My sisters in law bought a beautiful 2006 Toyota Corolla Verso. They could not get the iPhone to pair with the car’s Bluetooth system. The dealer told them that this was an iPhone problem, but after some fiddling, it turns out there is a simple workaround. If you want to pair an iPhone to your car, and the car says “pairing failed” as soon as you tap on your iPhone, this simple trick might help for you. This article contains detailed steps for the Toyota Corolla Verso, but on other cars this might work too.
- Start the car (don’t start driving), and take out your iPhone.
- On the iPhone, tap “Settings”, “General” and “Bluetooth”. Make sure Bluetooth is switched on. Leave the iPhone on this screen.
- Press and hold “mode” on the steering wheel of the car.
- When the car says “Setup Menu”, say “Pair Phone”
- On the iPhone, tap the “TOYOTA” network.
The car will almost immediately say “Pairing failed”. On your phone, the password prompt will show. Do not do anything, let the phone stay on this screen.
This is because the iPhone probably tries to connect with a default password like “0000”, the car immediately aborts, and doesn’t allow a second try. The phone detects the connection failure and will popup a “password” screen for you to enter a number that does work, but the car has already given up. Not to worry, read on:
- Press and hold “mode” on the steering wheel again.
- When the system says “Setup Menu”, say “Pair Phone”
The car enters pairing mode for the second time. Because the phone is still in the “Password prompt” screen, it is already past the detection phase, and will not try to send the default password. Now you can enter your password and the connection will succeed on the “first” try as seen from your car.
- With the iPhone still in the password screen, enter “1234” (or whatever password the car tells you) press “Connect”.
Congratulations, your phone is now paired.
Thank you – this worked. Solved a big problem for me.
Thank You…. after searching the net for days with NO results, this got it working for me first time. Thank you Thank You Thank you!
I have a toyota verso model 2004, does it work in my car as well?
Hello Sam, as much as I’d like to own every car in the world, I don’t. I guess you’ll have to try for yourself. Please let us know if it worked. Much appreciated.
hi I tried to hold the mode button down on my steering wheel I own a 2004 verso and it does not work unfortunately 🙁
Thank you… This worked. It was a Great help for me. Thank you!
I thank you very much for the solution. It worked immediately. Thank you for sharing this.
Can someone explain this like I’m 6? hehe
Sure: Give phone to daddy. Give keys to daddy. Buckle up and go to sleep.
Thank your from Italy!!!
What of my car is talking in French?
I don’t know, does it make decent croissants with coffee?
Thanks a second time (didn’t write the first time). Just wanted to say that your workaround will not work if the Iphone was already paired with the Verso and by accident uncoupled (thanks Honey ;-)). IN THIS CASE FORCE THE PHONE TO FORGET THE VERSO! Then it works again!
Thanks from the parking lot!
Matt
Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Hi,
I tried to follow your instructions, there is no HAND FREE system installed with the Corolla Verso 2006..
Any suggestions please!!
I guess your car doesn’t have that option then. Nothing I can do about that.
Hi I have a 2006 verso, can I stream music through a bluetooth. ipod to the blue tooth in my car?
I would be very interested whether this is possible. I did not have problems linking the iPhone to the Handsfree system, but in the media I cannot choose audio via BT?
Is there a work around?
Hi Barney,
I have same car only 2008 and in a glow compartment there is an Apple connection jack for in my case Nano Pad, and I have listen music for many years.
Regards, Jovan
Dear Rolfje! Your post helped me 2 times in the past, but now the end of your post is missing. I have followed the instructions, but dont know the 4 digit number to pair my phone. Could you help me please with it? Thx Imre
Hi Imre, the default password is in the last step: 1234. If that does not work and the car does not display a different password I don’t know what to do, maybe try 0000 or 1111.
Thanks a lot!! It worked perfectly!!!
Hello everyone!
Dear Rolfje thank you very much for sharing these. I have Toyota Corrola Verso 2008 and have had several phones so far connected with the car audio system, both IOS and Android. I have tries to connect new Iphone 13 few days ago but with no success… I found your post and tried same, but I have input password 1,2,3,4 before I pressed “mode” button again and said “pair phone” again and it went thru immediately, and for the first time I have shared contacts with phone, but I’ll know more in following days.
Many thanks again,
Greetings from Serbia, Jovan