Experiencing difficulties with your Alpine UTE73BT Bluetooth pairing? Whether you are using the Alpine UTE-73BT, CDE-172BT, or CDE-175BT car stereo, this guide provides comprehensive steps to set up a new phone, remove an old device, and troubleshoot common Bluetooth connectivity problems.
Among the various car stereos available—including single DIN, double DIN, touchscreen, CarPlay, Android Auto models from brands like Kenwood, Sony, Pioneer, Boss, Jensen, Stinger, and Grundig—these particular Alpine models (UTE73BT, CDE172BT, and CDE175BT) frequently pose Bluetooth setup challenges for users. Unlike many other head units, the Alpine UTE73BT, CDE172BT, and CDE175BT are equipped with only two Bluetooth device banks.
Device bank 1 is designed for your primary phone, supporting both hands-free calling and audio streaming. Device bank 2, however, is exclusively for hands-free functions. Additionally, these Alpine units do not always automatically enter pairing mode when attempting to connect a new device, which differs from many Bluetooth devices on the market.
Initial Bluetooth Pairing on Alpine UTE73BT Series
If you have just installed your Alpine UTE-73BT and are pairing a device for the first time, these instructions will guide you through the process:
- Enter Standby Mode: Press and hold the back arrow button (sleep button) located below the volume knob. This action will put your car stereo into Standby mode.
- Access Setup Menu: Press and hold the music note icon labeled “Setup”.
- Navigate to Bluetooth Settings: Rotate the knob until you find and select “Bluetooth” by pushing the knob in. The initial option in the menu is “General”; continue turning the knob to locate “Bluetooth”.
- Select Pairing Option: Scroll the knob to “Pairing” and press the knob to select it.
- Choose Device 1: The first option presented should be “Device 1”. Press the knob again to select “Device 1”.
- Initiate Phone Pairing: At this point, the Bluetooth icon on your Alpine car stereo should start blinking. The model number of your radio will become visible in the Bluetooth device list on your phone.
- Complete Pairing on Phone: Simply tap on your Alpine radio’s model number on your phone and follow any on-screen prompts to finalize the pairing process.
Troubleshooting Bluetooth Connection Issues
Users often encounter issues when they have previously paired a device and are now trying to connect a new phone, or after a phone software update has caused intermittent Bluetooth connections. In such cases, clearing the Bluetooth memory on both your phone and the car stereo is crucial. On your phone, you will need to “forget” the device. On the Alpine radio, you must clear its Bluetooth memory directly.
Clearing Bluetooth Memory on Alpine Car Stereo
To clear the Bluetooth memory from your Alpine UTE73BT, CDE172BT, or CDE175BT, you will need to revisit the setup menu.
- Enter Standby Mode: Press and hold the back arrow button (sleep button) to put the radio into Standby or “Sleep” mode.
- Access Setup Menu: Press and hold the music note icon labeled “Setup”.
- Navigate to Bluetooth Settings: Scroll the knob until you see “Bluetooth” and push the knob in to select it.
- Select BT Initial: Scroll the knob until you find “BT Initial”.
- Confirm Memory Clearing: Press the knob to select “BT Initial”. The default option is “No”. Turn the knob to change the selection to “Yes”, and then push the knob in to confirm.
- Restart Pairing Process: The radio will now clear its Bluetooth memory, and you can proceed with the pairing process again to set up Device 1.
Close-up of Alpine car stereo display showing Bluetooth pairing menu, demonstrating how to clear Bluetooth memory for troubleshooting connectivity issues.
Further Steps for Persistent Connection Problems
If you continue to experience streaming or connection issues after clearing the Bluetooth memory and re-pairing, consider these additional troubleshooting steps:
- Software Updates: Ensure that your Alpine car stereo has the latest software update installed. Check the manufacturer’s website or your owner’s manual for instructions on how to perform a software update on the radio. Also, verify that your phone’s operating system is up to date.
- Phone Restart: A simple restart of your phone can often resolve many temporary glitches that might be affecting Bluetooth connectivity.
- App Reinstallation: If you are having issues with a specific app crashing or failing to stream audio, try deleting and then reinstalling the app. This can often fix app-specific streaming problems.
Pairing your phone to your Alpine car stereo should generally be straightforward. However, the instructions provided in the owner’s manual may sometimes lack clarity. Hopefully, these detailed steps will clarify any confusion and assist you in successfully programming your Alpine car stereo for Bluetooth pairing and resolving any connection issues.
