mauser69 Posted August 18 Share Posted August 18 (edited) I just moved up from a 2020 Ford Escape to a 2026 Lincoln Nautilus, and I am appalled that you have removed any and ALL ability to use Voice Commands for hands-free interaction with media files (music) through the infotainment system. NOTHING is available for voice control with media files stored on a USB memory device, nor any media files stored on a phone and accessed locally through any app via Android Auto. This problem is especially egregious when I note that the Sync3 system in my 2020 Ford allowed hands-free control of all media perfectly, and now you have removed it from your "Luxury" brand????? You have also taken away all knobs and buttons to use when interacting with the music system, thus forcing the driver to divert all attention from the road just to try and find/use the disgusting little touchscreen controls. Shame on me for not properly testing this before I bought this crippled car - had I know of this massive safety problem, I would NOT have given you my business. But I couldn't imagine that you would REMOVE critical safety features on newer models. You MUST be able to see what a HUGE safety problem this is, so why did you do it?. Edited August 18 by mauser69 clarification of specific model 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted August 18 Share Posted August 18 Not true at all. Do a short press of the voice button to access native sync voice commands or a long press to access your phone assistant (siri or google) while using carplay or android auto. Operator error. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mauser69 Posted August 18 Author Share Posted August 18 (edited) Absolutely not so on my 2026 Nautilus. Responder error. I just spent 2 hours with the dealership today having them struggle to find any way at all to use voice commands with media files. It seems it is currently impossible to use voice commands to play any music except streaming. "Native" sync voice commands, as we used with Sync3 and Sync4 on older and much more advanced Ford vehicles is completely gone. If you try those voice commands on a current crippled Lincoln, the stupid vehicle simply responds that it does not understand, or, occasionally, says you have to install the YTMusic app (which ALSO does not work). The dealer did mention that the Sync4 was still in the Corsair, but not the Nautilus. I have no idea what is in the bigger boat; I should have been more specific. Edited August 18 by mauser69 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted August 19 Share Posted August 19 The native sync commands don't work with AA enabled. You have to hold the voive button for a few seconds then use the same voice control you use with the phone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted August 19 Share Posted August 19 To enable voice commands on Android Auto, open your phone's Settings, go to Connected devices (or Google settings depending on your device), select Android Auto, tap "Hey Google" detection, and turn on the toggle to allow hands-free voice activation while driving. WIRED +1 Steps to Enable Voice Activation Open your phone Settings. Select Connected devices or search directly for Android Auto. Tap Android Auto to open its specific preference menu. Scroll down and select "Hey Google" detection. Toggle the switch on for "Hey Google" while driving. Complete any voice training prompts if your phone asks you to re-verify your voice sample. WIRED +1 Alternative Ways to Trigger Voice Commands Steering Wheel Button: Press and hold your car's physical talk/voice command button on the steering wheel until you hear an audio prompt, then speak. Touch Screen: Tap the microphone icon on your Android Auto display interface to initiate listening mode manually. YouTube·Northside Lexus +2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mauser69 Posted August 19 Author Share Posted August 19 You REALLY need to go find a 2026 Lincoln Nautilus before you keep trying to tell me what to do. This is not about how to enable voice commands. The ONLY subject here is if voice commands can be used to play or list local media files from either a phone or USB stick. According to all of my testing, AND my dealer, they CANNOT! With Android Auto disabled, any voice command to play anything results is the car responding that it cannot be done without You Tube Music installed (which does not work even if it is installed). Any voice command to show or list any music results in the car saying it does not understand. If you can actually make this work on a REAL 2026 Nautilus, then I would love to see your specific instructions. Otherwise, please quit trying to talk about something you do not understand. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texasota Posted August 19 Share Posted August 19 Isn’t the 2026 Nautilus on the Google based Ford Digital Experience (not Sync 4)? I think I read something about what the OP is stating being true. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twintornados Posted August 20 Share Posted August 20 18 hours ago, mauser69 said: You REALLY need to go find a 2026 Lincoln Nautilus before you keep trying to tell me what to do. This is not about how to enable voice commands. The ONLY subject here is if voice commands can be used to play or list local media files from either a phone or USB stick. According to all of my testing, AND my dealer, they CANNOT! With Android Auto disabled, any voice command to play anything results is the car responding that it cannot be done without You Tube Music installed (which does not work even if it is installed). Any voice command to show or list any music results in the car saying it does not understand. If you can actually make this work on a REAL 2026 Nautilus, then I would love to see your specific instructions. Otherwise, please quit trying to talk about something you do not understand. Rude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherminator98 Posted August 20 Share Posted August 20 19 hours ago, mauser69 said: With Android Auto disabled, any voice command to play anything results is the car responding that it cannot be done without You Tube Music installed (which does not work even if it is installed). Any voice command to show or list any music results in the car saying it does not understand. So you want to disable a key component of the system to work properly for what reason? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flying68 Posted August 20 Share Posted August 20 1 hour ago, Sherminator98 said: So you want to disable a key component of the system to work properly for what reason? Just to clarify, Android Auto is separate from the Google based digital experience. I don't have to enable Android auto in our 24 Nautilus and the car is perfectly happy. I believe what the OP is having an issue with, and although I haven't tried it myself, is that the digital experience probably does not have a built in media player, thus why it keeps asking for YouTube Music to be installed. It might also work with another compatible media player. The built in voice commands are not necessarily the same on the 24+ Nautilus and other new vehicles with this system. I haven't played with it, as it is my wife's daily, I just drive on road trips and for service. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherminator98 Posted August 20 Share Posted August 20 (edited) 1 hour ago, Flying68 said: Just to clarify, Android Auto is separate from the Google based digital experience. I don't have to enable Android auto in our 24 Nautilus and the car is perfectly happy. I believe what the OP is having an issue with, and although I haven't tried it myself, is that the digital experience probably does not have a built in media player, thus why it keeps asking for YouTube Music to be installed. It might also work with another compatible media player. The built in voice commands are not necessarily the same on the 24+ Nautilus and other new vehicles with this system. I haven't played with it, as it is my wife's daily, I just drive on road trips and for service. Right but I'm also thinking from what I've seen that you NEED an internet connection of some sort (via your phone or the 5G modem on board) for it work properly. I pulled up the owners manual for the Nautilus and everything was prefaced by entering your google account or attaching a phone to it, which would require some sort of internet connection. Given the fact that 98% or more of drivers have a cell phone, I don't think this should be an issue. from here: https://www.ford.com/support/how-tos/ford-technology/ford-digital-experience/how-do-i-use-voice-assistants-with-ford-digital-experience/ Quote Ensure You’re Connected While some functionality exists even without a data connection, your best experience is when you’re connected. We help with that by providing a year of complimentary Ford Premium Connectivity with the purchase of your 2025 Ford Explorer® SUV. You’ll also receive three-year complimentary trial of Alexa Built-in.31 You also have the ability to connect via other methods, such as Wi-Fi®. So basically the OP is kneecapping the system because they don't want have a cell phone connected to it, I'm assuming. Edited August 20 by Sherminator98 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mauser69 Posted August 23 Author Share Posted August 23 On 8/20/2026 at 9:50 AM, Sherminator98 said: So basically the OP is kneecapping the system because they don't want have a cell phone connected to it, I'm assuming. No, that is wrong. My phone is connected just fine. I simply have no desire to stream media, as I have all my own music already (and I also live in a very remote area where constant internet connection just does not work). I have media files on my phone, and I also have media files on a USB stick. All media files play fine with or without Android Auto. BUT NOT FROM ANY VOICE COMMAND! My voice commands work fine for NAV and phone, so I obviously have them enabled. The problem, as I have stated many times, is that THERE IS NO VOICE COMMAND THAT WILL WORK TO PLAY LOCAL MEDIA FILES, WHETHER WITH ANDROID AUTO ENABLED OR WITH IT DISABLED (and just using whatever default player is in the car). The voice commands in the 2026 nautilus do NOT appear to work with ANY MEDIA PLAYER (I have tried 5 players), including ones that are shown in Google play store as compatible with Android Auto. The only exception is YTMusic, and that garbage app does not show any local media files from any source (even though it is SUPPOSED to have that capabilty). In my testing I have even copied media files directly to the car's internal storage AND installed YTMusic on both my phone and directly to the car's system so that it can play even without using Android Auto. Part of my testing was to disable Android Auto in an attempt to get the native voice commands to work with the USB files. THEY DO NOT. I assume a 2024 Nautilus has the same Sync system my 2020 Escape has, and THAT SYSTEM works perfectly with voice commands to play media. BUT the 2026 Nautilus DOES NOT HAVE THAT SYSTEM! My dealer tells me it was removed when they introduced the full panoramic dash display. I do not know what year that was, or even if that statement is true. But I DO KNOW that my 2026 Nautilus DOES NOT HAVE THAT CAPABILITY! If you have not actually tested a 2026 Nautilus, you CANNOT assume it works like any older Ford vehicle. I have even attached a detailed transcription from one of my testing sessions that proves exactly what this brain-dead car responds with every attempt to use voice commands. 2026 Lincoln Voice Commands.odt 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twintornados Posted August 24 Share Posted August 24 19 hours ago, mauser69 said: I have even attached a detailed transcription from one of my testing sessions that proves exactly what this brain-dead car responds with every attempt to use voice commands. Just go buy a Cadillac and spare us the faux drama... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherminator98 Posted August 24 Share Posted August 24 1 hour ago, twintornados said: Just go buy a Cadillac and spare us the faux drama... They are just picking a stupid hill to die on. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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