FORD EXPLORER 2018 Owners Manual

Action and Description
Menu Item
Enable this option to connect to Wi-Fi for SYNC 3 vehicle software
updates.
Wi-Fi
This provides you with a list of available Wi-Fi networks within range.
Available
Networks
Clicking on a network from the list allows you to connect or disconnect
from that network. The system may require a security code to
connect.
When you click the information button next to a network, more
information about the network displays such as the signal strength,
connection status and security type.
The system alerts you when your vehicle is parked and a Wi-Fi
network is within range if SYNC is not already connected.
Wi-Fi Available
Notifications
Vehicle Hotspot (If Equipped)
You can access the following: Action and Description
Menu Item
Allows you to turn the hotspot on and off.
Wi-Fi Hotspot
On/Off
Allows you to view and edit hotspot settings such as the SSID and
password.
Settings
Allows you to view your vehicle's hotspot plan and data usage.
Data Usage
Allows you to manage devices connected to your hotspot.
Manage Devices
Note: The Vehicle Wi-Fi Hotspot (Vehicle
Hotspot) may be operational while ignition
is On and may remain operational while the
ignition is Off.
Note: Vehicle Hotspot services are provided
by the vehicle network carrier, subject to
your vehicle network carrier agreement,
coverage and availability. Note:
It is the account owner ’s
responsibility to remove the vehicle from
the vehicle network carrier account when
ownership of the vehicle is transferred. If the
owner would like to remove the vehicle from
the account for any reason, please contact
your vehicle network carrier for more
information.
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Explorer (TUB) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201711, Fourth-Printing SYNC™ 3

Note:
: Data, e.g. the Vehicle Identification
Number (VIN), SIM Card ID, and data plan
usage, is shared between Ford and the
vehicle network carrier to provide the
Vehicle Hotspot service in accordance with
your vehicle network carrier agreement,
coverage and availability, and may be used
to enable a seamless transition from an old
to new embedded modem and to confirm
any updates are successfully delivered.
Note: : For your convenience data usage
may be available for monitoring under
Settings but may not reflect actual or
current usage. The vehicle network carrier
is responsible for providing information
about your account. Please contact the
vehicle network carrier for more information.
Note: : Ford may need to update operating
system software on your vehicle, including
security updates and bug fixes, to keep
connected services current, like Vehicle
Hotspot, without prior notice to you.
Note: If you do not have an active vehicle
hotspot data plan, open your web browser
and go to a website using the HTTP protocol
to be automatically redirected to the vehicle
network carrier landing page where you can
purchase data. Websites using HTTPS will
not automatically redirect. Ambient Lighting (If Equipped)
Tap a color once to active ambient lighting.
This sets the color to the highest intensity.
You can drag the colors up and down to
increase or decrease the intensity.
To switch ambient lighting off, press the
active color once or drag the active color
all the way down to zero intensity.
Vehicle
Note: Your vehicle may not have all of
these features.
You can select the following features to
update their settings.
Door Keypad Code (If equipped)
Select this button to add or erase a
personal door keypad code. To add or
erase a personal code, you first need to
enter the five-digit factory set code. You
can find this code on the owner's wallet
card in the glove box or from your
authorized dealer.
Camera Settings
To make adjustments using the touchscreen, select: Action and Description
Message
Camera Settings
Then select from the following: When the reverse sensing system detects an object, it displays red,
yellow and green highlights at the top of the image.
Enhanced Park
Aids
You can enable or disable this option using the slider.
Rear Camera
Delay
You can find more information on the rear-view camera system in the parking aids chapter
of your owner manual.
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Explorer (TUB) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201711, Fourth-Printing SYNC™ 3

Onboard Modem Serial Number (ESN)
Selecting this button on the settings menu
shows you the ESN number for your
system. You need this number for certain
registrations such as Satellite Radio.
Display
To make adjustments using the touchscreen, select: Action and Description
Menu Item
Make the screen display brighter or dimmer.
Brightness
You can select:
Mode
The screen automatically switches between day and
night modes based on the outside light level.
Auto
The screen displays with a light background to enhance
daytime viewing.
Day
The screen displays with a darker background to make
nighttime viewing easier.
Night
The screen goes black and does not display anything.
To switch the screen back on, simply tap the screen.
Off
Enable this option to automatically dim the display brightness based
on ambient lighting conditions.
Auto Dim
Voice Control
You can adjust the voice control settings
by selecting the following options. Menu Item
Enable this option to remove additional voice prompts
and confirmations.
Advanced Mode
Enable this option to have the system confirm a contacts
name with you before making a call.
Phone Confirmation
Enable this option to have the system display a list of
available voice commands when the voice button is
pressed.
Voice Command List
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Valet Mode
Valet mode allows you to lock the system.
No information is accessible until the
system is unlocked with the correct PIN.
When you select valet mode a pop up
appears informing you that a four digit
code must be entered to enable and
disable valet mode. You can use any PIN
you chose but you must use the same PIN
to disable valet mode. The system asks
you to input the code.
Note:
If the system is locked and you
cannot remember the PIN, please contact
the Customer Relationship Center.
United States: 1-800-392-3673
Canada: 1-800-565-3673 To enable valet mode, enter your chosen
PIN. The system then asks to confirm your
PIN by reentering it. The system then locks.
To unlock the system, enter the same pin
number. The system reconnects to your
phone and all of your options are available
again.
SYNC™ 3 TROUBLESHOOTING
Your SYNC 3 system is easy to use.
However, should questions arise, please
refer to the tables below.
To check your cell phone's compatibility,
refer to the regional Ford or Lincoln
website.Cell phone issues
Possible solution
Possible cause
Issue
Refer to your device's manual about audio
adjustments.
The audio control
settings on your cell
phone may be affecting
SYNC 3 performance.
There is back-
ground noise
during a phone
call.
Try switching your cell phone off, resetting
it or removing the battery, then try again.
Possible cell phone
malfunction.
During a call, I
can hear the
other person
but they cannot
hear me.
Make sure that the microphone for SYNC
3 is not set to off. Look for the microphone
icon on the phone screen.
To restart your system, shut down the
engine, open and close the door, and then
lock the door and wait for 2-3 minutes.
Make sure that your SYNC 3 screen is black
and the lighted USB port is off.
The system may need to
be restarted.
During a call, I
cannot hear the
other person
and they cannot
hear me.
Check your cell phone's compatibility.
This is a cell phone-
dependent feature.
SYNC 3 is not
able to down-
load my phone-
book. Make sure you allow SYNC 3 to retrieve
contacts from your phone. Refer to your
cell manual.
Possible cell phone
malfunction.
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Explorer (TUB) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201711, Fourth-Printing SYNC™ 3

Cell phone issues
Possible solution
Possible cause
Issue
You must switch on your cell phone and
the automatic phonebook download
feature on SYNC 3.
Try switching your cell phone off, resetting
it or removing the battery, then try again.
Make sure you allow SYNC 3 to retrieve
contacts from your phone. Refer to your
cell manual.
Limitations on your cell
phone's capability.
The system
says "Phone-
book down-
loaded" but my
SYNC 3 phone-
book is empty or
is missing
contacts. If the missing contacts are stored on your
SIM card, move them to your cell phone's
memory.
You must switch on your cell phone and
the automatic phonebook download
feature on SYNC 3.
Check your cell phone's compatibility.
This is a cell phone-
dependent feature.
I am having
trouble
connecting my
cell phone to
SYNC 3. Try switching your cell phone off, resetting
it or removing the battery, then try again.
Possible cell phone
malfunction. Try deleting your device from SYNC 3 and
deleting SYNC from your device, then trying
again.
Always check the security and auto accept
prompt settings relative to the SYNC 3
Bluetooth connection on your cell phone.
Update your cell phone's firmware.
Switch the auto download setting off.
Check your cell phone's compatibility.
This is a cell phone-
dependent feature.
Text messaging
is not working
on SYNC 3. Try switching your cell phone off, resetting
it or removing the battery, then try again.
Possible cell phone
malfunction.
iPhone
•Go to your cell phone's Settings.
• Go to the Bluetooth Menu.
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Explorer (TUB) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201711, Fourth-Printing SYNC™ 3

Cell phone issues
Possible solution
Possible cause
Issue
•Press the blue circle to the right of the
device named with your vehicle make
and model to enter the next menu.
• Turn Show Notifications on.
• Disconnect then reconnect your iPhone
from the SYNC 3 system to activate this
settings update.
Your iPhone is now set up to forward
incoming text messages to SYNC 3.
Repeat these steps for every other SYNC 3
vehicle that you connect. Your iPhone will
only forward incoming text messages to
SYNC 3 if the iPhone is not unlocked in the
messaging application.
Replying to text messages using SYNC 3 is
not supported by iPhone.
Text messages from WhatsApp and Face-
book Messenger are not supported.
Your cell phone must support downloading
text messages through Bluetooth to receive
incoming text messages.
This is a cell phone-
dependent feature.
Audible text
messages do
not work on my
cell phone. Because each cell phone is different, refer
to your device's manual for the specific cell
phone you are pairing. In fact, there can be
differences between cell phones due to
brand, model, service provider and software
version.
This is a cell phone limita-
tion.
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Explorer (TUB) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201711, Fourth-Printing SYNC™ 3

USB and Bluetooth Stereo issues
Possible solution
Possible cause
Issue
Disconnect the device from SYNC 3. Try
switching your device off, resetting it or
removing the battery, then reconnect it to
SYNC 3.
Possible device malfunc-
tion.
I am having
trouble
connecting my
device. Make sure you are using the manufacturer's
cable.
Make sure to correctly insert the USB cable
into the device and your vehicle's USB port.
Make sure that the device does not have
an auto-install program or active security
settings.
Make sure your device is unlocked before
connecting it to SYNC 3.
The device has a lock
screen enabled.
Make sure you are not leaving the device in
your vehicle during very hot or cold
temperatures.
This is a device limitation.
SYNC 3 does
not recognize
my device when
I start my
vehicle.
Make sure you connect the device to SYNC
3 and that you have started the media
player on your device.
This is a device-
dependent feature.
Bluetooth audio
does not
stream. The device is not
connected.
Try switching your device off, resetting it or
removing the battery, then reconnect it to
SYNC 3.
The device is in a bad
state.
Make sure that all song details are popu-
lated.
Your music files may not
contain the correct artist,
song title, album or genre
information.
SYNC 3 does
not recognize
music that is on
my device. Try replacing the corrupt file with a new
version.
The file may be
corrupted.
Some devices require you to change the
USB settings from mass storage to media
transfer protocol class.
The song may have
copyright protection that
does not allow it to play.
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Explorer (TUB) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201711, Fourth-Printing SYNC™ 3

USB and Bluetooth Stereo issues
Possible solution
Possible cause
Issue
Convert the file to a supported format. See
Entertainment (page 437).
The file format is not
supported by SYNC 3.
Update media index. See
Settings (page
467).
The device needs to be
re-indexed.
Make sure your device is unlocked before
connecting it to SYNC 3.
The device has a lock
screen enabled.
Disconnect the device from SYNC 3. Try
switching your device off, resetting it or
removing the battery, then connect it back
to SYNC 3.
This is a device limitation.
When I connect
my device, I
sometimes do
not hear any
sound. To listen to Apple devices through USB,
select AirPlay from the devices Control
Center, then select Dock Connector.
To listen to Apple devices through
Bluetooth Stereo, select AirPlay from the
devices Control Center, then select SYNC.
Connect a compatible device or media
player.
The device or media
player is incompatible.
SYNC 3 does
not display the
song informa-
tion, repeat, or
shuffle buttons. Wi-Fi Issues
Possible solution
Possible cause
Issue
Verify password.
Password error.
Failed connec-
tion.
Check for a poor Wi-Fi signal.
Weak signal.
Use a unique name for your SSID, don ’t use
the default name unless it contains a
unique identifier, such as part of the MAC
address.
Multiple Access points
within range with the
same SSID.
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Explorer (TUB) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201711, Fourth-Printing SYNC™ 3

Wi-Fi Issues
Possible solution
Possible cause
Issue
Position the vehicle close to the hotspot
with the front of the vehicle facing the
hotspot direction and remove obstacles if
possible. Other Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, microwave
and cordless phones may cause interfer-
ence.
Weak signal probably
due to distance from the
hotspot, obstruction or
high interference.
Disconnecting
after successful
connection.
If the vehicle is equipped with heated
windshield, try positioning the vehicle so
that the windshield is not facing the
hotspot. If you have metallic window tinting
but not on the windshield, position the
vehicle to face the hotspot. If all windows
are tinted, you can open the windows in the
direction of the hotspot if that is feasible.
There may be an
obstruction between
SYNC 3 and the hotspot.
Poor signal seen
by SYNC 3
despite being
near a hotspot.
Try to remove other obstructions that may
impact signal quality such as opening the
garage door.
Please set the network to visible and try
again.
The hotspot was defined
as a hidden network.
A hotspot is not
listed in the list
of available
networks.
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Explorer (TUB) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201711, Fourth-Printing SYNC™ 3

Wi-Fi Issues
Possible solution
Possible cause
Issue
SYNC 3 currently does not provide a
hotspot.
SYNC 3 does not
currently provide a
hotspot.
SYNC 3 is not
seen when
searching for
Wi-Fi networks
from your phone
or other devices.
Check the signal quality (under network
details), if SYNC 3 indicates good or excel-
lent, test with another high-speed equipped
hotspot where the environment is more
predictable.
Poor signal strength, too
far from the hotspot,
hotspot is supporting
multiple connections,
slow Internet connection
or other problems.
Software down-
load takes too
long.
Test the connection with another device, if
the hotspot requires a subscription, you
may contact the service provider.
It is possible that there is
no new software. The
connected hotspot may
be a managed one and it
requires either a
subscription or agreeing
to the terms and condi-
tions.
SYNC 3 seems
to connect with
a hotspot and
the signal
strength is
excellent but
the software is
not being
updated.
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