HD Radio™ technology

Select a different vehicle to begin a new search

video thumbnail

Your vehicle's HD Radio™ technology gives you access to more listening options and improved sound quality without a subscription. The digital receiver inside the radio provides crystal-clear radio sound, and you can still use conventional radio controls and analog tuners, if desired.

On HD1 channels, your HD Radio offers standard AM and FM stations with enhanced audio quality. On HD2, HD3 and other multicast channels, you’ll have access to thousands of additional broadcasts. And no matter what station you’re listening to, HD Radio delivers detailed information like song, artist and station name, right on your center console’s SYNC display.

Using Your HD Radio

Turning HD Radio On and Off*

You can turn HD Radio on and off with the HD Radio button on your center console’s SYNC display. When HD Radio is on, the button will illuminate.

HD Radio Reception

If you lose HD Radio reception while listening to an HD1 station, your radio will automatically switch over to the analog version of the broadcast. However, if you’re listening to an HD2, HD3 or another multicast channel and you lose HD Radio reception, your radio will mute. Since HD2 and other multicast stations don’t have analog broadcasts, your radio will remain muted until reception returns or until you change the channel to an analog station.

Blending

When you’re listening to an HD1 station, blending is the process by which your radio automatically switches between digital and analog versions of the same broadcast. You may notice your radio fade in and out when this happens, and if you’re driving in an area with intermittent HD radio reception, this type of fading might happen frequently. If this is the case, you may want to turn off HD Radio until you drive back into an area with good HD Radio reception.

Enhanced Audio

HD1 stations include all traditional AM and FM stations, but with improved sound quality. When you leave HD Radio on, your radio will automatically play these stations with the superior sound quality offered by the digital broadcast. Also, when you turn on HD Radio, your center console screen will display information including song name, artist and station name.

Additional Channels

In addition to familiar HD1 channels, HD2 and other multicast channels include unique content that is only accessible with an HD Radio receiver. If you’re tuned to a station that is also broadcasting different content on separate HD Radio channels, you’ll notice a multicast indicator on your vehicle’s SYNC display. The highlighted numbers represent the additional channels.

*Note: HD Radio broadcasts are not available in all markets. For more information, and a guide to available stations and programming, please visit www.hdradio.com.

Additional Features

Scan

The scan feature allows you to automatically search through stations and listen to a brief sampling of all available HD1 stations. This feature still works when HD Radio reception is on, although it does not scan for HD2, HD3 and other multicast channels.

Memory Presets

You can save any active channel as a memory preset. To create a preset, touch and hold the memory preset button. There will be a brief mute while the radio saves the station, and the save is complete when sound returns. The radio will also mute when switching over to an HD2, HD3 or other multicast memory presets.

Note: As with any saved radio station, you cannot access a saved station if your vehicle is outside the station’s reception area.

Tagging Songs

When you hear a song you like on the radio, iTunes tagging lets you save the song’s name and title so that you can look it up later or buy it on iTunes.48 To use tagging, first turn on HD Radio, press AM or FM, select Options and turn on the tag button. Then, when you hear a song you like and press the tag button, the broadcast will pause while the current song’s information is saved to your SYNC’s memory.

You can save up to 100 tagged songs on your SYNC. When you connect a supported device, the songs will be added to a tagged songs playlist on the device, and a pop-up will confirm the transfer.

HD Radio Logo

HD Radio is the brand name of the only digital broadcasting method approved by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). When HD Radio is turned on and you’re tuned to an HD Radio broadcast, an HD Radio logo will appear on your vehicle’s display:

When your receiver is acquiring a digital station, the logo will either blink or appear gray in color. When you have successfully acquired the broadcast, the logo will either stop blinking and remain solid or appear orange in color.

Potential Reception Issues

  • Issue
    Cause and Action
  • The station is muted.
    If you are listening to a multicast station and you are on the fringe of the reception area, the station may mute due to weak signal strength.
  • If you are listening to an HD1 station, the system switches back to the analog broadcast until the digital broadcast is available again. However, if you are listening to an HD2 station or any of the other multicast channels higher than HD1, the station will mute and stay muted unless it is able to connect to the digital signal again.
  • The station is fading in and out
    When the system first receives an HD1 station, it first plays the analog version of the station. Once the receiver verifies the station is an HD Radio station, it shifts to the digital version. Depending on the station quality, you may hear a slight sound change when the station changes from analog to digital. Blending is the shift from analog to digital sound or digital back to analog sound.

Potential Station Issues

  • Issues
    Cause and Action
  • Echo, stutter, skip or repeat in audio. Increase or decrease in audio volume.
    This is caused by poor time alignment by the radio broadcaster. No action is required. This is a broadcast issue and not an issue with your vehicle’s radio.
  • Sound fading or blending in and out.
    The radio is shifting between analog and digital audio. No action is required. The reception issue may clear up as you continue to drive.
  • There is an audio mute delay when selecting Direct Tune or HD2, HD3 or another multicast preset.
    The digital multicast is not available until the HD Radio broadcast is decoded. Once the receiver decodes the broadcast, audio is available again after a brief pause. No action is required. This is normal behavior. Wait until the audio is available.
  • Cannot access an HD2, HD3 or another multicast channel when recalling a preset or directly tuning to the station.
    The previously stored multicast preset or direct tune is not available in your current reception area. No action is required. The station is not available in your current location.
  • Text information does not match currently playing audio.

    This is a data service issue caused by the radio broadcaster. Fill out the station issue form at the website listed below.*

  • There is no text information shown for currently selected frequency.

    This is a data service issue caused by the radio broadcaster. Fill out the station issue form at the website listed below.*

  • HD2 and other multicast stations are not found when Scan is pressed.
    Pressing Scan disables HD2 and other multicast channel searching. No action is required. This is normal behavior.

HD Radio Technology manufactured under license from iBiquity Digital Corp. U.S. and foreign patents. HD Radio and the HD and HD Radio logos are proprietary trademarks of iBiquity Digital Corp. Ford Motor Company and iBiquity Digital Corp. are not responsible for the content sent using HD Radio technology. Content may be changed, added or deleted at any time at the station owner's discretion.

Is this helpful?

You might also like

Find a Dealer

Find a Ford Dealership in your area.
Live Chat

Get one-on-one support right now.
Call for Support

Speak to a Ford representative.