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Rolling out now through Q3 2026
Ford SYNC & Digital Experience Over-the-Air Updates
Free, automatic, and delivered while your vehicle is parked — including the latest Software Update 13.
If you own a Ford or Lincoln with SYNC or the newer Ford and Lincoln Digital Experience, your vehicle keeps getting smarter over time — automatically, at no cost, through over-the-air (OTA) software updates. This is our running guide to Ford’s latest updates, what they add, and what to expect. We keep it current as new updates roll out, so bookmark it and check back. Below you will find the newest update, Software Update 13 (SU13), along with the features carried forward from Software Update 12 (SU12).
Quick Answer
Ford delivers new features to SYNC and Ford & Lincoln Digital Experience vehicles through free over-the-air software updates that install automatically while your vehicle is parked. The latest, Software Update 13 (SU13), adds features like Google Cast, natural-voice Custom Vehicle Actions, Kickstart tips, and in-vehicle subscription management, while extending earlier SU12 features to more vehicles and model years. Questions about your update? Call Jay Malone Ford at (320) 587-4748.
In this article
What’s new in Software Update 13
Features from Software Update 12
Which vehicles get these updates
What you’ll experience
How to get updates automatically
Frequently asked questions
What’s New in Software Update 13 (SU13)
Software Update 13 is the newest OTA update, rolling out through the third quarter of 2026. For vehicles with SYNC 4 or SYNC 4A, SU13 extends the features introduced in SU12 to additional Ford and Lincoln vehicles and model years, along with new bug fixes and system improvements. It also introduces several brand-new features, especially for Ford and Lincoln Digital Experience vehicles.
New for Ford & Lincoln Digital Experience
- Google Cast: Turn your parked vehicle into a theater by casting content to your screen.
- Custom Vehicle Actions: Interact with your vehicle’s Google Assistant using natural voice commands, keeping your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road.
- Kickstart: While parked, your touchscreen shows curated tips highlighting vehicle features and capabilities. (Kickstart cards appear only for eligible users, such as those who haven’t set up Ford Connectivity+.)
- Subscription Management: A new in-vehicle QR code points you to the Ford app, where you can browse available features and manage your active subscriptions.
New and improved for SYNC
- Battery Preconditioning with Apple Maps EV Routing in CarPlay: Apple Maps EV Routing in CarPlay can now precondition your battery for DC fast charging, so you spend less time at the charger.
- Trailer and Towing Interface Fixes: On-screen towing menus are now more user-friendly, improving the towing experience.
- Improved Charge History Tracking: EV and plug-in hybrid owners get more accurate charge history.
- ePrivacy Settings: More choices for certain uses of connected vehicle data, easily managed under the Connectivity settings menu on your touchscreen.
- Apple CarPlay / Android Auto Improvements: Quicker connections, smoother startup, and a more integrated in-vehicle experience.
Features From Software Update 12 (SU12)
SU13 builds on the foundation of Software Update 12, which rolled out earlier in 2026. If your vehicle is receiving updates in this wave, here are the key SU12 features now reaching more Ford and Lincoln vehicles:
Tesla Supercharger access for more Ford EVs
SU12 expanded compatible Tesla Supercharger access in Connected Navigation to 2021 and 2022 Mustang Mach-E and 2022 F-150 Lightning owners, significantly expanding the public fast-charging network you can use without leaving the SYNC navigation interface.
Video streaming and karaoke apps
For Ford and Lincoln vehicles with 12-inch SYNC 4 screens, plus Expeditions with the 15-inch screen, SU12 expanded access to video streaming and karaoke apps directly through the in-vehicle interface — useful during charging stops, tailgates, or waiting in a parking lot. These features are designed for use only while the vehicle is parked.
Charging, privacy, and connectivity
SU12 also introduced battery preconditioning with Apple Maps EV Routing, improved charge history tracking, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity improvements, and the ePrivacy settings refresh — all of which SU13 continues to extend to more vehicles and model years.
Which Vehicles Get These Updates
These over-the-air updates roll out to a range of Ford and Lincoln vehicles, beginning with SU12 in mid-2026 and continuing with SU13 through the third quarter. Eligible vehicles have included:
- 2021-2022 Ford F-150
- 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning
- 2021-2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E
- 2021-2022 Ford Bronco
- 2022-2024 Ford Expedition
- 2022-2024 Lincoln Navigator
- 2026 Ford Transit
- Plus additional Ford and Lincoln vehicles and model years added with SU13
Timing varies by feature and by vehicle. Some features arrive at the start of the rollout window; others phase in over the third quarter. Ford typically begins with a smaller test deployment before expanding to broader availability, so don’t be concerned if neighbors with the same vehicle receive their update at a different time than you do.
What You’ll Experience
If you’ve had an over-the-air update on your Ford before, this works the same way:
- An in-vehicle notification appears when the update is ready for your specific vehicle.
- You can adjust the install time from the notification or in the Ford or Lincoln app.
- The update installs while the vehicle is parked — usually overnight.
- You’ll get a notification in the Ford or Lincoln app when it’s complete.
- For the ePrivacy update, a separate one-time notification appears on your vehicle’s screen.
How to Get Updates Automatically
Ford recommends enabling automatic software updates and setting a recurring schedule — either in your vehicle’s settings or through the Ford or Lincoln mobile app. Setting it once means future updates install without you having to think about them, just like your phone or laptop. If you’ve never used the Ford or Lincoln app, this is a great time to download it: it gives you remote vehicle control, vehicle health reports, EV charging information, and a clear view of when updates are scheduled or completed.
Questions about your Ford’s software update?
Not sure whether your vehicle is eligible, when your update will arrive, or what a notification means? Our service team handles these questions all the time. Schedule service or call (320) 587-4748.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Ford over-the-air software updates cost anything?
No. Over-the-air software updates from Ford and Lincoln, including SU12 and SU13, are included at no cost and install automatically over your vehicle’s wireless connection.
When will my vehicle get Software Update 13?
SU13 continues rolling out through the third quarter of 2026. Ford rolls updates out in phases, so timing varies by vehicle model, model year, and even individual vehicle. If you think you’re overdue, contact our service team.
Do I need to bring my vehicle to the dealership for the update?
No. These are over-the-air updates that install wirelessly while your vehicle is parked. You don’t need to visit the dealership. If you experience any issues after an update installs, we’re happy to take a look — call us at (320) 587-4748.
What is the ePrivacy notification on my screen?
Ford is asking customers to review their ePrivacy settings — the preferences related to how your vehicle handles connected data. The notification walks you through your options, which you can manage under the Connectivity settings menu. If you have questions about what to choose, contact our service team.
How do I make sure I get future updates automatically?
Open your vehicle’s settings menu or the Ford or Lincoln mobile app and enable automatic software updates. You can also set a recurring schedule so updates always install at a convenient time. Setting it once means future updates install without further action on your part.
Ford’s over-the-air updates are one of the quiet perks of modern vehicle ownership — your Ford or Lincoln keeps getting better long after you drive it home. We’ll keep this page updated as new software updates roll out, so check back to see what’s next. And if you ever have questions about an update, our team is here to help.
About the Author
I’m Jordan Malone-Forst, Assistant General Manager at Jay Malone Motors in Hutchinson, MN. Our family has been helping central Minnesotans find, buy, and care for their Fords and Lincolns since 2005. If you have questions about your Ford’s software update, what a notification on your screen means, or anything else about your vehicle, call our service team at (320) 587-4748. We’re here to help, before, during, and long after the sale.
Feature availability, timing, and eligible vehicles are determined by Ford Motor Company and are subject to change. Rollout continues in phases through Q3 2026; timing for specific features and vehicle models may vary. Some features require specific hardware, model years, or connected services. See Ford.com/support or contact our service team for the latest details.