Toyota Highlander (2014-2019) Apple CarPlay Android 10.2" Touchscreen UPGRADE ViaBecs

We enjoy our "new to us" 2016 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited but the factory stereo was total junk. The state of MN (as do most states) have a hands free driving mandate and so it was important to us to have a good hands free system in our car. The factory system can't stay connected to phones, it's sound quality is mediocre (even with the JBL package). It was so bad, we thought about selling the car until we found this!
We bought the Viabecs 10.2" Android / Carplay touchscreen system specific for the 2014-2019 Highlander and we are very pleased!
Join us here for the full installation instructions and our impressions after using the system for a few days.
Viabecs customer support on Amazon has been great and we would highly recommend this system.
Links:
Viabecs 10.2" Android Auto / Apple Carplay for 2014-2019 Toyota Highlander:
amzn.to/41XhjX5
Auto Trim Removal Tool Set:
amzn.to/4aRh5Vp
Viabecs includes a factory mic that you can mount up at the top of the windshield. If you'd prefer to keep the mic below the climate control system, we'd suggest getting this one:
amzn.to/48MgTF4
Zip ties for cable managment:
amzn.to/4b1Lzo3
Thanks for watching, liking, sharing with anyone who owns a highlander and subscribing to the channel for future content like this.
All music tracks used under license from soundstripe.com

[@jalenparson5006]

GREAT VIDEO!!!! For sure will be in the market for this unit to be in my 2015 HL

[@lonkaufmann4179]

Thanks for taking the time to walk through this installation! I've decided to purchase a 'pre-owned' SUV but have realized that many of the digital control features I hoped for, were very limited if the SUV was 7-10 years old. For me, having up-to-date navigation maps that run off GPS rather than a mobile connection, is essential. I want to end up with a 'digital radio' that allows for an alternative to Google Maps. I think that Sygic or Waze, connected via Auto Android, will be my best solution. When you were making a choice between the many after-market head units now available, what technical factors swayed you to choose the Viabecs unit? Thanks, Leo

[@1morejohnson]

Great vid, especially with it being your first aftermarket android head unit!

[@PictureTime]

Thanks for watching Adam!

[@lciummo1]

But you've lost the built in NAV and other settings that allow vehicle control like the hatch setting and diagnostics. Personally, I think a better option is the CAR SYNC TECH Android Auto/Car play adapter - you can keep all the factory head unit functions and auto-connect wirelessly to Android or Apple phones. It also gives HD video quality of the Android Auto/Car play. But this unit does have a very large display (but no volume nobs). Nice video though.

[@MrAmanW]

Does it replicate the eco screen that shows battery or engine mode on the hybrid?

[@joeneubauer3208]

Awesome video - thanks for creating. Are you able to use the navigation via CarPlay and the radio at the same time?

[@PictureTime]

Yes

[@yeeterburns7613]

Just picked one up and it should be here Monday. We don’t have the JBL package but I couldn’t live without CarPlay for iPhone.

[@PictureTime]

I agree. It changes the whole experience with the car.

[@tala9499]

Any update, how is it going?

[@yeeterburns7613]

@@tala9499For me it is going well. The only thing is that sometimes after the backup cam comes on, the screen goes black when I go into drive. I just hit the home button or back button and it brings the Home Screen. Not a big issue for me.

[@CodeWalt84]

Awesome video - helped me a ton installing. QQ, I just installed in my 2019 XLE, everything seems to be working great except when I’m in reverse and someone walks behind the car I don’t have the sensor alerting me anymore. Does that work on yours and is there anything you had to do to get it to work? Thanks in advance

[@nathanbradley3717]

Thanks for the great info. Are settings like the sensitivity level for headlights turning on, auto AC turning on etc, whether all doors unlock when you grab door handle or just driver door unlock, etc still available?

[@PictureTime]

Not familiar with these settings. Sorry. It shows you a bunch of car stats including the tire pressure (which I couldn’t see before).

[@EduardoGac]

Hello @Picture Time 1) I noticed you have a Toyota Highlander 2019 with PLATINUM LIMITED Trim (the most complete one). This version has with 2 views for backing up. Rear view camera and a Satélite style view from above (the car has camera all around it the forms the image. In the video I noticed that you do back up and I saw the rear view camera but not the other one. Did you miss that feature when you made the upgrade? Anyway to have that feature kept? 2) Also: is there any latency between audio? Like if you play KZbin video, will the audio transferred via Bluetooth have a delay and video being slightly ahead than the audio (audio slightly delayed) ? Thank you for your help!

[@PictureTime]

We have a 2016 with no satellite camera view. The rear camera works great but we don’t have the above feature. There is SOME latency due to the CarPlay running through Bluetooth and not direct. But it is minor. Thanks for watching

[@xantari79]

Great video! I’m also looking at the Junsun which is a bit less expensive.

[@dsg1984]

Are you still able to use the small screen with the car computer next to the speedometer for anything? Not sure if that is independent of the factory JBL radio

[@eugenewei5936]

This is a great video! Btw, is the Apple CarPlay unit compatible with the original dashboard screen (between the speedometer and rpm meter)? i.e. if you play a song using the new infotainment device, would you be able to use the steering wheel buttons to scroll pages on the original dashboard, and see that the name of the song in that dashboard screen too? - Cheers!

[@jimstercintron7523]

Good question. I also want to know this.

[@Al-gz2fh]

dumb question from old geezer here but is this unit practical for us Samsung Galaxy phone owners? Plus i do use XM radio all the time in my non JBL 2019 highlander. Assuming you can use factory satelitte antenna if so? thankyou great video!

[@PictureTime]

It will likely work better with a Samsung phone as it’s an Android based head unit. I think you can run XM as well but I don’t use XM or Sirius now so I am not the best person to speak into that. Anyone else tried running sat radio?

[@ToanNguyen-oe1xt]

Do the backup camera guidelines move with the steering wheel as they do in the OEM head unit?

[@PictureTime]

Yes. It’s the same feed

[@erinrauch-gallagher6080]

Great video! I haven't read all the comments, but I assume this system will also support Android Auto??

[@PictureTime]

Yes. It’s an android auto unit. It only supports Apple CarPlay through the Tlink app. It should work well with Android.

[@MichaelSeverini]

Great video. I have a 2018 Highlander and installed an Alpine wireless CarPlay head unit several years ago. It’s a very small screen though and this looks like a great upgrade to a bigger screen. I have a few questions. 1) Do you have to select CarPlay from the menu every time you start the car or can you make CarPlay the default app to launch? 2) on my steering wheel if I long press the “speech” button it initiates Siri. Does that work the same with this unit? 3) My Alpine is wired or wireless CarPlay. Is this one only wireless for CarPlay? Thanks and great job!

[@PictureTime]

Hi. Yes. Only wireless/bluetooth for CarPlay. It works through the “Tlink” app. Sometimes it restarts automatically. Sometimes I need to press the tlink app to initiate CarPlay. Siri works with the talk button on the steering wheel. Thanks for watching

[@MichaelSeverini]

@@PictureTimeI received mine and installed it in my 2018 Highlander. It works great! I found a setting in the Tlink app that allows you enable automatic connection to Tlink/Carplay. The only thing I’m trying to figure out is how to delete or reorder the icons on the main screen. Do you know?

[@tala9499]

Any update Michael, how do you like it?

[@MichaelSeverini]

@@tala9499 It’s been working great! No complaints.

[@allisongannon6035]

Thank you for the video! This is super helpful. Has anyone used this with XM radio?

[@jimstercintron7523]

You could probably just download an app for that

[@mad01ty0169]

Great Video! I just purchased it and im getting it tomorrow. i was skeptical on whether or not to get due to lack of the reviews. How is the unit after almost 4 months?

[@PictureTime]

It’s good. It’s still better than the factory system but took some tweaking to get everything set the way we wanted. It’s nice having CarPlay in the car!

[@mad01ty0169]

@@PictureTime can you pull the eco mpg info?

[@arronsanders3624]

In the instructions they mention setting up the canbus box. Is that something you did or no need?

[@PictureTime]

The cabby’s is the wire adapters that come with it. It’s pretty much plug and play.

[@organicoceans4459]

Can you please tell me if you still have the features of seeing your gas mileage in the graph ? and do you still have access to the doppler radar? Thanks in advance

[@PictureTime]

I’m not sure what you mean about gas mileage in the graph. I can still read the gas mileage in the lcd in the dash now problem. Never used Doppler radar. Sorry

[@dmgursky]

@@PictureTimeDoppler Radar is an app that comes with the original Toyota unit. I would imagine CarPlay has a similar app.

[@mrodz65]

How does the whole wifi thing work? like does it connect to your homes wifi or it has its own internet wifi/ Wouldnt you pay monthly for that?

[@PictureTime]

It connects to your home WiFi or your cells hotspot. Then you can stream stuff to the screen.

[@joeneubauer3208]

Anyone have any tips for getting the steering wheel buttons to work? I did the step under factory settings to select the SimpleSoft CAN box and All New Highlander/Public but so far no joy with any of the controls.

[@PictureTime]

Mine worked right away. Double check you got everything plugged in correctly in back, then reach out to Viabecs support on Amazon. They are very responsive.

[@ericdevalairekamougefotso2894]

Bonjour comment faire pour l’acheter sur amazon

[@chico28237]

How did you reach out to support? Was it via e-mail to a yahoo account? I am having issues with the backup camera, it showing up in Black & White and the imaging is broken up/distorted.

[@PictureTime]

I did. I messeged them through Amazon Marketplace. They got back to me very quickly.

[@danielbartolo4195]

nice review. Any issues so far?

[@PictureTime]

It’s been working great. Switching phones is not as slick but, you just need to shut off the Bluetooth on the previously used phone to switch to a new one otherwise it won’t pair with the second phone. Outside of that, it’s working amazing. A big upgrade to the factory system!

[@dmf7400]

@@PictureTimedid you reach out to support for this? I have an older Daisata unit that does the same thing. Wanted to upgrade and was hoping a new unit would fix this. Just to clarify even if the previous phone isn’t connected it still won’t connect to the second phone right? That’s how my Dasaita behaves.

[@cortni4333]

I installed mine the other day and everything seems to be working great except the backup camera. It’s not as clear as it was on my OEM head unit. Is that normal? I looked around at settings and didn’t see anywhere that I could change the resolution. It works, it’s just fuzzy. I thought that was crazy because the screen is so sharp, and I didn’t change the camera or anything, it’s the one that’s factory on my 2019 XLE. Is it possible I used a wrong cable or is everyone’s like that? Thanks for the great vid!

[@PictureTime]

Our camera feed seems fine. Perhaps you can adjust the resolution in settings. Not sure. Anyone else experience this?

[@kingsleynze3044]

Nice KZbin video. Pls I bought viabecs android stereo after watching your video last month. The issue I have with my viabec car stereo is it doesn’t connect with my steering wheel control, their tech support told me what to do and to reconnect it but it is still not working with my steering wheel control. I am planning to return it and go for another brand. What would you advise me to do? Thanks

[@PictureTime]

Make sure that you have the correct car installed under vehicle settings. Then reach out to Viabecs support. Our steering wheel controls work great.

[@kingsleynze3044]

Ok thanks,they want to send a new canbus to me,I guess the one that came with the stereo has some defects. Thanks for your feedback once again.

[@arronsanders3624]

Ok one more question post install. Everything is working great so far except I can not get the unit to default to aux mic instead of built in mic. Any clues?

[@PictureTime]

I am working through the same issue myself. Contacting Viabecs for help. They have been very responsive

[@parkerdeyoung1228]

I put the same unit in my wife’s ‘19 Highlander. The ONLY complaint i have is the terrible mic quality. I’m thinking about wiring in the factory mic so I’m very curious to see if you can get the unit to default to an external mic. If so, I’m going to give it a shot.

[@whatsupmonitor]

I had the same issue. I bought a mic from Amazon and disconnected the internal mic. Took me a total of 10 minutes and it's crystal clear.

[@glenndyke3371]

@@whatsupmonitor What mic did you buy?

[@whatsupmonitor]

​Finger lakes 3.5mm​@@glenndyke3371

[@shahheidari]

I have a 2015 Highlander and after install everything looks great except the video quality for the backup camera is grainy. Didn’t install something incorrectly? Thoughts anyone?

[@pradeepnatekar]

You have to go to factory settings and check what rear camera settings are applied. For cars default rear view cam it should be set to CVBS. These device makers set it default to AHD which is for additional HD camera provided

[@parkerdeyoung1228]

My Viabecs unit like this one defaults to NTSC and the picture quality is not super great. It won’t even work if you select AHD or any of the other system options.

[@pradeepnatekar]

@@parkerdeyoung1228 yes you have to use NTSC as no other option works and that may be due to factory camera which has lower resolution

[@parkerdeyoung1228]

@@pradeepnatekar Yes I believe you’re correct. I imagine it is the resolution of the factory camera. It doesn’t really bother me much to be honest. The mic quality on phone calls is really the only feature that bothers me.

[@trackingthealgorithm221]

good video other than you speeding up through the trim removal parts and not showing the connecting of the new unit.

[@MateoMoreno-dt4xg]

Do you have to be connected to WIFI or Hot Spot the whole time you are driving?

[@PictureTime]

No. Only if you want to stream movies to the screen or if you are updating the he software on the unit.

[@mad01ty0169]

Hi, I just installed this today. But if I put the car on reverse, it does show the back up camera but the audio goes out. But if I put it in park or drive, the audio is fine. Is there a resolution to this?

[@mad01ty0169]

Nevermind. Found it. 😅

[@PictureTime]

Where did you find it? I’d like to adjust that on ours too!

[@joeapplegate355]

@@PictureTime Go to regular settings. On the left scroll down and select reverse. On the main page scroll all the way down to reversing volume control and set it to max. ...great video, btw!

[@user-qo6qu2yr6j]

360 camera option is working too?

[@PictureTime]

We don’t have a 360 camera so not sure but the reverse camera works great

[@SuperKAgility]

Awesome. Have I Phone.

[@13Twon13]

I’m doing to do it in I’m 2016 Highlander

[@CodeWalt84]

How did you contact support - I can’t find info anywhere on Amazon?

[@PictureTime]

There was a link to “contact seller” on my Amazon order.

[@corbenator]

So after a couple of months of use, how would you rate this unit? What are some features you lose access to with the unit that were only available on the OEM (i.e. driver speak easy)? Since your car is a Limited, I assume it has backup sensors. Does the new unit still display warnings when backing up and you get close to an object? I'm thinking of pulling the trigger on this unit in the next couple of days and just wanted as much info as I can get.

[@PictureTime]

I’d say we retained nearly all of the factory features. There is a learning curve with getting it all set up but it’s quite customizable. We have the backup sensors and turned on the feature where the warning pops up on the screen and shows you the area that the warning is in. My struggle has been with mic audio levels, and surround sound zones. But I’m getting that sorted out with Viabecs and I’m confident we’ll get it set up. They have been very responsive.

[@corbenator]

I just installed the unit yesterday and I'm pleased for the most part. Like you mentioned, figuring out the surround sound zones has been a bit of a hassle. When I make adjustments to the surround sound, I honestly can't hear even the slightest change in audio, and I have a very well trained ear. I was wondering if you've encountered this problem though: not all audio channels are coming through. When listening to music, it's obvious that some levels are missing entirely, and I'm not quite sure what could be the cause of that. My first thought was that connecting the red and white six cables might be forcing all levels into just two, muting some of the frequencies in the process. Have you dealt with this at all? Our cars have identical features and setups.

[@tala9499]

@@corbenatorany update? Is the sound that bad?

[@corbenator]

@@tala9499 yes, I was able to get the sound dialed in! There's one particular setting in the sound menu called "navi mixer" or something to that effect that has to be turned off to get the the audio to cooperate. To that end, I have a growing list of questions I plan on emailing Viabecs when I can convince myself to sit down and do it about the functionality and compatibility with the vehicle... just gotta will myself to do it.

[@tala9499]

@@corbenatorbut overall you would recommend the product

[@corbenator]

Did you get the Android 11 or 12 unit?

[@PictureTime]

That’s a great question. The link in the description is the exact unit we got. I’m not an Android guy and am just using the app so that Apple CarPlay works, so I’m not sure which version it is.

[@djkproductions5398]

What would you say your total install time was?

[@PictureTime]

2 hours I would guess

[@djkproductions5398]

@@PictureTimethank you! Plan to install mine today

[@beeefkurtains7805]

How reliable is the wireless connectivity?

[@PictureTime]

So far I've connected it to my home wifi (from the garage) and also to my phones hotspot and it seems to work great in both cases. I've not tested it for distance from the router. Thanks for watching.

[@TheSkepticSkwerl]

The wifi is what allows you to have wireless android auto. Bluetooth can't support the speeds carplay needs

[@PictureTime]

Apple carplay works through Bluetooth. There is some latency in on screen commands but it works and is still better than the factory stereo

[@EduardoGac]

Does it have an audio delay? Like if you play KZbin video from the phone thru Bluetooth, does the sound take a delay transferring to the car audio? Video is slightly ahead of the voice?

[@djanderson8953]

Nice