4 Simple Ways to Connect iPad to Car Stereo

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Sick of listening to the radio in your car? With the proper equipment, you can take your entire iPad music library with you on the road. If you have a Bluetooth-enabled stereo, you don't even need any wires. If you have an older car, there are still several ways you can get your music playing through your car speakers.

Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Using Bluetooth

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    You'll need a car stereo that supports Bluetooth devices and audio. Many newer stereos do this, but if you have an older car you may need to install a new stereo first or use one of the other methods in this article.
    • Your car stereo must support the A2DP Bluetooth profile in order to play back music from your iPad.
    • If your stereo has an auxiliary jack but no Bluetooth support, you can use a Bluetooth dongle that connects to the auxiliary jack.
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  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/06\/Connect-iPad-to-Car-Stereo-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Connect-iPad-to-Car-Stereo-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/06\/Connect-iPad-to-Car-Stereo-Step-4.jpg\/v4-728px-Connect-iPad-to-Car-Stereo-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This process will vary significantly depending on the stereo brand and car manufacturer.
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    Even though you are connecting your iPad, select the "Phone" option.
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    This will make the stereo begin searching for your iPad's Bluetooth signal.
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    It should appear in the list of available devices.
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    This is usually 0000 .
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    This may take a few moments. You should see a message on your car stereo informing you that the connection has been made.
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    Now that your iPad is connected, you can start playing music on your car stereo. You will need to switch to the AUX or Bluetooth input.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Using a 3.5 mm Audio Cable

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    Connect one end of the cable to the audio jack of the iPad and the other end to the auxiliary port of your stereo head unit.
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    Press the Source or Mode button on the stereo and select AUX as the source of audio.
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    Tap the iTunes icon on the iPad, and select any music to play. You should now hear the music playing on you car stereo.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Using an FM Transmitter

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    Use the 3.5 mm cable to connect the transmitter to the audio jack of the iPad.
    • If you live in an urban area, an FM transmitter may be difficult to use due to the crowded airwaves.
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    Tune the radio to the same frequency that you set on the transmitter.
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    Play any music you want to start playing on the car stereo.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Using a Cassette Adapter

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    This will be located on the head unit.
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    5 mm audio cable to the iPad's audio jack.
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    On your head unit, press the Source or Mode button and then select Tape.
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    You may need to press the Play button to begin playing the tape before audio can come out of the speakers.
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    Select any track to play to start enjoying music in your car.
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  • Question
    How is the audio quality of the option with the cassette adapter?
    Community Answer
    Not great, and it's usually in mono. You're better off getting a new radio altogether, or using a portable Bluetooth speaker.
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