When GMC IntelliLink Bluetooth is not working, the phone and vehicle are not completing a clean Bluetooth connection. Start with the basic pairing path, then clear old connections and check the phone settings that control calls, music, and projection.
GMC now calls current systems the GMC Infotainment System, while older model-year GMC manuals use the IntelliLink name. The fixes below use GMC’s current Bluetooth, Phone, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto menus.
Start with Bluetooth on both screens
Open your phone’s Settings, go to Bluetooth, and turn Bluetooth on. Keep the Bluetooth screen open so the phone stays discoverable while you pair.
On the GMC center display, open Settings, choose Bluetooth, and turn Bluetooth on. If either side is off, the phone and vehicle will not find each other.
Use the center display path Settings > Bluetooth > Pair New Device. Follow the on-screen prompts, confirm the same pairing code on both screens, then test the connection with a phone call or music.
Pair from the Phone screen
Some GMC systems put the cleanest pairing path on the Phone screen. Turn the vehicle on, keep it in Park, then open your phone’s Settings > Bluetooth and leave Bluetooth on.
On the center display, tap the Phone icon and choose the option shown on your vehicle: Add Phone, Pair Device, Connect Phone, or +. Select the vehicle on your phone, confirm the matching code, and tap Pair on the GMC screen.
When the phone asks about contacts or messages, allow access if you want contact-name calling, contact downloads, or message features. If this method fails, use Phone > Manage Phones > +, or short-press the steering-wheel Push-to-Talk button and say Pair Phone after the tone.
Fix a connection that keeps dropping
When a phone loses its Bluetooth link to the vehicle, GMC recommends checking range first, then restarting both devices, then deleting and re-pairing the phone.
Keep the phone close to the GMC center display area and remove obvious obstructions between the phone and the vehicle. Reconnect from the Bluetooth device list.
Turn the vehicle off, then turn the phone off. Turn both devices back on and test Bluetooth again.
On GMC vehicles that need a fuller infotainment reset, open the door after turning the vehicle off. Restart the vehicle and reconnect the phone.
Delete the old pairing and pair again
Turn the vehicle on.
Open the center display Bluetooth Settings menu.
Select your phone’s device name, choose Delete, and confirm that the phone is removed from the paired-device list.
On the phone, open Settings > Bluetooth, select the GMC vehicle name, then choose Forget This Device or Forget device.
Return to the GMC Bluetooth menu, choose Pair New Device, follow the prompts, and confirm the matching code on both screens.
Clear unused saved phones from the vehicle so the correct phone is easier to reconnect.
Restore call and music audio on Android
If your Android phone pairs but calls do not come through the GMC system, open Settings > Connected devices > Bluetooth > Saved devices, tap Settings next to the car name, and turn on Phone audio. On Android menus that skip a label, start from Connected devices and open the car’s settings page.
If calls work but music does not play through the stereo, use the same car settings page and turn on Media audio. On Samsung Galaxy phones, open Settings > Connections > Bluetooth, select the vehicle, and turn on Media audio.
For stubborn Android pairing problems, forget old Bluetooth devices on the phone, clear old phones from the car’s memory, and pair again. On Pixel and stock-like Android phones, Settings > System > Reset options > Reset Bluetooth and Wi-Fi > Reset settings removes saved Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connection data, so reconnect Wi-Fi and pair the GMC again afterward.
Reset the iPhone Bluetooth link
If your iPhone still shows the GMC as a saved device but will not connect cleanly, reset the Bluetooth link with these steps.
Restart the iPhone, then open Settings > Bluetooth. Turn Bluetooth off, wait about five seconds, turn it back on, and pair again from the GMC display.
To remove the old connection, open Settings > Bluetooth, tap the Info button next to the GMC vehicle, choose Forget This Device, and confirm with Forget Device. Put the vehicle back in pairing mode and reconnect.
If several phones have been connected to the vehicle, rename your iPhone under Settings > General > About > Name, then connect again. For a deeper iPhone reset, use Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings, then pair the GMC connection again.
Check CarPlay and Android Auto settings
Use this section when Bluetooth pairs, but wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, or phone projection does not start on the GMC screen. Wireless projection depends on Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and the phone settings that allow the feature to launch.
For wireless Apple CarPlay, open iPhone Settings > Bluetooth and turn Bluetooth on. Then open Settings > Wi-Fi, tap the CarPlay network, and turn on Auto-Join.
On the GMC display, open Settings and enable Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Make sure Siri is on. On current iOS versions, open Settings > Siri, shown as Apple Intelligence & Siri on some iPhones. On iOS 17 and earlier, use Settings > Siri & Search.
If CarPlay is blocked, open Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Allowed Apps and turn on CarPlay. For Android Auto, keep Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Location Services on, then open GMC Settings and make sure Android Auto is enabled.
Update the phone and GMC software
Update your phone software.
Retry Bluetooth pairing or reconnecting.
On eligible GMC vehicles, open the center display update menu. Depending on the vehicle, use Settings > Updates > Check for Updates, Settings > System > Vehicle Software > Updates, or Settings > Software Information > System Update.
Follow the prompts to download and install the update.
Keep the vehicle in Park and leave it unavailable to drive until installation is finished.
If the update is unavailable, was declined, errors out, or does not resolve the issue after a few drive cycles, contact a servicing GMC dealer and ask for applicable vehicle software updates.
To start most updates, the vehicle asks you to put it in Park and turn off the engine or vehicle. The center display can stay on during installation, and one or more system resets are normal.
Skip old IntelliLink button paths
Older IntelliLink instructions can fail on newer vehicles because they describe buttons and menu names that current GMC systems do not use.
Older guides mention the physical CONFIG or Phone button, the MENU knob, Phone Settings, Pair Device (Phone), or HOME > Phone > Search Device. Do not use those as the current fix unless your exact owner’s manual shows that menu.
Use GMC’s current paths instead: Phone options such as Add Phone, Pair Device, Connect Phone, and +, plus Settings > Bluetooth > Pair New Device and the voice command Pair Phone.
If your phone is managed by work or school, device policy can block changes to Bluetooth settings or stop work contacts from being shared with the car. On iPhone, check Settings > General > VPN & Device Management; on Android, ask your administrator to review Bluetooth and contact-sharing restrictions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my GMC pair but not play music?
On Android, the car can be paired for calls only. Open the Bluetooth settings for the GMC device and turn on Media audio.
Why do contacts not show after pairing?
Contact access may have been declined during pairing. On iPhone, open Settings > Bluetooth, tap the Info button next to the GMC, turn on Sync Contacts and Show Notifications, then disconnect and reconnect. If contacts still do not appear, forget the vehicle on the phone, delete the phone from the GMC system, pair again, and allow contacts or messages when prompted.
Does resetting network settings erase my phone?
No. It resets settings, not your apps, photos, or messages. On iPhone, Reset Network Settings removes saved Wi-Fi networks and network settings and renames the phone to iPhone, so reconnect to Wi-Fi and pair the GMC again. On Android, Reset Bluetooth and Wi-Fi resets both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi settings, so reconnect Wi-Fi and pair the GMC again.
Should I use old CONFIG or MENU button instructions?
Use them only when your exact older vehicle manual shows those controls. Current GMC support paths use Settings > Bluetooth > Pair New Device, Phone screen pairing options, or the Pair Phone voice command.