MG iSMART app / car connectivity

[Yorkshire Hillbilly]

It's not just me right, the MG iSMART / car connectivity is somewhat lacking?

9 out of 10 times the app says "The remote control instruction failed, please try again later"

It's been driving me insane for months and the MG head office people just keep fobbing me off like "You will need to visit your local MG dealership for technical support"

My MG dealership keep telling me "We've done some updates, check to see if it's fixed the issues"

 

[RayFWI]

Hi
same here... often struggling to get connection
Same wifi, same car location, same phone location...
Killing the app nothing
What seems to work : unlock / lock the car
....
OK connected
2nd struggle : start charging.... same message often appears
....

 

[DixieTGS]

What seems to work : unlock / lock the car
....

Almost always, especially if you also press the brake pedal, but sometimes you then have to wait 10 minutes too.

2nd struggle : start charging.... same message often appears

While charging no unlock required, just trying 10 or 15 minutes later will make it work... and then a while later it won't etc.

Surprisingly it can also fail when being driven, in the same way as when charging. Fortunately we rarely use it while one of us is driving.

 

[AlexC]

The App (for me) was basically useless, but the latest (iPhone) version 2.0.7 for a lot better and improved the UI, not actually noted on the App version history, all very odd Chinese behaviour.
Ensure using latest version and try resetting cache, button right icon, settings.

 

[IDC]

I have been getting "The remote control instruction failed, please try again later" message and another to do with supposedly not agreeing to the user agreement. All solved by ignoring the app and going to the settings icon, then bottom right user agreement and then at the bottom of that page "Global data switch". That was off, I turned it on and the app sprang into life and has worked without fail since.

 

[tsedge]

The App (for me) was basically useless, but the latest (iPhone) version 2.0.7 for a lot better and improved the UI, not actually noted on the App version history, all very odd Chinese behaviour.
Ensure using latest version and try resetting cache, button right icon, settings.

I may be wrong but I believe our app is developed in Europe, the Chinese one is very different.

 

[AlexC]

I may be wrong but I believe our app is developed in Europe, the Chinese one is very different.

It would not make sense for the core App workings to be different, ie using the same APIs. Maybe just the UI / skin is different for EU.

 

[tsedge]

It would not make sense for the core App workings to be different, ie using the same APIs. Maybe just the UI / skin is different for EU.

That's assuming that the decisions always make sense! You'd think so, but I would not be so sure, it would probably be a contracted-out job to a 3rd party development house who may just use the API direct.

 

[Udders71]

Hi all. Decided to do a test to see if the digital key in the app worked robustly.
Had to walk home to get keys. So don't bother. ?

 

[phil99]

Hi all. Decided to do a test to see if the digital key in the app worked robustly.
Had to walk home to get keys. So don't bother. ?

I use the Bluetooth key regularly and it works just fine.

Perhaps if you explain what problems you had, it might be useful to other people.

 

[Udders71]

Unlocked at home, ok. Paired the phone to car by holding to central steering wheel area, as prompted. Ok. Drove into town. Worked. Ok. Locked car. Ok. Unlocked car a couple of times whilst in town, all Ok. Drove car again to get kid from school, again Ok. Parked and locked up, Ok. Tried to unlock again, app error and 'unable to use.....'. Closed app down several times, and still no luck. Had to walk home to get keys. Oh, left windows ajar as was warm??
Ideas?

 

[phil99]

Unlocked at home, ok. Paired the phone to car by holding to central steering wheel area, as prompted. Ok. Drove into town. Worked. Ok. Locked car. Ok. Unlocked car a couple of times whilst in town, all Ok. Drove car again to get kid from school, again Ok. Parked and locked up, Ok. Tried to unlock again, app error and 'unable to use.....'. Closed app down several times, and still no luck. Had to walk home to get keys. Oh, left windows ajar as was warm??
Ideas?

When you say “app error” - what did you do before this error popped up? What was the error?

Are you certain you’re using the Bluetooth / digital key functionality and not the other remote lock/unlock?

These are the remote unlock/lock buttons;

The digital key functionality is in the digital key section (I’m not near mine so isn’t connected);