A few years ago I broke down after living car-free in the city and bought a 2019 Volkswagen Jetta. I’ve had no issues with this vehicle. It was affordable, it’s comfortable and gets amazing gas mileage on the highway! It also has some pretty great convenience features for an affordable compact, including a console display compatible with Android and iPhone devices.
Well, in theory it’s compatible with Android devices. However, I had major issues even getting it set up to begin with, and then constant issues with the Android Auto and Samsung Connect apps crashing during use. This is super annoying when you’re driving and listening to Spotify and displaying Google Maps on the console, especially during long road trips to unfamiliar areas!
At the end of 2020, I converted over to an iPhone. I’d been a loyal Android user since I first got a smart phone back in 2009 with a Motorola Droid X. My Samsung Galaxy device was still working fine (except for Samsung Connect in the car!), but T-Mobile had an irresistible family deal, and since the rest of my family was already on the iPhone train, I hopped on as well.
Apple CarPlay and the Volkswagen Jetta
I will say this – the iPhone and CarPlay worked with my Volkswagen Jetta immediately, and then never had any issues for the next seven months. It was a pretty basic plug and play setup. I was cruising with convenience, with Spotify and Google Maps displaying with ease on the console.
Until one day, it just stopped working.
Volkswagen Jetta iPhone Error: No Playable Files Available
Suddenly, when I plugged in my iPhone to the car’s USB port, I would see a quick message indicating “reading USB device” and then an error: “No playable files available.” Then the screen would switch back to “insert a USB device,” even though there was clearly one plugged in.
Here are the basic troubleshooting steps for this error:
Restart iPhone
Hello IT, have you tried turning off and on again? This is the number one thing to try first on pretty much any system issue with a mobile device or computer. Just turn it off and back on again. If this does not work, move on.
Try a different cable
Your cable could just be worn out. Try another one – but be sure to use an Apple or Apple compatible USB data cable. If another cable gets the same error, you can eliminate this as your issue. If your device works with another cable and not the original, the original is your issue.
Connect your iPhone to a MacBook or Computer with the USB cable
If you can connect your iPhone to a MacBook or computer with the USB cable and your MacBook or computer reads the device and can transfer data, you can eliminate the cable and the iPhone’s lightning port as an issue. If your MacBook or computer cannot read the device and/or transfer data, your iPhone’s lightning port could be the issue.
Ensure the car can play iTunes files via USB
This is just a failsafe way to completely eliminate the cable, lightning port, car’s USB port and the iPhone’s OS. On your Jetta’s console, go to Phone > Source > USB; if your car can see and play your downloaded iTunes files, your cable, lightning port, car’s USB port and the iPhone are working fine.
Ensure your car shows up under iPhone CarPlay
On your iPhone, go to Settings > General > CarPlay. If your car is still listed here, and you still can’t connect, select the car, and then select Forget This Car. From here, start the connection process over by unplugging and plugging the USB cable back into the car.
If your car was not listed here, or if it is listed and you are still having issues, congrats! You are where I was before I discovered the issue!
RESOLVED: No Playable Files Available Error on Volkswagen Jetta with iPhone CarPlay
Suddenly, I noticed one key issue:
The CarPlay icon no longer shows on the Volkswagen Jetta’s App-Connect screen
When I hit the App button on the Jetta’s console, I noticed that the CarPlay icon was no longer there. Here’s how I fixed that, which resolved the issue:
1). Unplug the iPhone from the car’s USB port
2). On the iPhone, go to Settings > General > CarPlay
3). Select the car
4). Select Forget This Car
5). On the Volkswagen Jetta’s console screen, go to Settings > Factory Settings > App-Connect
6). When prompted, select Reset. This will restore the App-Connect component ONLY to the vehicle’s original factory setting.
7). Once the reset has completed, press the App button on your car’s console. You should now see Apple CarPlay as one of the compatible options again!
8). Plug your iPhone back into the USB port of the car and go through the first time setup of Apple CarPlay.
Hopefully these troubleshooting steps can help you resolve the issue of the iPhone no longer working in a Volkswagen Jetta with Apple CarPlay!
