Hyundai Carplay Update Direct Download

Recently, I began looking into how I could get Apple Carplay installed on my 2016 Hyundai i40. I could see Hyundai UK were tweeting that a free software update was available for any SE Nav model since Nov 2015. However, unlike our US counterparts, this was not a publically accessible upgrade. It must be done by a Hyundai dealer.

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Hyundai owners with an eligible vehicle can download the CarPlay update through the Hyundai website and are encouraged to go through the installation process themselves. A Mac or PC with an SD card slot or an external SD card reader is required to download the software and transfer the update to the vehicle’s in-dash system. Follow the prompts to download the software update. Once downloaded, insert the SD card back into your vehicle. Double-click on the Hyundai icon, and continue to Step 4. 9 Software Download. Confirm Android Auto and iOS Apple CarPlay features in the Connectivity Settings are turned ON. STEP 8 STEP 9. Full disclosure, you run the app on your computer with the SD plugged in and then it takes a bit to update your car after you plug it back in. Maybe this means new software is on the horizon? I say that because CarPlay (and Android Auto, I think) is supposed to be able to use the center 'Apps screen' but needs an update from the manufacturer. May 24, 2016 Hyundai owners with an eligible vehicle can download the CarPlay update through the Hyundai website and are encouraged to go through the installation process themselves. A Mac or PC with an SD card. It has been a frustrating wait for Hyundai owners, who were promised CarPlay support back in 2015. Now at least six months overdue, Hyundai is now informing dealers about their software update and rolling out their CarPlay update to eligible owners that will create eight new CarPlay enabled vehicles that range between 2015 to 2017 models.

So I rang my local dealer here in Galway, and they gave me a quote for €100 to do the update. The €100 was apparently to cover the “labour” costs in doing the update. Hummm…

As a software engineer myself, I thought I’d search the web for a way to carry this out myself, since I was pretty sure that once I could get the firmware files, I would be able to figure out how to install the update.

I eventually came across a forum, where a link to download the dealer firmware was posted, along with some instructions. I thought it might be good for me to re-post those instructions in english here for anyone wanting to do it. Here goes…

Disclaimer

WARNING: If you carry out this car firmware upgrade, you do so at your own risk. Update: according to the forum auther, @Sernaiko, this is the original Hyundai firmware, and has not been modified in any way, so, in theory, the risk should be minimal.

What you will need

A USB Stick (1GB or more will do). Formatted for FAT32.
A ballpoint pen.
A PC to download the firmware.
The current version of software on your vehicle.
- To find this out, on your car touchscreen, go to All Menus>System Info(scroll to the bottom to see that) and then take note of the “S/W ver.” field.
- The version should begin with ST.XXXX.
- Note the letters after ST.
- That will determine which folder you want to use in step 4 below…

System Update Procedure

Note: I took a video of the in-car parts of the procedure and posted to youtube here, which may be of help.

Download and extract the firmware files from here. Also backed-up here.
You will see 4 folders: st_vf, st_vfia, st_vfsd and st_vfsdia
To know which one to open, take a look at the version on your vehicle at present.
- Note the letters after ST.
- That will determine which folder you want to use.
For me it was vfsdia. So, I looked inside the st_vfsdia folder and saw an update folder.
Insert your USB Stick into your PC, and ensure it is formatted as FAT32 (most memory sticks already are).
Copy the update folder directly over to the USB Stick. note that you should not use the car navigation SD card for this, as it will not work for a system update.
At this point, when you look at the USB drive on your PC, you should see the update folder at the root of the drive.
Eject the USB stick from your PC and go to the car.
Important: Start your engine and leave it running for all the rest of the procedure
Insert the USB stick into the usb slot in front of the gear stick.
On your car touchscreen, go to All Menus>System Info(scroll to the bottom to see that) and press the Update button.
Confirm the popup by pressing the OK button.
Sit back and relax. The update will take 30-40 minutes in total. Ensure you leave the engine running all the time during the update.
After about 10 minutes, you may see a system error (code 109), as I did.
- You need to remove the USB stick at this point.
- Now use your ballpoint pen to press the reset button for 5 seconds. The reset button is tiny and you can find it just to the right of the CD slot above the touchscreen.
The reset will reboot the system and continues the upgrade. The USB stick is no longer needed from now on, so you can put it away in your pocket.
The update will take another 20-30 minutes, so head away and grab a cup of tea.

In the end, you will have the latest firmware installed and you can plug in your smartphone to enjoy Android Auto or Apple Carplay.

Note I take no credit whatsoever for the firmware. It was not created by me. I simply downloaded it and followed Google translated instructions from users @Sernaiko and @raler over at drive2.ru. Thank you to those guys for sharing the details on how this can be done.

If you are considering the purchaseof a new Hyundai and you want to learn more about CarPlay, thenyou’ll be happy to know that we have you covered. One of the best things aboutCarPlay is its interphase, which will be familiar to anyone who has ever usedan iPhone. Not only is CarPlay easy to use, it is also safe. By using CarPlay in your car, you can make calls, navigate your route, hearyour playlist, and listen to your messages, all while still being hands freeand safe.

WhatHyundai Models Include Apple CarPlay?

2016 Sonata Apple Carplay Update

As a car manufacturer, Hyundai has done an excellent job of makingApple CarPlay available in many of its cars. In fact, Hyundai models from 2016on that have either Display Audio orNavigation already have Apple CarPlay available to customers. However, evenif your Hyundai did not initially come with CarPlay, don’t worry. Many otherHyundai models can be modified with a simple software update, which we willdiscuss later. For now, the current list of Hyundai models thatinclude Apple CarPlay are:

2018 Kona and 2019 Kona
2018 and 2019 Tucson
2019 Santa Fe
2019 Santa Fe XL
2018 and 2019 Elantra
2018 and 2019 Sonata
2018 and 2019 Accent
2018 and 2019 Elantra GT
2016, 2017 and 2019 Veloster
2018 and 2019 Ioniq Hybrid
2018 and 2019 Ioniq Plug-in Hybrid
2017, 2018 and 2019 Ioniq Electric
2018 and 2019 Sonata Hybrid
2019 Sonata Plug-in Hybrid
2019 Kona Electric
2019 Nexo Fuel Cell
2015 and 2016 Genesis

How MuchDoes CarPlay Cost?

Since Hyundai has made it a point to make their recent cars asCarPlay friendly as possible, the car manufacturer has also extended a similarkindness to their customers. So, you’ll be happy to know that CarPlay does not cost anything extra whenused in a Hyundai.

I Don’tHave CarPlay, Can I Get a Hyundai CarPlay Upgrade?

Thanks to Hyundai’s willingness to embrace Apple CarPlay soenthusiastically, you can upgrade your Hyundai to use CarPlay on your own andfor free, even if you didn’t initially purchase a model that featured CarPlay. Infact, you might qualify for a freeupdate as long as you have either Display Audio or Navigation and one ofthe following car models:

2015-2016 Genesis
2015-2016 Sonata
2015-2016 Azer
2016 Elantra GT
2016 Sonata Hybrid
2016 Sonata Plug-in Hybrid
2016 Tucson
2016 Veloster
2017 Santa Fe
2017 Santa Fe Sport

Installing the update for Apple CarPlay in your Hyundai is asimple and free process. Here’s how you do it:

Apple Carplay For Hyundai Sonata

First, make sure you have your car’s VINnumber, a USB stick from your car’s navigation, an iPhone, and a USB chargingcable.
Login to your account at myhyundai.com and you’ll see the free download option.
Once you select the download option, Hyundai’swebsite will guide you through each step of the process.