2018 Ram: If You Have an Android Phone How Do You Text Message?

Hopefully this will not come off as a dumb question. I've looked through the owners manual and the UConnect manual and I think I know the answer, but...

If you have a 2018 Ram with an Android phone, how do you do text messages?

Hopefully you will answer, "with voice commands". But what software do you use?

If I wanted to send a non-canned text message in my 2015 I had to activate UConnect Access. Then I could speak custom replies to text messages I received. When the trial period ended I didn't reactivate, and instead I had to use the pre-defined (canned) text message replies, "Yes", "No", "Call me", etc.

I really want the ability to speak whatever text message I want, including originating a text message and not merely replying to a message using a pre-defined message.

Now I have a 2018 Ram with 8.4 UConnect, Android Auto, and a Pixel 2 XL phone. Apparently I have the option of signing up for UConnect Access and using their software (as I did for 6 months with my 2015 Ram) or using the Android Auto app and Google's software.

Apparently if I use Android Auto I have to plug my phone into the USB port every time I enter the vehicle, whereas the UConnect Access uses bluetooth.

What software do you use? UConnect Access or Android Auto? Why?

I use Android auto unless I'm just running short errands. When using it, you can long press the VR button on the steering wheel to get the Google Assistant. (Short press once for the regular Uconnect/truck voice control.)

1500canoe said:

I use Android auto unless I'm just running short errands. When using it, you can long press the VR button on the steering wheel to get the Google Assistant. (Short press once for the regular Uconnect/truck voice control.)

Click to expand...

Android Auto and the VR button work together???? What phone are you using? Galaxy S8 here and I have held that button and nothing happens. I guess I have to be running Android Auto to do this?

clay282 said:

View attachment 128905

Android Auto and the VR button work together???? What phone are you using? Galaxy S8 here and I have held that button and nothing happens. I guess I have to be running Android Auto to do this?

Click to expand...

Yes, they work together. And yes, I think you have to launch Android auto for it to work. I have mine set to launch automatically when I plug it in to the truck (which I think you can set up in the app).

It's great to ask for the weather, calendar, play a song or artist on Spotify or Pandora, and settling random questions about things like "what sound does a giraffe make?"

Google Pixel 2

1500canoe said:

Yes, they work together. And yes, I think you have to launch Android auto for it to work. I have mine set to launch automatically when I plug it in to the truck (which I think you can set up in the app).

Click to expand...

Yes, yes, and yes! That's great to hear that both will work.


Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

*Runs to the truck like a kid at Christmas*

My phone automatically switches to Moto voice control when it senses I'm in the truck(actually any vehicle) driving. I also use "Ok Google" too!

OK so that didn't work. Phone connected, everything is enabled, I was even streaming Pandora and the VR button pressed or held down just activates the Uconnect lady who is NO help. If I leave Android Auto running the screen stays on but the original problem persists... If I say OK Google to activate assistant, I can't hear anything unless I'm listening to bluetooth. If the radio is on, I can't hear Google Assistant. Not sure what setting ya'll have or if it's a Pixel thang.

I had a Nexus 6P before the Galaxy S8 and from what I remember... pure Android OS on one of the Google phones like Nexus and PIxel, just had more skills than others.

clay282 said:

OK so that didn't work. Phone connected, everything is enabled, I was even streaming Pandora and the VR button pressed or held down just activates the Uconnect lady who is NO help. If I leave Android Auto running the screen stays on but the original problem persists... If I say OK Google to activate assistant, I can't hear anything unless I'm listening to bluetooth. If the radio is on, I can't hear Google Assistant. Not sure what setting ya'll have or if it's a Pixel thang.

I had a Nexus 6P before the Galaxy S8 and from what I remember... pure Android OS on one of the Google phones like Nexus and PIxel, just had more skills than others.

Click to expand...

Uconnect 8.4 and phone plugged into USB inside the console, correct?

@PowrRam and others since I was wondering the same thing .... Since this pertains to sending text messages via Bluetooth on 18 truck's 8.4 radio (when not connected via USB for Android auto/CarPlay)

I was also wondering why I can't dictate text messages (voice response) vs being forced to use the predefined responses everytime?

This feature worked on 13-17 trucks without issue with uConnect service active but isn't working on my 18 truck with uConnect/Guardian service active on my 8.4 UAS radio (Remote start etc works via uConnect app).

Not sure if this is something I'm doing wrong or something else? Guess I'm not the only one. Maybe @ramcares can comment ...



M² Mods.

1500canoe said:

Uconnect 8.4 and phone plugged into USB inside the console, correct?

Click to expand...

*heads back out to the truck with a cable*

Nothin... Plug in, truck see's phone and asks all the permissions and I allow them all. I have the full center console and I assume I used the correct plug or the phone wouldn't have asked it I wanted to grants the truck access to contacts and everything else. Still I hit the VR button and also try holding it down and nothing but the dumb Uconnect lady. I even tried disconnecting bluetooth and still nothing.

Mpgrimm2 said:

@PowrRam and others since I was wondering the same thing .... Since this pertains to sending text messages via Bluetooth on 18 truck's 8.4 radio (when not connected via USB for Android auto/CarPlay)

I was also wondering why I can't dictate text messages (voice response) vs being forced to use the predefined responses everytime?

This feature worked on 13-17 trucks without issue with uConnect service active but isn't working on my 18 truck with uConnect/Guardian service active on my 8.4 UAS radio (Remote start etc works via uConnect app).

Not sure if this is something I'm doing wrong or something else? Guess I'm not the only one ...

M² Mods.

Click to expand...

I believe that custom voice texting via bluetooth and UConnect Access is gone for 2018. I think that Android Auto is the only way to originate and send custom text messages.

Go to this link

https://www.mopar.com/ramtrucks/en-us/care/owners-manual.html

Select your vehicle and and click on UConnect 4C/4C NAV with 8.4" Display Tips Card

Or simply click here:
Uconnect 4C/4C NAV with 8.4" Display Tips Card

and find the Voice Text Reply. Apparently replying with the pre-defined responses is the only way to text with UConnect's built in features. You need Android Auto to do custom voice texting. Here's a screen grab of the relevant portion:





And here is a screen grab of the relevant page from the UConnect manual (Uconnect 4C/4C NAV with 8.4" Display)

I'm going to play around with this tomorrow and report back what I find out. I haven't even downloaded Android Auto to my phone as yet.

crash68 said:

My phone automatically switches to Moto voice control when it senses I'm in the truck(actually any vehicle) driving. I also use "Ok Google" too!

Click to expand...

I used to have a Droid Turbo, so I'm somewhat familiar with Moto's software. When in Moto voice control and using Bluetooth (no cable connections) you don't hear any interactions over your vehicle speakers, right? Everything goes through your phone's speaker, IIRC.

PowrRam said:

I believe that custom voice texting via bluetooth and UConnect Access is gone for 2018. I think that Android Auto is the only way to originate and send custom text messages.

Go to this link

https://www.mopar.com/ramtrucks/en-us/care/owners-manual.html

Select your vehicle and and click on UConnect 4C/4C NAV with 8.4" Display Tips Card

Or simply click here:
Uconnect 4C/4C NAV with 8.4" Display Tips Card

and find the Voice Text Reply. Apparently replying with the pre-defined responses is the only way to text with UConnect's built in features. You need Android Auto to do custom voice texting. Here's a screen grab of the relevant portion:

Click to expand...

I believe you are correct, but it irritates me to no end to see the option is there, isn't grayed out, and still doesn't work as expected.

M² Mods.

PowrRam said:

I used to have a Droid Turbo, so I'm somewhat familiar with Moto's software. When in Moto voice control and using Bluetooth (no cable connections) you don't hear any interactions over your vehicle speakers, right? Everything goes through your phone's speaker, IIRC.

Click to expand...

My Turbo 2 and Moto X4 comes through the vehicle speakers. It will drop the music playing on the radio out too when the voice prompts are on.

I'm pretty sure the "long press VR button" command is Android Auto only. Unfortunately, Android Auto didn't come into our trucks until the 2018 model year. If you have earlier than 2018, you're SOL!

The only option I have found, but isn't ideal... Phone is streaming bluetooth and I'm listening to Pandora or something and I mute the stereo so Google Assistant can hear me and do the "OK Google" and quickly unmute the stereo so I can hear her voice prompts and go from there.

Like so many of these systems... Uconnect is almost useless in what it can do. Change the temp, change a radio or xm station = sure! But as an actual voice assistant that can be used while driving = nope!

I would actually be OK with paying for the Uconnect service if it was useful, but it's not! I mean, even with the WAY COOL APP that can tell me from the couch how much fuel I have or how many miles OR send an address to navigate, that I could just input when I get in = useless! For the ability to be able to use the VR button to dictate messages and announce them I would pay $24 a year but definitely not $15 a month.

I had a chance to check out Android Auto in my 2018 Big Horn and my Pixel 2 XL. Wow. Very powerful app. Integrates with the 8.4 touchscreen very well.

I can confirm that I can do both Android Auto with long press of VR button on steering wheel and also UConnnect with short press of VR button on steering wheel. Clay282 I've got to believe a Samsung Galaxy S8 should be able to handle this. Those phones have lots of Samsung software laid on top of stock Google. Maybe there is a setting you need to find and change. Just wondering...

I sent myself a couple of text messages. Also phoned myself. Worked great. Asked it a couple of trivia questions. Asked about the weather. Fiddled with Google Play Music. Tried Google Maps. It's all good.