Phones Synced but No Names Show for Calls

Hi all,

We recently bought a 2017 Civic Touring. (Love it!) But we are having an issue with the blue tooth phone system.

Both my husband and I have Samsung phones. We were easily able to get them synced up. And we have both added speed dial contacts also.

We can call out, though, the system is a bit clunky. (Even our speed dial people are sometimes not recognized when we say their names even though we've recorded settings for them.) So that's one issue.

MAIN issue is that when people call us, no name shows up on the screen. Just the 10 digit number that is calling. Not even for the contacts we've put into speed dial do we see a name. This makes it difficult to know if we want to take a call as, of course, some calls are more important than others.

I called Hondalink today and went through the settings with them on the phone. And they basically said "sorry, there's nothing more we can do for you." Seriously? I find that hard to believe. It can read the number of the person, but not pull the name from my contact list. I feel like there just must be a setting we are missing somewhere?

Has anyone had and solved this issue?

Lynnette said:

Hi all,

We recently bought a 2017 Civic Touring. (Love it!) But we are having an issue with the blue tooth phone system.

Both my husband and I have Samsung phones. We were easily able to get them synced up. And we have both added speed dial contacts also.

We can call out, though, the system is a bit clunky. (Even our speed dial people are sometimes not recognized when we say their names even though we've recorded settings for them.) So that's one issue.

MAIN issue is that when people call us, no name shows up on the screen. Just the 10 digit number that is calling. Not even for the contacts we've put into speed dial do we see a name. This makes it difficult to know if we want to take a call as, of course, some calls are more important than others.

I called Hondalink today and went through the settings with them on the phone. And they basically said "sorry, there's nothing more we can do for you." Seriously? I find that hard to believe. It can read the number of the person, but not pull the name from my contact list. I feel like there just must be a setting we are missing somewhere?

Has anyone had and solved this issue?

Click to expand...

Are you using Android Auto ?
If not, you should try using it ... rather than just a simple BlueTooth connection between your Phone and the Honda Display.

If you do, then what is normally on your Samsung screen, displays on your Honda Head Unit's display.
You see all your Contacts to dial IN THE SAME NICE contact format as you would see them on your phone, and when someone calls you, you see the same as you would see on your Samsung phone, displayed on the Honda Head unit, and possibly (depending on Honda Model & year), on the drivers Instrument panel as well.

Maybe I am missing something... I assume the 2017 Civic Touring has ANDROID AUTO ? maybe not ??

Lynnette said:

Hi all,

We recently bought a 2017 Civic Touring. (Love it!) But we are having an issue with the blue tooth phone system.

Both my husband and I have Samsung phones. We were easily able to get them synced up. And we have both added speed dial contacts also.

We can call out, though, the system is a bit clunky. (Even our speed dial people are sometimes not recognized when we say their names even though we've recorded settings for them.) So that's one issue.

MAIN issue is that when people call us, no name shows up on the screen. Just the 10 digit number that is calling. Not even for the contacts we've put into speed dial do we see a name. This makes it difficult to know if we want to take a call as, of course, some calls are more important than others.

I called Hondalink today and went through the settings with them on the phone. And they basically said "sorry, there's nothing more we can do for you." Seriously? I find that hard to believe. It can read the number of the person, but not pull the name from my contact list. I feel like there just must be a setting we are missing somewhere?

Has anyone had and solved this issue?

Click to expand...

I use the phone button on the steering wheel and pick the speed dial number from the info display instead of using the infotainment touch screen. I hate that interface for the phone.

nuowner said:

I use the phone button on the steering wheel and pick the speed dial number from the info display instead of using the infotainment touch screen. I hate that interface for the phone.

Click to expand...

i use android and have the same issue. i use android auto as i consider it the lesser evil.
alternative is to honda hack it and install what you like.

caspar21 said:

i use android and have the same issue. i use android auto as i consider it the lesser evil.
alternative is to honda hack it and install what you like.

Click to expand...

I HATED "Android Auto", until I Honda Hacked my HU, and discovered that the grass was NOT GREENER on the other side. Far from it, and installing other apps on the Honda opened a whole can of SLOW Worms and a Pandora's box of conflicts and problems.

So I went back to Android Auto, and gave it a chance, and now I am quite happy with it.
So much so, that I even run AA on my older car that has a fast Android 8 Head Unit. and can run almost anything FAST.

Keep coming back to Android Auto, especially for the Phone, as it gives me the exact same Interface & features that I get on my actual SmartPhone, but under the control & display of the Honda Head Unit.

In fact I run AA as an APP when I want to us the Phone, and then can always switch to other Apps on the HU for other programs that do not work through AA.
Best of Both Worlds.

In the Honda, I appreciate the simpler, clearer, and cleaner Interface that AA give, especially when driving, where one cannot afford to be too distracted by complex screen, that require too much attention to manipulate.

I have even come to like the Honda "File Based" USB Music player -- once again -- simple & functional while driving.

Once I stopped wanting to have EVERYTHING installed on the HU, and accepted the simpler, cleaner & less complex operation and screens of the Honda Unit, I came to understand and accept its design & engineered apparent simplicity.

That's not to say I don't like advanced Technology and loads of new Apps. !!

My older Non-Honda car with the Powerful Android 8 head unit is FULLY LOADED and is FUN to use ... but when I go back to the Honda, I still appreciate the Honda's Simplified Functionality.

Many non-technical user struggle to master just the basics of Android Auto, if Honda cars were fitted with the same Android 8 unit I have in my other car, with all its Apps and array of screens & options, many would find it overwhelming, and more importantly, a MAJOR DISTRACTION when driving .. not something that Honda would want to risk. Law Suites etc ...

So... do I install Android Auto on my phone? Or on the Honda computer via the ap screen? And can it connect to AA through bluetooth? or do I have to plug my phone into the car every time I get in? I like to just dump my purse in the back and get to work on calls etc.

caspar21 said:

i use android and have the same issue. i use android auto as i consider it the lesser evil.
alternative is to honda hack it and install what you like.

Click to expand...

I don't use AA except for google maps. Just the car interface for the phone (unless I'm using the maps)

Lynnette said:

So... do I install Android Auto on my phone? Or on the Honda computer via the ap screen? And can it connect to AA through bluetooth? or do I have to plug my phone into the car every time I get in? I like to just dump my purse in the back and get to work on calls etc.

Click to expand...

The naming is confusing : well done Google.!

The SYSTEM is called Android Auto.
The APP you install on your Smartphone is called Android Auto.
The (different - server software) that the OEM integrates into the head Unit is called Android Auto.
The Cars are referred to as being Android Auto ready.

All you need to worry about is Installing the APP called Android Auto on your Android Smart Phone. (Download from the Google Play store onto your phone)

Then all you have to do is connect your phone by the USB cord, and just the first time. tell your Honda Unit to use Android Auto.

Thereafter, every time you connect your phone to the Car with the USB cable, the Android Auto app will start on both the Honda head unit, AND your phone, and you are good to go.

Note: There is nothing you need to install on the Honda head unit .. (you can't easily install anything yourself in any case !!!) .. what you need is already installed for you at the Honda Factory when the car was made.

The following Video may help :-



Yes, you have to connect your phone with the USB cord .. but on the bright side .. then you get to re-charge your phone on the way to and from work, and it will never go flat during your drive.

Ok. Thanks. I will try that.

This isn't any help, but on my 2017, the names would pop up sometimes and sometimes just the numbers. No settings I fooled with and not using android auto. On my 2018, I haven't had any issues yet, the names pop up so far.

So this might be a glitch with only the 2017 model? I wonder about the 2016s too. Are 2016 owners having the same issue I'm having on the 2017?

Regarding the display of the caller's name (and picture, if associated) in addition to the number already entered on the Honda Entertainment System screen when receiving a call, the number 'IN YOUR SAMSUNG PHONE LIST OF EACH CONTACT must be preceded by the country number and the + sign. Here in Canada and United States you must write +1 in front of the contact's phone number (+1 XXX-xxx-xxxx). This should resolve the problem raised. For me, everything works perfectly now. My phone is Android Samsung Galaxy S8. IPhone doesn't work the same way and doesn't need a +1 (or any country number).

We tried Android Auto. And it is not going to be the solution for us. It will connect up for about 20 seconds and then it disconnects because of some Google driver safety feature. We just don't have the time to try to figure that out. I'll try adding the +1 and see if that works.

Lynnette said:

We tried Android Auto. And it is not going to be the solution for us. It will connect up for about 20 seconds and then it disconnects because of some Google driver safety feature. We just don't have the time to try to figure that out. I'll try adding the +1 and see if that works.

Click to expand...

It certainly will. Enjoy!!! And if you decide to add an image or a photo to each of your phone's contacts, you will see it appear on your infotainment screen in addition to the name and phone number.

The +1 addition worked like a charm. Thank you! Appreciate it!