How to Program Your Alpine Car Stereo for Bluetooth Pairing: A Simple Guide

Alpine car stereos, particularly models like the UTE-73BT, CDE-172BT, and CDE-175BT, are popular for their sound quality and features. However, setting up Bluetooth pairing on these models can sometimes be confusing. If you’re struggling to connect your phone to your Alpine car stereo, you’re not alone. This guide will walk you through How To Program Alpine Car Stereo Bluetooth pairing, clear out old devices, and troubleshoot common connection problems.

While Alpine offers a range of single DIN and double DIN stereos, these specific models (UTE73BT, CDE172BT, and CDE175BT) often present unique challenges with Bluetooth connectivity compared to other brands like Kenwood, Sony, or Pioneer. One key difference is that these Alpine units typically have a limited number of Bluetooth device memory slots. Understanding this limitation is the first step in mastering your Alpine car stereo Bluetooth setup.

Initial Bluetooth Pairing: Step-by-Step Guide for New Devices

If you’ve just installed your Alpine UTE-73BT, CDE-172BT, or CDE-175BT and are pairing a phone for the first time, follow these simple steps to establish your initial Bluetooth connection:

1. Enter Standby Mode: Press and hold the back arrow button (often referred to as the “sleep” button) located below the volume knob. This action will put your Alpine car stereo into Standby mode.
2. Access Setup Menu: Press and hold the music note icon, which also serves as the “Setup” button.
3. Navigate to Bluetooth Settings: The “General” option will appear first. Rotate the control knob until you find and highlight the “Bluetooth” option in the menu.
4. Select Bluetooth: Push the control knob inwards to select the “Bluetooth” menu option.
5. Choose Pairing: Scroll through the Bluetooth menu options until you see “Pairing.” Push the knob inwards again to select “Pairing.”
6. Select Device 1: “Device 1” should be the first option presented. Select “Device 1” by pushing the control knob. This designates the primary phone for both hands-free calls and audio streaming. Note that “Device 2” is typically reserved for hands-free calling only.
7. Initiate Phone Pairing: The Bluetooth icon on your Alpine car stereo display will begin to blink. Simultaneously, the model number of your radio should become visible in the list of available Bluetooth devices on your smartphone.
8. Complete Pairing on Your Phone: Tap the Alpine car stereo model number on your phone’s Bluetooth device list and follow any on-screen prompts to finalize the pairing process.

Pairing should now be successfully completed, allowing you to enjoy hands-free calls and stream music through your Alpine car stereo.

Troubleshooting Common Bluetooth Connection Issues

Often, users encounter problems when they are trying to pair a new phone after having previously connected a different device, or after a phone software update disrupts an existing connection. Intermittent Bluetooth connections are another common frustration. In these situations, clearing the Bluetooth memory on both your phone and your Alpine car stereo is crucial for establishing a fresh and stable connection.

Clearing Bluetooth Memory on Your Alpine Stereo

To resolve persistent Bluetooth issues, start by clearing the stored Bluetooth device memory directly from your Alpine car stereo. This process effectively resets the Bluetooth settings and prepares the unit for new pairings.

1. Enter Standby Mode: Just as before, press and hold the back arrow “sleep” button to put your Alpine radio into Standby mode.
2. Access Setup Menu: Press and hold the music note “Setup” button.
3. Navigate to Bluetooth Settings: Rotate the control knob until you highlight and select “Bluetooth” from the menu options.
4. Select BT Initial (Bluetooth Initialisation): Scroll through the Bluetooth menu until you find “BT Initial.” Push the knob inwards to select “BT Initial.”
5. Confirm Bluetooth Memory Clearing: The default option presented will likely be “No.” Turn the control knob until “Yes” is displayed. Then, push the knob inwards to confirm and initiate the Bluetooth memory clearing process.
6. Pair New Device: Once the radio has cleared its Bluetooth memory, you can return to the pairing steps outlined earlier to connect your phone as “Device 1.”

By clearing the Bluetooth memory, you eliminate potential conflicts from previously paired devices and provide a clean slate for establishing a new, reliable connection.

Alpine UTE73BT Bluetooth Pairing – Clearing Bluetooth Memory demonstrated on Alpine CDE172BT

Image: Steps to clear Bluetooth memory on an Alpine CDE172BT car stereo, similar to UTE73BT, showing the “BT Initial” menu option.

Advanced Troubleshooting Tips for Persistent Issues

If you continue to experience streaming or connection problems even after clearing the Bluetooth memory and re-pairing your phone, consider these additional troubleshooting steps:

• Software Updates: Ensure that both your Alpine car stereo and your smartphone are running the latest software versions. Check the Alpine website for any available firmware updates for your specific car stereo model. Similarly, update your phone’s operating system to the newest version. Outdated software can often lead to compatibility issues and Bluetooth connectivity problems. You can often find software updates for Alpine stereos on their support website by searching for your specific model number.
• Phone Restart: A simple yet effective solution for many tech issues is to restart your smartphone. Power cycling your phone can resolve temporary software glitches that might be interfering with Bluetooth connections.
• App Reinstallation: If you are encountering streaming problems with a particular music or audio app, try deleting and then reinstalling the app on your phone. This can often resolve app-specific streaming issues and ensure you have the latest, properly functioning version of the application.

Conclusion

Pairing your phone with your Alpine car stereo for Bluetooth connectivity shouldn’t be a daunting task. By understanding the specific pairing process for Alpine UTE73BT, CDE-172BT, and CDE-175BT models, and knowing how to clear Bluetooth memory for troubleshooting, you can overcome most common connection challenges. Following these instructions will help you effectively program your alpine car stereo for seamless Bluetooth enjoyment, allowing you to make hands-free calls and stream your favorite audio content while on the road.