I've recently taken delivery of a Octavia vRS with SmartLink - although it was dealer installed, as my order for it was 'forgotten' at the factory and led to a delay at the port.

 

However, since I've had the car I haven't been able to get CarPlay to work for me. I've used a genuine cable (and even bought another from the Apple store), restored my phone from a back up, restored it to a brand new phone and reset it completely. I've also reset all factory settings on the MIB2.

 

My phone is a iPhone 6s, and I've also tried my other half's phone (my older iPhone 5s). Neither work.

 

When the phone is connected and you enter the SmartLink function, it asks me to select a device. The list then shows 'iphone', so is able to recognise the phone, but when I select it, I get the following error message: "Connection failed. Please check whether your mobile device is compatible for use with 'SmartLink'."

 

Does anybody have any ideas as to what else I could do to rectify? I'll be phoning the supplying dealer tomorrow, but as we're 200 miles apart I don't see a great deal of assistance coming...

 

For clarity, all photos are below:

 

Thanks in advance for any assistance you can offer!

The first thing to check is are you using a pukka Apple lightning cable?  

 

I had one I bought off eBay for a couple of quid and had all sorts of issues with it similar to what you're experiencing, so I swapped it with my original Apple "supplied with the 'phone" cable and all was OK.  

 

Now I  use the ex-eBay cable for charging only and it works fine.

Try starting it from scratch, so make sure it's not paired by Bluetooth, on the mib2 that smartlink is configured as MirrorLink (in the smartlink menu), on the iPhone go to settings and general, CarPlay, select usb only, and also click the ! Next to any cars and "forget" them.

Turn on the ignition, and plug in the phone, make sure the iPhone is unlocked, and then agree to any prompts

See if that works.

I had the same issue with mine and I use an iPhone 6s plus(OS 9.2.1).  I guess there are still a few bugs with Carplay or Smartlink..

 

To resolve the issue, I made sure wifi and Bluetooth are on then I got usb stick and put some media on there any mp3’s.  Then put it into the usb slot and select media and play some tracks from the usb stick.  Make sure everything is playing ok.

Then remove the usb stick and try the iPhone again. 

 

 

I have used an official and a Belkin cable, both work fine.  Be prepared for lockups, slow performance and disconnects but when it works it is good.

At least you have Smartlink. 

The first thing to check is are you using a pukka Apple lightning cable?  

 

I had one I bought off eBay for a couple of quid and had all sorts of issues with it similar to what you're experiencing, so I swapped it with my original Apple "supplied with the 'phone" cable and all was OK.  

 

Now I  use the ex-eBay cable for charging only and it works fine.

 

I have tried a genuine Apple one (bought new 2 days ago), as well as 2 different but just as new Belkin cables bought from the Apple store - where I confirmed they are to Apple standards and will work with SmartLink.

 

Try starting it from scratch, so make sure it's not paired by Bluetooth, on the mib2 that smartlink is configured as MirrorLink (in the smartlink menu), on the iPhone go to settings and general, CarPlay, select usb only, and also click the ! Next to any cars and "forget" them.

Turn on the ignition, and plug in the phone, make sure the iPhone is unlocked, and then agree to any prompts

See if that works.

 

The car doesn't let me configure MirrorLink, but I an't imagine that'll work anyway as iPhones aren't compatible with MirrorLink - only CarPlay (part of SmartLink).

 

As I haven't yet managed to connect it to the car, I have no details whatsoever in the iPhone settings area - once going into CarPlay, it just permanently searches for available cars.

 

I had the same issue with mine and I use an iPhone 6s plus(OS 9.2.1).  I guess there are still a few bugs with Carplay or Smartlink.

 

To resolve the issue, I made sure wifi and Bluetooth are on then I got usb stick and put some media on there any mp3’s.  Then put it into the usb slot and select media and play some tracks from the usb stick.  Make sure everything is playing ok.

Then remove the usb stick and try the iPhone again.

 

 

I have used an official and a Belkin cable, both work fine.  Be prepared for lockups, slow performance and disconnects but when it works it is good.

 

Thanks, I'll try that - I'll try anything!

 

At least you have Smartlink.

What a useful comment :| There's not much point in having it if it doesn't bloody work!

 What a useful comment :| There's not much point in having it if it doesn't bloody work!

 

There is more to life than utility  :p  but good luck with your Smartlink 

CarPlay is an apple adaption of Mirrorlink, Smartlink just lumps it all together.

Sounds like it's ****ed then [emoji3]

That's a cheap 6" Amazon Lightning cable plugging in.

Switch to Skoda and look at Smartlink settings and voila

Go back on the menu and

Phones a 6S Plus on 9.3 beta 6

Edited 11 March, 201610 yr by fluffmeister

Interesting - when I plug my phone in, it simply pops up and says the unsuccessful message. Also, when I look into the options for Smartlink, I can see the following, but can't press Mirrorlink - it's simply just text.

 

Fluffmeister, im still waiting for delivery. Please tell me those green lights on the clusters are standard?? So sick of the generic VAG red!

Its green

Woooooo

We had a similar issue with a Samsung S6. Solution was to have a smartlink enabled app running (Google maps) before plugging the phone into the car.

Sent from my SM-T710 using Tapatalk

Interesting. I had huge issues getting smartlink to work on my android phone (eventually upgrading to Marshmallow on Android has improved things vastly) conversely Apple car play has annoyingly "just worked" every time on a variety of iPhone (5, 5s, 6s) you just plugged it in using a variety of lightning cables every time.

Hey, did you check Siri? Siri should be active.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

My phone is a iPhone 6s, and I've also tried my other half's phone (my older iPhone 5s). Neither work.

 

 

Are both of your phones updated and running the latest version of iOS?  There is also a carplay seting on the iPhone.  might be worth checking that under SETTINGS --> GENERAL --> CARPLAY

Good info here

http://skoda-auto.cm/en/experience/product-features/smartlink

Maybe they will get head units that talk to smartphones working properly in a year or two or three ....

Have to say mine works flawlessly on iOS including betas and Android. Never had a glitch, Apple maps sucks balls though [emoji3]

On 3/13/2016 at 07:38, muradi said:

Hey, did you check Siri? Siri should be active.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

hello, this works at me.

thank you!

Just now, Gheo81 said:

hello, this works at me.

thank you!

if Siri is not activated is impossible to find CarPlay in iphone Settings menu.

Tomsimes,

Did you get it to work in the end??

I am 'looking forward'  to having SmartLink issues. My local dealer was meant to fit the Smartlink because I took a car that had already been built (just before going on the ship).  I collected my new Mk3 today and the first thing I was told was that the SmartLink is not working and that the dealer's technicians are having discussions with Skoda/VW(yes he actually said VW) to try to figure out why the car wont accept it. But it will take a few days and I'll have to go back again to let them resolve it. The car was delivered to them 2 weeks ago; yet they didn't sort it out in that time...

I have an iphone 7 and after activated Siri and select usb connection from Settings>general>carplay- usb connection, works fine.

Works fine for (iPhone 6 on latest iOS release). Still on topic (just) has anyone had issues with local microphone volume during calls whilst in CarPlay mode? Person at other end can barely hear me, I can hear them fine. Is using car mic. If I unplug and use Bluetooth, no issues. (I accept this is a first world problem :-) )