Apr 14, 2019  In 2015, Hyundai became the first automaker in the world to offer Android Auto and in May 2016, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integrations were offered as an upgrade for eight existing models via MyHyundai.com. Hyundai continues to offer a customer-focused user experience by leveraging the MyHyundai.com platform.

Aug 17, 2017  To download and install the Apple CarPlay update on your vehicle you will need your vehicle’s VIN number, a USB stick or memory card from your vehicle’s navigation system, a compatible iPhone, a data plan, and a lightning cable. Start by logging in to your myhyundai.com account to access the free download. Once there, Hyundai will walk you through the download process. Apple CarPlay. HYUNDAI ADDS APPLE CARPLAY SUPPORT TO 2016 SONATA. CarPlay is the smarter, safer and easier way to use an iPhone ® in the car and gives users the features they want such as Phone, Messages, Music and Maps, while allowing them to stay focused on the road. May 26, 2016  Hyundai car owners can now get Apple’s CarPlay technology on their dashboard thanks to a new Do-It-Yourself update that has been made available for 2015, 2016, and 2017 car models. May 31, 2016  To begin, you need to head over to Hyundai's site to grab the download file. You will also need to pop the Maps SD card out of your car and plug it into the SD card slot or card reader in your computer. Each file has to be downloaded and transferred to the SD card.

Recently, I began looking into how I could get Apple Carplay installed on my 2016 Hyundai i40. I could see Hyundai UK were tweeting that a free software update was available for any SE Nav model since Nov 2015. However, unlike our US counterparts, this was not a publically accessible upgrade. It must be done by a Hyundai dealer.

So I rang my local dealer here in Galway, and they gave me a quote for €100 to do the update. The €100 was apparently to cover the “labour” costs in doing the update. Hummm…

As a software engineer myself, I thought I’d search the web for a way to carry this out myself, since I was pretty sure that once I could get the firmware files, I would be able to figure out how to install the update.

I eventually came across a forum, where a link to download the dealer firmware was posted, along with some instructions. I thought it might be good for me to re-post those instructions in english here for anyone wanting to do it. Here goes…

Disclaimer

WARNING: If you carry out this car firmware upgrade, you do so at your own risk. Update: according to the forum auther, @Sernaiko, this is the original Hyundai firmware, and has not been modified in any way, so, in theory, the risk should be minimal.

What you will need

• A USB Stick (1GB or more will do). Formatted for FAT32.
• A ballpoint pen.
• A PC to download the firmware.
• The current version of software on your vehicle.
  • To find this out, on your car touchscreen, go to All Menus>System Info(scroll to the bottom to see that) and then take note of the “S/W ver.” field.
  • The version should begin with ST.XXXX.
  • Note the letters after ST.
  • That will determine which folder you want to use in step 4 below…

System Update Procedure

Note: I took a video of the in-car parts of the procedure and posted to youtube here, which may be of help.

1. Download and extract the firmware files from here. Also backed-up here.
2. You will see 4 folders: st_vf, st_vfia, st_vfsd and st_vfsdia
3. To know which one to open, take a look at the version on your vehicle at present.
   • Note the letters after ST.
   • That will determine which folder you want to use.
4. For me it was vfsdia. So, I looked inside the st_vfsdia folder and saw an update folder.
5. Insert your USB Stick into your PC, and ensure it is formatted as FAT32 (most memory sticks already are).
6. Copy the update folder directly over to the USB Stick. note that you should not use the car navigation SD card for this, as it will not work for a system update.
7. At this point, when you look at the USB drive on your PC, you should see the update folder at the root of the drive.
8. Eject the USB stick from your PC and go to the car.
9. Important: Start your engine and leave it running for all the rest of the procedure
10. Insert the USB stick into the usb slot in front of the gear stick.
11. On your car touchscreen, go to All Menus>System Info(scroll to the bottom to see that) and press the Update button.
12. Confirm the popup by pressing the OK button.
13. Sit back and relax. The update will take 30-40 minutes in total. Ensure you leave the engine running all the time during the update.
14. After about 10 minutes, you may see a system error (code 109), as I did.
    • You need to remove the USB stick at this point.
    • Now use your ballpoint pen to press the reset button for 5 seconds. The reset button is tiny and you can find it just to the right of the CD slot above the touchscreen.
15. The reset will reboot the system and continues the upgrade. The USB stick is no longer needed from now on, so you can put it away in your pocket.
16. The update will take another 20-30 minutes, so head away and grab a cup of tea.

In the end, you will have the latest firmware installed and you can plug in your smartphone to enjoy Android Auto or Apple Carplay.

Note I take no credit whatsoever for the firmware. It was not created by me. I simply downloaded it and followed Google translated instructions from users @Sernaiko and @raler over at drive2.ru. Thank you to those guys for sharing the details on how this can be done.

Many Hyundai owners who have been waiting for promised updates to CarPlay and Android Auto will be happy that the wait is over. Today, Hyundai is releasing a free do-it-yourself updates for compatible Hyundai model cars to upgrade to CarPlay and Android Auto through its website. Hyundai says that no other automaker has supplied as large or comprehensive updates. Updates for CarPlay and Android Auto 2016 model-year Sonata Hybrid, Sonata Plug-In Hybrid, Veloster and Azera with Navigation will be announced at a later date.

The two systems Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are designed to bring common smartphone feature into to cars seamlessly. We learned at CES that the update was delayed due to incompatibility with the navigation software on some models. The good news is that owners of Hyundai models with navigation are not only getting new smartphone integration but they are also getting the navigation software updated for free.

How To Download Apple Car Play For Hyundai Commercial

“Now with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, the maps are updated all the time on the phones,” said Miles Johnson, Senior Manager, Quality, Service and Technology, Public Relations at Hyundai North America, told AUTO Connected Car News.

CarPlay requires an iPhone with a lightning connector and iOS 7 or higher. Android requires and Android phone with Android 5.0 Lollipop or higher, a Bluetooth connection and the cable that came with the phone. If you ask Siri while connected to CarPlay, “What can Siri do?” She replies “You can ask me to get directions find businesses, make phone calls play music and check or send texts and emails. I can show you lots more when you’re not driving.”

Android Auto brings Android into the car for music, messaging Google Maps, calendar integration and phone functions using the touchscreen or the Ok Google through the voice button. At Google I/O it was announced Android Auto will be coming as a standalone product without cars on smartphone and Waze app will be added. Read Android Auto Tips & Tricks or Android Auto Review.

How To Download Apple Car Play For Hyundai

Download times on computers for the 2015-6 Sonata with Navigation, 2015-6 Genesis with Navigation or 2016 Tucson with Navigation can take between 1-3 hours to download from the computer and up to 40 minutes to install into the vehicles. While the 2016 Sonata (7″), 2016 Elantra GT with Navigation, 2017 Santa Fe with Navigation, 2017 Santa Fe Sport (7″) and Santa Fe Sport with Navigation take 15-30 minutes to download and 20 minutes to install. See chart below for more details of which model gets what kind of update and how long it takes.

If you don’t want to perform the upgrade you can take your Hyundai a local dealer. The dealer will charge the a fee for the labor required to install the software.

To update the software, you’ll need your VIN number USB Drive (USB 2 or lower) with at least 5GB of space or the SD card from the Navigation system. If you don’t have an SD card reader on your computer, you’ll need a USB card reader with an SD Card port. MyHyundai.com has installation guides to walk you through the process.

Soon, there will do-it-yourself installation videos on YouTube. In the meantime, a video from the last Hyundai update to Android Auto is very similar and follows bellow.

To register for an account, owners need their name, e-mail address, zip code and Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).

Go to the MyHyundai owner’s site at https://www.hyundaiusa.com/myhyundai
LOG IN OR REGISTER – If you do not have a MyHyundai account, click Register.If you have a MyHyundai account, Click Log In.

Select the Vehicle you would like to update

• Select downloads in the navigation, then the appropriate download downloads drop-down.
• On the downloads page, the owner must agree to the terms and conditions to activate the download button.
• Once the “download update” button is active, clicking it will start the download. (Note your computer should be plugged into a power source during the download). Select continue.
• Once the download is complete:
  • On Mac -open the downloaded DMG file. By default, the file will be in your Downloads Folder. Select Open on the system-warning pop-up screen. Double-click on the Hyundai icon.
  • On Windows – Select Run to download and execute the Download Tool. The Download Tool will be downloaded. Select Yes for the download too.
• At this point, the owner connects a compatible USB drive to their computer.(Upon completing the download, the Download Tool will start. Insert a compatible USB drive to your computer’s USB port. Otherwise, the update process will not proceed until an appropriate USB drive is connected. NOTE: USB drive should be formatted a)s either FAT16 or FAT32; its available size should be greater than 2GB and less than 32GB.
• The Download Tool will show progress as it downloads and copies the software onto your USB drive.Note: Do not remove your USB drive until the download is complete
• The download tool will automatically extract the downloaded files and put them on the USB drive.
• A confirmation screen will appear when the download is complete. Then you can remove the USB drive from your computer.

In the vehicle.

WARNING: Do not shut off the engine while you are installing the software update.

• Park the car in a well-ventilated area and start the engine.
• Connect the USB drive with the vehicle software on it to the USB port that connects to media.
• Press the setup button near the radio controls.
• Scroll down and tap the System Info icon on the touchscreen.
• Tap update at the bottom of the touchscreen.
• Confirm the update tap the OK “Insert the update memory and press the [OK]
• The Software Update will begin automatically .
• The software update is completed after the system reboot an you confirm the warning message.
• To enable Android Auto or CarPlay. Navigate to Connectivity Settings in the Setup menu to find the enable Android Auto or CarPlay on/off switch. Turn of the correct option.
• Connected a cable to your phone.

The software will automatically update through seven steps:
1. Preparing System Update
2. Copying Files
3. Preparing System Update (System automatically reboots. Blank screen
will momentarily appear.)
4. Updating the System
5. Updating GPS
6. Updating Modem (Does not apply to non-Bluelink-equipped vehicles.)
7. Updating uCom

NOTE: There will be multiple occurrences where the Hyundai logo or display will be black during the update process. This is normal. It will take approximately 20 minutes to complete the update process.

For vehicles with Navigation there is another process. The steps at the Hyundai website are almost the same except the software is downloaded to the SD Card. Regular SD Cards will not work because cars require automotive grade SD cards to deal with the heat in cars and other factors.

• Remove the SD card out of the center console by opening the SD map slot.
• Insert the SD card into your computer’s built-in or external SD card reader. You must use the SD card from your vehicle. Using a non-OE SD card will disable your Navigation system.
• Follow the prompts to download the software update. Once downloaded, insert the SD card back into your vehicle.

If you have trouble, you can call Hyundai customer support at (800) 633-5151

Mon – Fri 5:00 am – 7:00 pm PST
Sat – Sun, 6:30 am -3:00 pm PST

It is best to wait for time when you don’t need to use your car immediately.

Read Android Auto review from Lynn Walford. Look for CarPlay review on GearBrain in the next few weeks.

Here’s the video from the previous Hyundai Sonata Android Auto update.

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