

 

The original owner of my '09 DC installed an after market bluetooth phone interface in the roof panel (plus old wide iPad connector in the front) right after he bought it.
It worked fine with my iX. I upgraded the stock HU a couple of months ago, removed that "add on", and ran the mic up into the roof panel.
BT still works fine with the new HU.
No idea why yours doesn't work. Sorry.

 

This worked for my iPhone XS max hooked right up I have a 2018 CM sr5 tundra so it took so long to post

 

I don’t have a touch screen head unit, just an old base system. So there’s no app button to hold down.

 

Doesn’t work.

 

Have yo considered changing HU?

I have and the install is very easy.

 

I’ve considered it, actually had a OEM nav that I had bought in it at one time. Needed the cash so I took it out and resold. Really trying to avoid the cost of a new one now.

 

https://www.seicane.com/android-200...bluetooth-wifi-mirror-link-1080p-video-s6927g

Made specifically for our generation. More options in the website b

Never installed one before until I saw this video.

https://youtu.be/6Wxv9bWmN-M

Hola back

 

I’ve looked at these, or at least ones like them. You haven’t had any problems with it? Steering wheel controls still work?

 

No prob w mine, but then I drive truck once in a blue moon. I set it up right shortly after install, to incl back up camera then enjoy the ride... could add lots more to it but no need to

Am amazed w the install to buy this..

 

JoshuaA’s technique worked for my 2016 Tundra Limited to iPhone XS Max!