SRC Button on Your Car Radio: When, Why, and How to Switch Sources on Your Car Radio
Getting the most out of your car radio’s SRC button.
The mysterious SRC button that lurks on many car radio dashboards has finally revealed its purpose. As numerous drivers have discovered after much trial and error, SRC stands for “Source” or “Media” and is used to change between different audio input options.
With the press of SRC, you can seamlessly toggle between FM, AM, auxiliary ports, USB drives, Bluetooth, and more, depending on your vehicle’s configuration. Going beyond simple radio, SRC provides access to a wide range of entertainment possibilities.
On older stereos, each press of SRC cycles linearly through all available sources. Meanwhile, modern receivers employ SRC to conveniently pull up onscreen menus, allowing drivers to directly select their preferred audio with the touch of a button.
However, many early adopters of newfangled screens have scratched their heads in confusion when repeatedly pressing SRC yields no response. As it turns out, the source can only be changed if relevant jacks or transmitters are properly connected behind the scenes.
Whether it’s plugging that dust-collecting auxiliary cord into the car or pairing a smartphone via Bluetooth, SRC requires compatible devices…
