ISSUE FIXED … BUT PROBLEMS CONTINUE-- Anyone figured out the iPhone/assistant/contact sync issue?

[Rivian Rider]

Hi,

I know there's been other posts about iPhone contacts either showing up and not being accessible to Rivian assistant, or not showing up at all. Wonder if anyone figured out a solution? Or do we have to wait for a software update?

In my case, my nearly 3000 contacts are synced and visible on the center display. However, when I ask the assistant to call or text any anyone in the contact list, it will say that I need to sync my contacts first. I've done all the troubleshooting and adjustments I need to make, such as making sure my iPhone has the proper settings. I've also reset both the entertainment and the vehicle itself. If I ask the assistant to text or call a specific number and read out the digits of the number, it will do that.

I know others have commented about the separation of the assistant and the phone contact software UI. But curious if anyone figured this out.?

Thanks.

update, as of June 10, 2026. I did the same thing that I had previously done multiple times: first eye went into apps/Rivian Assistance and toggled off use Rivian assistant, and then toggle it back on. Then I reset the Vehicle by pressing the left button on the steering wheel and the hazard light.

And, this time, it all worked. I could send text messages and make phone calls to people in my contact list. I have no idea why this time it worked, but it did, so I'm happy!

following up a couple of days later, it looks like every time I get in the car, I have to turn Rivian assistant off and then turn it on again and go through the agreement prompts for it to recognize and see the contacts.

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[paulrenec]

Hi,

I know there's been other posts about iPhone contacts either showing up and not being accessible to Rivian assistant, or not showing up at all. Wonder if anyone figured out a solution? Or do we have to wait for a software update?

In my case, my nearly 3000 contacts are synced and visible on the center display. However, when I ask the assistant to call or text any anyone in the contact list, it will say that I need to sync my contacts first. I've done all the troubleshooting and adjustments I need to make, such as making sure my iPhone has the proper settings. I've also reset both the entertainment and the vehicle itself. If I ask the assistant to text or call a specific number and read out the digits of the number, it will do that.

I know others have commented about the separation of the assistant and the phone contact software UI. But curious if anyone figured this out.?

Thanks.

I have the same problem… if I toggle the iPhone contact access it worked for a while ( hours) then some thing happened.tried the soft reboot and the hard reboot and power cycle the I phone still same issue.

 

[Rivian Rider]

BTW, the service center didn't know how to solve it either. I suppose it's a software issue that needs a patch or update.

 

[Taco Corp]

I've heard that it may be a matter of deleting and re-adding the phone to vehicle but that was a solution that worked for a couple people vs. stated fix from Rivian.

 

[itsweldon]

Hi,

I know there's been other posts about iPhone contacts either showing up and not being accessible to Rivian assistant, or not showing up at all. Wonder if anyone figured out a solution? Or do we have to wait for a software update?

In my case, my nearly 3000 contacts are synced and visible on the center display. However, when I ask the assistant to call or text any anyone in the contact list, it will say that I need to sync my contacts first. I've done all the troubleshooting and adjustments I need to make, such as making sure my iPhone has the proper settings. I've also reset both the entertainment and the vehicle itself. If I ask the assistant to text or call a specific number and read out the digits of the number, it will do that.

I know others have commented about the separation of the assistant and the phone contact software UI. But curious if anyone figured this out.?

Thanks.

I want to solve as well

 

[Bongorivian]

I want to solve as well

same issue here even after 15.1 update. Deleting and re-adding appears to fix it temporarily. The issue comes back later.

 

[jrmbadger]

Try deleting your phone from both the rivian and the phone. Restart your phone and reboot Rivian then re add your phone.

 

[Bongorivian]

Thanks! Will try this next. This is a simple update and should be seamless. Oh well!

 

[Mjh2157]

Same issue before and after update 2026.15.30. ‘26 R1T tri max and iPhone 16 plus with ios

Have:

- unpaired and repaired both rivian audio on the phone and the vehicle
- soft reboot
- hard reboot
- enabled/disabled iPhone toggle in rivian settings
- enabled/disabled toggles for iPhone Bluetooth settings on the rivian
- enabled show message notifications/sync contacts/groups/all contacts on phone Bluetooth settings

phone calls and texts have never worked. Always the same responses like “contacts syncing” even after hours of driving. Or enable Bluetooth which is already enabled. The notes on the latest update said it would pull contacts from favorites. I have 10 favorites, none of them work. I have over 4k contacts.

 

[Rivian My Best Life]

Quick question, are any of you wearing the the Meta AI glasses when starting up the vehicle ? There is a known issue with BT connectivity when both Rivian Assistant and Meta protocols are accessing your phones BT. Try turning off the glasses and see if that works.

 

[Mjh2157]

Quick question, are any of you wearing the the Meta AI glasses when starting up the vehicle ? There is a known issue with BT connectivity when both Rivian Assistant and Meta protocols are accessing your phones BT. Try turning off the glasses and see if that works.

I do not own any devices except: Apple Watch Ultra 3 and iPhone 16 plus, both on the latest iOS.

 

[jrmbadger]

Same issue before and after update 2026.15.30. ‘26 R1T tri max and iPhone 16 plus with ios

Have:

- unpaired and repaired both rivian audio on the phone and the vehicle
- soft reboot
- hard reboot
- enabled/disabled iPhone toggle in rivian settings
- enabled/disabled toggles for iPhone Bluetooth settings on the rivian
- enabled show message notifications/sync contacts/groups/all contacts on phone Bluetooth settings

phone calls and texts have never worked. Always the same responses like “contacts syncing” even after hours of driving. Or enable Bluetooth which is already enabled. The notes on the latest update said it would pull contacts from favorites. I have 10 favorites, none of them work. I have over 4k contacts.

I suspect that you just have too many contacts.

based upon my measly 150 contacts taking up 60mb of storage, 4k contacts would be about 1.6gb assuming it scales linearly. I also have very few contact photos. If you have lots of photos it would be more.

According to this calculator Bluetooth transfer speed calculator a file this size would take well over 2 hours to transfer on Bluetooth 5 and this assumes that the rivian doesn't time out or run out of memory first. I’d be surprised if the infotainment system had 1.6gb to spare for contacts.

It may have worked previously without the RA but im guessing there is additional processing or storage required for each contact for the RA.

 

[Mjh2157]

Quick question, are any of you wearing the the Meta AI glasses when starting up the vehicle ? There is a known issue with BT connectivity when both Rivian Assistant and Meta protocols are accessing your phones BT. Try turning off the glasses and see if that works.

I suspect that you just have too many contacts.

based upon my measly 150 contacts taking up 60mb of storage, 4k contacts would be about 1.6gb assuming it scales linearly. I also have very few contact photos. If you have lots of photos it would be more.

According to this calculator Bluetooth transfer speed calculator a file this size would take well over 2 hours to transfer on Bluetooth 5 and this assumes that the rivian doesn't time out or run out of memory first. I’d be surprised if the infotainment system had 1.6gb to spare for contacts.

It may have worked previously without the RA but im guessing there is additional processing or storage required for each contact for the RA.

Thank you, that makes sense to me. I wish they would publish the current limit. I don't see it in the last release notes. There was a note it would query favorites so I was hopefull that would do it, but still nothing. I have driven over 2 hours and it still didn't work. You're probably spot on with the time outs.

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