Need help with voice texting, please

[Setec641A]

First issue with the new Jeep, WOOHOO, LOL!
Base info: 2025 JTR. Samsung Z-Fold 5, running latest updates / UI and software version.
I am always running Android Auto. When I push the voice button on the left of steering wheel to send a text, instead of connecting to my phone, it defaults to UConnect and I can only send a preset message. My wife had this issue with her 2018 JLUS when she first got it, but she said that she had to "Disable UConnect", and it's been working perfectly since, with her iPhone 14 (I think...?). I'm not seeing an option for that, or a way to do it. YouTube doesn't have an answer, either. Thank you for any info, you're able to provide!

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[rharr]

skip all that, it's now out dated and just use the gemini AI to do what ever task you want.. "hey google send a text to mike" stuff. that will skip all the pre made jeep crap.

The AI agent is now always listening so you just have to shout hey google

 

[Setec641A]

skip all that, it's now out dated and just use the gemini AI to do what ever task you want.. "hey google send a text to mike" stuff. that will skip all the pre made jeep crap.

The AI agent is now always listening so you just have to shout hey google

I don't use Gemini, and don't want to start another account. I just want it to work through my phone, like it did before. When I had my F150, I had to hard connect the phone to the truck, because no wireless connection in 2018. It worked seamlessly, and Google would pick up and do whatever I needed it to, when I pressed the voice button. I ASSumed, the Jeep would do the same, just wirelessly.

 

[ShrimpHappens]

I've got a different version of UConnect than you, but on mine, a simple press of the voice button on the wheel activates the UConnect stuff while a long press activates Android Auto stuff.

 

[Setec641A]

I've got a different version of UConnect than you, but on mine, a simple press of the voice button on the wheel activates the UConnect stuff while a long press activates Android Auto stuff.

A long press? I haven't tried that, but I will! Thank you!

 

[aaron725]

First issue with the new Jeep, WOOHOO, LOL!
Base info: 2025 JTR. Samsung Z-Fold 5, running latest updates / UI and software version.
I am always running Android Auto. When I push the voice button on the left of steering wheel to send a text, instead of connecting to my phone, it defaults to UConnect and I can only send a preset message. My wife had this issue with her 2018 JLUS when she first got it, but she said that she had to "Disable UConnect", and it's been working perfectly since, with her iPhone 14 (I think...?). I'm not seeing an option for that, or a way to do it. YouTube doesn't have an answer, either. Thank you for any info, you're able to provide!

I have never got the steering wheel mounted buttons to work with android auto. I just hit the mic button on the screen and do talk to txt that way. Ive found that the android auto in the Jeep is not seamless to say the least.

 

[WambliSka]

Don't mean to start an Apple vs. Android war and not very helpful to the OP but "Hey Siri" works like a champ with phone, emails, texts, and even Amazon Music with no buttons needed. That's difference between a tightly controlled development ecosystem of Apple CarPlay and an open source platform, and something to think about for folks buying a new truck/phone.

 

[SummertimeCarl]

I don't have a solution or troubleshooting step but wanted you to know...

I'm an Android Auto user (Galaxy S24 Ultra) with a 2025 High Tide and I've never experienced your issue. The steering controls work just fine for me. I have never tried a long press or anything fancy.

My only complaint is that you gotta rush-speak your text message or it will assume you're done after every sentence. Maybe it's my slow southern drawl.

No troubleshooting tips since it's always worked fine for me. Just wanted to give you some hope is all.

 

[ChrisNLA]

I've never pressed a button - but if I say anything that sounds too close to 'Hey Google', my phone cuts the music and listens. So - I guess it's that easy, lol.

FWIW I haven't used talk to text while driving so I can't speak fluently to all the ins and outs. I just use driving in general as an excuse to not talk to or reply to anyone

 

[WambliSka]

I've never pressed a button - but if I say anything that sounds too close to 'Hey Google', my phone cuts the music and listens. So - I guess it's that easy, lol.

FWIW I haven't used talk to text while driving so I can't speak fluently to all the ins and outs. I just use driving in general as an excuse to not talk to or reply to anyone

My biggest issue is during casual conversations with my wife the Jeeps speech recognition system wakes up, stops my music and starts asking me questions. That's annoying and I need to turn it off, or start experimenting with it when I have some time to see if it's any good.

 

[ChrisNLA]

My biggest issue is during casual conversations with my wife the Jeeps speech recognition system wakes up, stops my music and starts asking me questions. That's annoying and I need to turn it off, or start experimenting with it when I have some time to see if it's any good.

Yea, it does that to me on occasion, then I'm like SHUTUP GOOGLE, GOSH.

But, it doesn't happen enough for me to dig into it.

Wonder if I could program a new word. Like I yell SHAZAM and Google listens then. Wouldn't that be wild

 

[WambliSka]

On an associated topic, as a trend Car manufacturers are getting away relatively soon from both Apple and Google support because they finally figured out that the Tesla model is much better, again, based on a tightly controlled development ecosystem. On top of that Google entrenched themselves into the data transmission process and dealing with the most arrogant company on earth is no fun for anyone so everyone is walking away from that model as fast as they can.

on top of that, it is basically impossible to continue developing advanced features and tightly integrate, as ONE example, apps like Waze to a car's self drive system so that has to go away to speed up new functionality. The trend is them negotiating bulk data deals with network operators all over the world so they control all data and transmission performance/quality in and out of the head unit themselves. As an interim step you have probably noticed that most new cars have the ability of turning on a wi-fi "hot-spot" inside your car just like your house. It's called Internet in the Car and we've had that ability/function for over 10 years.

Last point, in general Cars are the biggest growing data user in the world and the growth trends are amazing.

 

[ChrisNLA]

On an associated topic, as a trend Car manufacturers are getting away relatively soon from both Apple and Google support because they finally figured out that the Tesla model is much better, again, based on a tightly controlled development ecosystem. On top of that Google entrenched themselves into the data transmission process and dealing with the most arrogant company on earth is no fun for anyone so everyone is walking away from that model as fast as they can.

It might be better for the manufacturer. Customer, not as much.

Personally, I have enjoyed that in my 2015 Camaro I was able to toss the factory nav radio straight in the dumpster and replace it with a Sony touch screen with Android Auto.

Same in my 2016 JK that I had.

And now my '22 Gladiator has Android Auto. And all three vehicles work exactly the same. Well, the JK doesn't I guess. I stole that radio and put it in the Camaro when I sold the JK, lol.

That would be too easy, though.

Now we'll have junk that they'll stop updating at some point and just won't work right.

Just my opinion, though.

 

[WambliSka]

It might be better for the manufacturer. Customer, not as much.

Personally, I have enjoyed that in my 2015 Camaro I was able to toss the factory nav radio straight in the dumpster and replace it with a Sony touch screen with Android Auto.

Same in my 2016 JK that I had.

And now my '22 Gladiator has Android Auto. And all three vehicles work exactly the same. Well, the JK doesn't I guess. I stole that radio and put it in the Camaro when I sold the JK, lol.

That would be too easy, though.

Now we'll have junk that they'll stop updating at some point and just won't work right.

Just my opinion, though.

We already have junk all over that has a limited lifespan because of upgrades and updates. I have BOXES of old phones, bluetooth devices, headsets, speakers etc... I don't buy any "connected" device expecting to get more that a year or two of service anymore. Even the most basic stuff, I just threw out a buttload of old cellphone chargers because I now have "fast chargers" everywhere in my house and cars.

Apple and Android have done an amazing job of putting us in a frame of mind that makes their devices the main tool of our lives. I absolutely get that, and I'm not ready to dump my iPhoneS (I have a personal and work one) anytime soon because I could not have the ice I have and survive without that technology. But as consumers we are ready to dump our current phones for the next gen device as soon as the new model is out, BUT we expect to drive our cars for years, and for some folks the means a 3 year lease and for others it's a 10-20 year proposition, and we expect everything "electronics" to work as well as the day it left the factory even though that ecosystem changes basically daily.

The car manufacturers know this and they sweat it every day because as one industry senior executive said to me, "When apps stops working on a $170,000 V-Series Escalade and the connectivity craps out, the consumer does not blame the phone, mobile carrier or even the "radio", they immediately think my $170,000 car is a piece of junk.". I can tell you that even in this conversation no one is considering that there are hundreds of Android phone models and generations out there, running a myriad of Android versions (some folks actively avoid updates on their devices) trying to connect to all sorts of cell networks in variations of 3G, 4G and several versions of 5G, with crazy variations of signal strength and spectrum, and at the end of the day out of millions of variables the most likely the problem is in that cesspool of inconsistencies, not UConnect. So very likely what works for one person might do nothing as a fix for another and I know that car OEMs keep a list of "phones" that they know are problem children when it comes to connections to their head units, but there is nothing they can do about it because they do not control the devices or the software they and the user runs.

Actually from a completely objective perspective, and I'm not trying to be contentious here just as factual as possible, have you taken a ride in a new Tesla with the full feature tech package including the hands free self drive? My daughter has a Y and a Truck and they are nothing short of impressive. Basically just get into the truck, type in your specific destination (a restaurant as an example) and just go along for the ride in hands free mode with I believe 5 different driving modes from grandma to aggressive and a programmable how fast over the speed limit will you let me go. The truck actually even picks a parking spot for you and parks EXACTLY in the middle of the spot. When you leave the restaurant the darn thing will get out of the parking spot and come to the door and pick you up. This used to be showmanship in a couple of high end brands a few years ago and Elon's Tesla has made it a reality. Again in a closed strictly controlled development environment. No google or Apple need apply. Their mapping system and display puts Waze to shame!!!

As a driving enthusiast I'm not ready to adopt this mode, and I'm sure I'm not alone, l but as an aging American I'm glad it's out there and will be even better when I actually NEED it. And to the newer generations like my daughter and my grandchildren this will be their way of life as far as transportation goes, so they are the target audience, not most of us here. In time they will look at our vehicle preferences the way we look at typewriters and CD players.

Anyway, derail over

 

[ChrisNLA]

We already have junk all over that has a limited lifespan because of upgrades and updates. I have BOXES of old phones, bluetooth devices, headsets, speakers etc... I don't buy any "connected" device expecting to get more that a year or two of service anymore. Even the most basic stuff, I just threw out a buttload of old cellphone chargers because I now have "fast chargers" everywhere in my house and cars.

Apple and Android have done an amazing job of putting us in a frame of mind that makes their devices the main tool of our lives. I absolutely get that, and I'm not ready to dump my iPhoneS (I have a personal and work one) anytime soon because I could not have the ice I have and survive without that technology. But as consumers we are ready to dump our current phones for the next gen device as soon as the new model is out, BUT we expect to drive our cars for years, and for some folks the means a 3 year lease and for others it's a 10-20 year proposition, and we expect everything "electronics" to work as well as the day it left the factory even though that ecosystem changes basically daily.

The car manufacturers know this and they sweat it every day because as one industry senior executive said to me, "When apps stops working on a $170,000 V-Series Escalade and the connectivity craps out, the consumer does not blame the phone, mobile carrier or even the "radio", they immediately think my $170,000 car is a piece of junk.". I can tell you that even in this conversation no one is considering that there are hundreds of Android phone models and generations out there, running a myriad of Android versions (some folks actively avoid updates on their devices) trying to connect to all sorts of cell networks in variations of 3G, 4G and several versions of 5G, with crazy variations of signal strength and spectrum, and at the end of the day out of millions of variables the most likely the problem is in that cesspool of inconsistencies, not UConnect. So very likely what works for one person might do nothing as a fix for another.

Actually from a completely objective perspective, and I'm not trying to be contentious here just as factual as possible, have you taken a ride in a new Tesla with the full feature tech package including the hands free self drive? My daughter has a Y and a Truck and they are nothing short of impressive. Basically just get into the truck, type in your specific destination (a restaurant as an example) and just go along for the ride in hands free mode with I believe 5 different driving modes from grandma to aggressive and a programmable how fast over the speed limit will you let me go. The truck actually even picks a parking spot for you and parks EXACTLY in the middle of the spot. When you leave the restaurant the darn thing will get out of the parking spot and come to the door and pick you up. This used to be showmanship in a couple of high end brands a few years ago and Elon's Tesla has made it a reality. Again in a closed strictly controlled development environment. No google or Apple need apply. Their mapping system and display puts Waze to shame!!!

As a driving enthusiast I'm not ready to adopt this mode, and I'm sure I'm not alone, l but as an aging American I'm glad it's out there and will be even better when I actually NEED it. And to the newer generations like my daughter and my grandchildren this will be their way of life as far as transportation goes, so they are the target audience, not most of us here. In time they will look at our vehicle preferences the way we look at typewriters and CD players.

Anyway, derail over

I was typing out a longer reply, but I'll skip it for a condensed version.

Haven't drove a Tesla, haven't even sat it one. Not in the market, I am sure the tech is amazing (I do mean that).

I like what I like, and I know that its not always in line with big car manufacturers, or a lot of other things for that matter. That's fine. What manufacturers do make sense for them. I know. I work for one.

So I adapt to fit my needs / desires now, not what they are trying to accomplish now for the future.

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