SYNC-26.2.8.3 (the big SYNC update)

[rhexis]

new here and have had my mach e for a few weeks now. i have yet to get any update and i check every day. right now it looks like my sync version is not even current prior to this new update. is my car broken? here is my sync info:

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[dan_meh]

Thanks, @SonicBlue , for the write up!

I love that Ford rolled it out to the OG owners first. Happy for you, 21 and 22s!

 

[MacherAWD]

new here and have had my mach e for a few weeks now. i have yet to get any update and i check every day. right now it looks like my sync version is not even current prior to this new update. is my car broken? here is my sync info:

Maches seem to only get software updates a few times a year, no need to check it will alert you when they are available. And not all years get the same things, they made changes in hardware over the years.

 

[dan_meh]

Anyone who got the sync update and who is living that Apple life:
Do you get anything when you tap the Ford app in Apple CarPlay or is it still “coming soon?”

See what I’m talking about here: https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/new-ford-carplay-app-thats-empty.53180/

 

[allenj444]

Anyone living that Apple life:
Do you get anything when you tap the Ford app in Apple CarPlay or is it still “coming soon?”

See what I’m talking about here: https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/new-ford-carplay-app-thats-empty.53180/

As of yesterday 6/19/26 my ‘25 still says coming soon.
I hope the Public Charging feature is being moved to the Ford app.

 

[pixelpusher15]

Personally, I’ve never understood the rush to open a frunk or trunk. Others seem to think it’s an urgent life threatening situation if they can’t get it open in under 2 seconds and preferably significantly faster than that.

The same goes for the Ui, there are people who would prefer a bunch of empty space blissfully doing nothing constantly existing as a reminder to our personal and collective emptiness. Meanwhile, another group exists who quite literally think that every single millimeter of empty space has to be filled with something, because it’s of the utmost importance that this button activating the quantum accelerator always be displayed.

Those goals are incompatible and its why a good UI can be defined by whether it succeeds in annoying everyone.

Ford can’t win when it comes to this.

My massive complaint is that I typically get to my parked position and turn off the car. Once this is done the trunk and frunk button is stupidly disabled.

The thing is, cars have been designed for decades where a trunk button exists physically that is easily accessible no matter the state of the car. We hoomans have developed muscle memory and habits for when we press this button. When that changes, and or becomes impossible (turn car off > open trunk) it becomes pretty frustrating to change that habit.

Also, why do I have to press a button, wait 2 seconds for the screen to load and press another button that doesn't work half the time because I didn't press it long enough jsut to open the trunk BEFORE I turn off the car? That's really ok with you?

 

[NY_Cade69]

The thing is, cars have been designed for decades where a trunk button exists physically that is easily accessible no matter the state of the car. We hoomans have developed muscle memory and habits for when we press this button. When that changes, and or becomes impossible (turn car off > open trunk) it becomes pretty frustrating to change that habit.

And then, for decades after that, we had a button on the key fob, and now we have a button on the phone...

Evolve and adapt, my friend...

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

My massive complaint is that I typically get to my parked position and turn off the car. Once this is done the trunk and frunk button is stupidly disabled.

The thing is, cars have been designed for decades where a trunk button exists physically that is easily accessible no matter the state of the car. We hoomans have developed muscle memory and habits for when we press this button. When that changes, and or becomes impossible (turn car off > open trunk) it becomes pretty frustrating to change that habit.

Also, why do I have to press a button, wait 2 seconds for the screen to load and press another button that doesn't work half the time because I didn't press it long enough jsut to open the trunk BEFORE I turn off the car? That's really ok with you?

As I said earlier, there seem to be at least two groups of people when it comes to opening the frunk and liftgate.

One group expects a dedicated physical button for every commonly used function, available regardless of the vehicle’s state. That’s a perfectly reasonable expectation because that’s how many vehicles have been designed for decades.

The other group is comfortable with a mix of physical controls, touchscreen controls, and direct interaction with the vehicle itself. In the Mach-E, the liftgate has a physical button that works whether the vehicle is on or off, so for those owners the lack of a dedicated interior trunk-release button isn’t an issue.

I strongly suspect the real disagreement here isn’t about the extra two seconds. It’s about the absence of a dedicated physical control.

I’ve seen similar debates whenever interfaces change. People develop habits around a particular design, and when the design changes those habits no longer work. That doesn’t automatically make the new approach better, but it doesn’t make it worse either.

Personally, once I’ve parked the vehicle, I’m usually headed toward the liftgate anyway. Pressing the button on the liftgate has never struck me as a problem worth solving. Others clearly feel differently, and that’s fine. I just don’t see it as a significant usability issue.

 

[pixelpusher15]

And then, for decades after that, we had a button on the key fob, and now we have a button on the phone...

Evolve and adapt, my friend...

I don't carry the fob. I use the PAAK that sometimes works.

And seriously? I should pull out my phone to open the trunk? Dude.

That's not an evolution. That's a regression.

 

[pixelpusher15]

As I said earlier, there seem to be at least two groups of people when it comes to opening the frunk and liftgate.

One group expects a dedicated physical button for every commonly used function, available regardless of the vehicle’s state. That’s a perfectly reasonable expectation because that’s how many vehicles have been designed for decades.

The other group is comfortable with a mix of physical controls, touchscreen controls, and direct interaction with the vehicle itself. In the Mach-E, the liftgate has a physical button that works whether the vehicle is on or off, so for those owners the lack of a dedicated interior trunk-release button isn’t an issue.

I strongly suspect the real disagreement here isn’t about the extra two seconds. It’s about the absence of a dedicated physical control.

I’ve seen similar debates whenever interfaces change. People develop habits around a particular design, and when the design changes those habits no longer work. That doesn’t automatically make the new approach better, but it doesn’t make it worse either.

Personally, once I’ve parked the vehicle, I’m usually headed toward the liftgate anyway. Pressing the button on the liftgate has never struck me as a problem worth solving. Others clearly feel differently, and that’s fine. I just don’t see it as a significant usability issue.

I'm a UX designer so I fully get changing isn't necessarily bad but isn't always good either. People develop habits and carefully creating a new way is tricky. I think Ford dropped the ball here on this. My biggest complaint is I can't open the frunk/trunk with the car off. Second is not having a dedicated button more accessible.

A smart solution would be giving user customizable controls on the top of the screen. There's definitely a solution here to make everyone happy. Ford hasn't done that and I think that's a fair statement.

I have had to open the liftgate for my wife before, or grocery dropoff.If the car is locked the button doesn't work. It's clunky to either go in the slow UI to get to that trunk button or press the unlock button and then yell that I unlocked it and they can open the trunk. There's a much better solution to this not-uncommon use case.

 

[creedda]

How the the Apple Maps preconditioning work? Is this still true:

Also looking for this answer.

Any 2022-2024s get this yet?

 

[rugedraw]

new here and have had my mach e for a few weeks now. i have yet to get any update and i check every day. right now it looks like my sync version is not even current prior to this new update. is my car broken? here is my sync info:

Welcome to the forum. There is nothing wrong with your car. As of now, this update is only going out to 2021 model year Mach E's, F150's and Broncos AFAIK. Connectivity is working just fine on your car and your last OTA was on May 12th. Your car being a 2025 was built with most of the latest and greatest already. You have nothing to be concerned about in terms of updates.......you just need to wait until they start rolling it out to other model years and they get to you.

 

[NY_Cade69]

A smart solution would be giving user customizable controls on the top of the screen. There's definitely a solution here to make everyone happy. Ford hasn't done that and I think that's a fair statement.

This I totally agree with (and have espoused), and have the buttons work on Retained Accessory Power.

I will confess, I did the liftgate button mod,

and want a button in the lower left cargo area, like this, as I had evolved past the need to raise my hand to do this...

 

[SonicBlue]

I don't carry the fob. I use the PAAK that sometimes works.

And seriously? I should pull out my phone to open the trunk? Dude.

That's not an evolution. That's a regression.

Exactly. The mental gymnastics some people go through to justify this omission is a bit embarrassing.

 

[SonicBlue]

As I said earlier, there seem to be at least two groups of people when it comes to opening the frunk and liftgate.

One group expects a dedicated physical button for every commonly used function, available regardless of the vehicle’s state. That’s a perfectly reasonable expectation because that’s how many vehicles have been designed for decades.

The other group is comfortable with a mix of physical controls, touchscreen controls, and direct interaction with the vehicle itself. In the Mach-E, the liftgate has a physical button that works whether the vehicle is on or off, so for those owners the lack of a dedicated interior trunk-release button isn’t an issue.

I strongly suspect the real disagreement here isn’t about the extra two seconds. It’s about the absence of a dedicated physical control.

This is a bit of an oversimplification. The problem isn’t switching from a physical button to a touchscreen button - a touchscreen button on the Home Screen would be fine! The problem is that you first have to remember to first tap one little button to open Settings, and then hunt for the even tinier trunk button tucked away in the top right corner of the drive modes. That’s truly stupid design. There is no excusing this. None.

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