Audio out via the USB in car?

[slangking]

Hi

I've received my P20 Pro this week and am loving the phone so far. However, one big issue remains that i can't seem to get my head around - how to play audio from the phone through my non-Bluetooth car stereo?

I previously had an iPhone 6 where this was easy; plug the phone in to the stereo via USB and it would simultaneously charge and play music from the phone through the car stereo.

But when I plug in the P20 Pro via the same USB port, I can't seem to get audio coming out. I know it's possible - as obviously headphones plug in to the same USB-c port - so is there something I have to turn on or toggle to get it to send audio out?

Any help much appreciated. Thanks.

 

[SpookDroid]

It is possible, but you're thinking about it wrong. First things first: your iPhone works because the audio system is designed to work with iPhones; they have special software and they use Apple's proprietary protocols to transmit data so you can play audio through your car system. Unfortunately, unless your car supports Android Auto or Mirrorlink, the same does not hold true for Android. For Android (or non-iDevices, for that matter), your car will default to mass-storage USB mode for anything plugged in there, which your phone CAN support, but that would only give you access to localy-stored files to play (just like an USB stick).

For only audio you're stuck with either Bluetooth or an audio AUX cable (not sure if an USB-C-to-3.5mm-plug exists or not).

 

[Rukbat]

For only audio you're stuck with either Bluetooth or an audio AUX cable (not sure if an USB-C-to-3.5mm-plug exists or not).

There are plenty of them if the P20 sends analog audio to the USB port. There's even one (not as cheap, though - not cheap at all) if the P20 sends digital audio to the USB port. And there's the one that came with the phone.

 

[LPRodgers]

get a Bluetooth adaptor for 20 bucks and you're done!

 

[Mooncatt]

get a Bluetooth adaptor for 20 bucks and you're done!

Are you talking about those cheap Bluetooth to FM transmitters? The sound quality on them can be the pits because they can't broadcast a very strong signal. A Bluetooth modulator would be better. It's more pricy and takes more of an install to go inline with the antenna wire, but it gives a clean FM signal to the radio with no need to hunt for a vacant station.

 

[chanchan05]

Are you talking about those cheap Bluetooth to FM transmitters? The sound quality on them can be the pits because they can't broadcast a very strong signal. A Bluetooth modulator would be better. It's more pricy and takes more of an install to go inline with the antenna wire, but it gives a clean FM signal to the radio with no need to hunt for a vacant station.

A better solution would be to get a bluetooth receiver with a 3.5 jack. No wires but better quality than FM transmitters. Not as good as actually using an Aux cable, but it's less messy.

 

[JZ VR]

Use the included USB C to 3.5mm adapter with an AUX cable.

 

[LossOfCite]

A better solution would be to get a bluetooth receiver with a 3.5 jack. No wires but better quality than FM transmitters. Not as good as actually using an Aux cable, but it's less messy.

I've been using this one with my Mate 10 Pro and it's been great.