If you’re heading out on a road trip, connect your phone to stream radio in the car | members only

While the emphasis here is on entertainment, CarPlay and Android Auto also let you make and receive calls, handle messaging, use GPS for directions and more, sometimes in response to voice

commands. RELATED: Lost in a Parking Lot? Eight Ways to Find Your Car HOW TO CONNECT USING ANDROID AUTO First, confirm that your car is compatible with Android Auto, which is already

integrated into Android devices. Make sure the infotainment system is turned on, that Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and location services also are on, and that the vehicle is in park. ASK THE TECH GURU

If you’re taking the USB route, plug the cable into an available port in the vehicle. If you’re using Bluetooth, navigate to BLUETOOTH in SETTINGS ⚙️, which on a Google Pixel can be found

under CONNECTED DEVICES and on a Samsung Galaxy in under CONNECTED. If applicable, on the car steering wheel, press and hold the voice command button to pair your phone. Otherwise, follow

any on-screen instructions for pairing. After connecting, you can tweak Android Auto settings on the phone to have the feature start automatically, start even when the phone is locked, and

start playing music when you start driving. In some cases, you’ll have to tap an icon on the car display to start Android Auto and tap buttons to navigate control. Or use your voice. HOW TO

CONNECT VIA APPLE CARPLAY Connect your iPhone to the car’s USB port. If the car has this port but also supports a wireless connection, an alert will appear on the phone the next time you

connect telling you that wireless is an option. If the vehicle supports only wireless CarPlay, hold down the voice command button on the steering wheel and make sure the car is in wireless

or Bluetooth pairing mode. Consult the car manual for instructions. Back on the iPhone, enable Wi-Fi. Then in SETTINGS ⚙️, tap GENERAL | CARPLAY and tap your vehicle under MY CARS. More than

one might be listed. You can customize which CarPlay-capable apps show up for a given vehicle. As with Android Auto, you have the option to run CarPlay even when the phone is locked. In

some vehicles, the CarPlay home screen will show up immediately when the phone is connected. On others, you’ll have to tap the CarPlay logo on the vehicle display. WHAT IS AVAILABLE TO

LISTEN TO? Plenty, and pretty much any content available on your phone: music, audiobooks, podcasts.