How do I reverse pair a phone with SYNC?
My Lincoln Vehicle>SYNC>Getting Started with SYNC>How do I reverse pair a phone with SYNC?

How do I reverse pair a phone with SYNC®*?

Reverse pairing is an alternate method of connecting your device to your SYNC system.  

Important: Please use the standard method of pairing first. If you are unable to establish a connection using the standard method, you may attempt the reverse-pairing method. 

SYNC Reverse Pairing Instructions

Important: Before reverse pairing your mobile device, make sure you have:

  • Your vehicle is on and running in a well-ventilated area, and it is in Park (P).
  • Turned on your phone's Bluetooth®**.
  • Put your phone in discoverable mode. This is normally a timed function, so you will want to work quickly to complete the pairing from this point.

Select your SYNC generation from the drop-down options below to see the reverse pairing instructions.

Notes: 

  • If you need assistance determining the generation of your SYNC system, select the first drop-down option. 
  • The pairing process can be different on each phone. Watching both the phone and the SYNC system for any messages is the best way to successfully pair a phone.
  • Actual screens may vary. See your Owner’s Manual for information specific to your vehicle.

Identifying Your Lincoln's SYNC Generation

There are two resources to help you identify your vehicle's SYNC generation:

Resources Instructions
The SYNC and Navigation Updates page

Either:

  • Enter your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and select Check for update.
  • Log in with your Lincoln credentials, choose a vehicle from your garage, and select Check for updates.

Note: Your SYNC generation will appear on the right-hand side of the page.
The SYNC Visual Reference Guide Select the link to view example images of SYNC generations that Lincoln has offered.

SYNC 4

To reverse pair your mobile device with SYNC 4:

  1. Select Settings on your vehicle's SYNC screen.
  2. Press the Phone tab.
  3. Tap Phone List.
  4. Choose Add Phone.
  5. Go to the Bluetooth Settings on your phone.
  6. Select SYNC.

  7. Confirm the 6-digit Personal Identification Number (PIN) displayed matches the PIN on the SYNC screen.

    Note: The device may require you to enter the PIN.

  8. Answer any additional prompts or questions on both the device and SYNC. 

    Note: The prompts on the phone will vary. Some examples include downloading the phonebook, allowing access to the contact list, text messages, etc.

The device should pair, and a successful pairing message will display on the SYNC screen.

If you are experiencing issues, refer to Why is my phone not connecting to SYNC?

SYNC 3

To reverse pair your mobile device with SYNC 3:

  1. Select Settings on your vehicle's SYNC screen.
  2. Press Phone.
  3. Tap Add Bluetooth Device. 
  4. Choose Discover Other Bluetooth Devices and select your device name from the list.
  5. Go to the Bluetooth Settings on your phone.
  6. Select SYNC.

  7. Confirm the 6-digit Personal Identification Number (PIN) displayed matches the PIN on the SYNC screen.

    Note: The device may require you to enter the PIN.

  8. Answer any additional prompts or questions on both the device and SYNC. 

    Note: The prompts on the phone will vary. Some examples include downloading the phonebook, allowing access to the contact list, text messages, etc.

The device should pair, and a successful pairing message will display on the SYNC screen.

If you are experiencing issues, refer to Why is my phone not connecting to SYNC?

SYNC with MyLincoln Touch®

To reverse pair your mobile device with SYNC with MyLincoln Touch:

Note: To scroll through the menus, press the up and down arrows on your audio system.

  1. Press the Phone button on your steering wheel.
  2. Scroll repeatedly until "System Settings" appears on the radio display. You may have to select Return up to two times to find it. If you see "Add Bluetooth Device," you can select that and proceed to step 8.
  3. Press OK.
  4. Scroll repeatedly until "BT Devices/Bluetooth Devices" appears in the radio display.
  5. Press OK.
  6. Scroll repeatedly until "Add Device/Add Bluetooth Device" appears in the display. 
  7. Press OK.
  8. Scroll repeatedly until "Find Bluetooth Devices" appears on the display. 

  9. Press OK.

    Note: The vehicle will search for nearby discoverable Bluetooth devices. Once SYNC is finished searching, it will display the devices it has found.

  10. Scroll through until the device you want to pair is displayed. 
  11. Press OK. The vehicle will ask you to provide a Personal Identification Number (PIN). We recommend verbally saying "0000." 
  12. Press OK or verbally say "enter" when the PIN is confirmed back. Your device should prompt you with a message that SYNC wants to pair to it and request you to enter the PIN that you choose in step 11.
  13. Enter that PIN and select the OK or Enter button on your phone.

  14. Answer any additional prompts or questions on both the device and SYNC. 

    Note: The prompts on the phone will vary. Some examples include downloading the phonebook, allowing access to the contact list, text messages, etc.

The device should pair, and a successful pairing message will display on the SYNC screen.

If you are experiencing issues, refer to Why is my phone not connecting to SYNC?

SYNC with Voice-Activated Navigation

To reverse pair your mobile device with SYNC with Voice-Activated Navigation:

  1. Press the Phone button on your vehicle's SYNC screen. The screen may read "No Phone Connected." 
  2. Select the Settings tab.
  3. Choose Add.  

  4. Press Find Other Devices.

    Note: The vehicle will search for nearby discoverable Bluetooth devices. Once SYNC is finished searching, it will display the devices it has found.  

  5. Select the device you want to pair. The vehicle will ask you to provide a Personal Identification Number (PIN). We recommend entering "0000."
  6. Press Enter. Your phone should prompt you with a message that SYNC wants to pair to it and will likely ask you to enter the PIN that you choose in step 5. 
  7. Enter that PIN and select the OK or Enter button on your phone.

  8. Answer any additional prompts or questions on both the device and SYNC. 

    Note: The prompts on the phone will vary. Some examples include downloading the phonebook, allowing access to the contact list, text messages, etc.

The device should pair, and a successful pairing message will display on the SYNC screen.

If you are experiencing issues, refer to Why is my phone not connecting to SYNC?

SYNC Gen 1.1

Reverse pairing is not available on SYNC Gen 1.1. systems. Pair your device using the standard pairing method.

If you are experiencing issues, refer to Why is my phone not connecting to SYNC?

SYNC Gen 1

To reverse pair your mobile device with SYNC Gen 1:

  1. Press the Phone button on your steering wheel.
  2. Scroll repeatedly until "System Settings" appears on the radio display. You may have to select Return up to two times to find it. If you see "Add Bluetooth Device," you can select that and proceed to step 8.
  3. Press OK.
  4. Scroll repeatedly until "BT Devices/Bluetooth Devices" appears in the radio display.
  5. Press OK.
  6. Scroll repeatedly until "Add Device/Add Bluetooth Device" appears in the display. 
  7. Press OK.
  8. Scroll repeatedly until "Find Bluetooth Devices" appears on the display. 

  9. Press OK.

    Note: The vehicle will search for nearby discoverable Bluetooth devices. Once SYNC is finished searching, it will display the devices it has found.

  10. Scroll through until the device you want to pair is displayed. 
  11. Press OK to confirm. The vehicle will ask you to provide a Personal Identification Number (PIN). We recommend verbally saying "0000." 
  12. Press OK or verbally say "enter" when the PIN is confirmed back. Your device should prompt you with a message that SYNC wants to pair to it and request you to enter the PIN that you choose in step 11.
  13. Enter that PIN and select the OK or Enter button on your phone.

  14. Answer any additional prompts or questions on both the device and SYNC. 

    Note: The prompts on the phone will vary. Some examples include downloading the phonebook, allowing access to the contact list, text messages, etc.

The device should pair, and a successful pairing message will display on the SYNC screen.

If you are experiencing issues, refer to Why is my phone not connecting to SYNC?

Additional Information

How do I pair my phone with SYNC?
Why is my phone not connecting to SYNC?

*Don’t drive while distracted. Use voice-operated systems when possible; don’t use handheld devices while driving. Some features may be locked out while the vehicle is in gear. Not all features are compatible with all phones.

**The Bluetooth word mark is a trademark of the Bluetooth SIG, Inc.