Hands free Sync Bluetooth issue after update to 8.1.

[Android Central Question]

Since update to android 8.1 the Bluetooth connection to Ford F-150 (2010) will default to “privacy” and have sound through phone speaker. After call is connected I have to tell phone to use Bluetooth or scroll through the vehicle menu to switch out of privacy mode. When In privacy mode cant hear over hands free vehicle speakers. No issue with newer vehicle, 2018 Flex, works great. Reloaded operating system on ford sync on the F-150 ($130). No help, repaired, no help, cleared Bluetooth cache, no help, reset phone - no help. Issue started immediately after update to 8.1. Any thoughts? Can I revert back to 8.0? Update to 9.0?

 

[Rukbat]

Did you delete the Ford from the phone, delete the phone from the Ford, then pair them again? If that doesn't fix it, contact the phone manufacturer - them messed something up in the update. (Android 8.1 itself didn't do that - my Pixel 2 had to be re-paired, but they worked after pairing. So if Google didn't do it, your phone manufacturer or, if the phone is carrier-branded, the carrier, did something to 8.1.)