Are you experiencing the same frustration with your Mercedes-Benz voice commands as outlined by other users? Like many, you might be struggling to get “Hey Mercedes” to function correctly when Apple CarPlay is connected. After extensive searching and troubleshooting, this post offers a solution that successfully resolved Apple CarPlay functionality issues on a recently acquired CPO 2021 GLA 250.
The primary problem arose when connecting an iPhone via a cable (as wireless CarPlay isn’t available in this model): the MBUX Voice Command system became erratic. Specifically, initiating the MBUX voice command would only activate for a fleeting two seconds before abruptly closing. Inspired by user experiences in online forums, the investigation focused on potential conflicts between voice command systems across different apps. For context, the user’s setup included Amazon Music via CarPlay, Siri, Amazon Alexa, and an iPhone running iOS 17.5.1.
The following steps, performed simultaneously, successfully resolved the voice command conflict. While it’s uncertain which specific step was the key, applying all three proved effective in restoring expected functionality.
Here’s the solution to get your voice commands working seamlessly with CarPlay and “Hey Mercedes”:
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Disable Alexa Hands-Free in the Amazon Alexa App: Navigate to MORE, then SETTINGS, and finally DEVICE SETTINGS. Within this menu, toggle off “ENABLE ALEXA HANDS-FREE”. If you, like the original poster, don’t utilize this specific Alexa function, disabling it won’t impact your regular usage.
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Reset and Retrain Siri Voice Recognition on your iPhone: Open SETTINGS on your iPhone and select SIRI & SEARCH. Go to the “LISTEN FOR” setting. Ensure Siri is configured to recognize your voice. As a precautionary measure, toggle “Listen for ‘Hey Siri’” off and then back on again. Retrain Siri to recognize your voice by following the on-screen prompts. This step ensures Siri is properly calibrated and minimizes potential conflicts.
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Disable Microphone Access for Amazon Music: On your iPhone, go to SETTINGS, then GENERAL, and locate AMAZON MUSIC in your app list. Within Amazon Music’s settings, turn off the toggle to ALLOW AMAZON MUSIC TO ACCESS “Microphone”. This step restricts Amazon Music from potentially interfering with voice command functionalities when CarPlay is active.
After implementing these three adjustments, the voice command system now operates as anticipated. Voice commands directed to Siri effectively control CarPlay features, while voice commands for “Hey Mercedes” seamlessly manage the car’s native functions. Utilizing the toggle switch on the right side of the steering wheel, a single press engages Siri, and a full press to the click point activates “Hey Mercedes”.
Background and Mercedes Support’s Initial Response:
This resolution came after a week of correspondence with Mercedes-Benz support. Their initial response to the voice command issue was: “That is expected – when Apple CarPlay is connected, the head unit voice assistant is not functional, as there is a conflict with Siri voice assistant. While the phone is connected via CarPlay, then the feature will not be fully functional – if it works fine when CarPlay is disconnected, then it works as designed.”
While acknowledging a potential conflict between the two voice assistant systems is understandable, the expectation was to retain the ability to use “Hey Mercedes” voice commands for core vehicle functions like radio and climate control, even while using CarPlay. However, this wasn’t the initial experience. For instance, the radio display would appear on the touchscreen, but no sound would play, even with manual touchscreen controls. Temperature adjustments were only possible via manual controls. When questioned about adjusting climate control via voice command while using Maps through CarPlay, Mercedes support suggested either unplugging the phone or resorting to manual controls – a significant drawback to the purported safety benefits of voice command systems.
The user expressed surprise that Mercedes-Benz support implied a core feature like “Hey Mercedes” voice command would be intentionally disabled when using Apple CarPlay. Voice command functionality was a key factor in the vehicle purchase, particularly as the car lacked a native navigation package. Apple CarPlay and its map applications were essential, and the user manual provided no indication of this limitation. While integration challenges with third-party devices might be expected, Apple CarPlay is a mainstream and prominent feature in the smartphone market, making this limitation seem particularly incongruous.
This user-discovered workaround provides a practical solution to a frustrating problem, enabling seamless use of both Apple CarPlay and “Hey Mercedes” voice commands in compatible Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
