Setting your favorite Toyota RAV4 radio station presets is a great way to enhance your driving experience and listen to your list of favorite music. With the click of a few buttons, these stations can be saved presets you groove to on every drive.
Today, I’m showing you exactly how to achieve this. And if you are worried about whether I’ll go over your particular RAV4, then don’t worry either. I’m covering all the RAV4 models to date that come with this feature, so stick around, and let’s begin!
What Does Setting Presets Mean?
Imagine you’re on the road and bored of the music that lies so out of your taste that you can hardly stand it. You jump from one station to another, but the old tunes on the radio only evoke a sense of boredom or frustration. But this is how it is. Or, is it?
With the modern radio reset feature in your Toyota RAV4, you are no longer bound to listen to music that lies out of your taste. Instead, with a few simple clicks, you can learn how to save your favorite radio station.
By selecting a certain number of your stations as your “presets,” you can enjoy the rhythm or listen to a news update whenever you want to. Not to mention, your attention will also remain undividedly focused on the road ahead.
How To Set The Rav4 Radio Station Presets
Here I am discussing the steps for setting your desired radio stations as presets in your RAV4. I will be covering all the RAV4 models, i.e., the oldest (1994) to the latest (2025). Let’s get started:
2023-2025 RAV4
For the 2023-2024 models, setting up the presets has been made relatively easier. This is because these systems have an intuitive design making them more simple and user-friendly.
- Open the screen with the station viewing
- Simply choose the heart icon in the upper right corner
- The station will be added to your favorite presets.
2019-2022 RAV4
Setting the radio stations on the 2019-2022 RAV4 is the most difficult of all the models.
Follow the step-by-step instructions below to tune in to your 2019-2022 Toyota RAV4:
- Press the “AUDIO” button showing on the left of the screen.
- Press the “Source” tab to view a list of audio sources
- Click either “AM”, “FM”, or “SXM” to select the type of radio station
- Turn the “Tune” knob to find the radio station of your choice
- Press and hold the desired preset field on the screen until you hear a beep to save the radio station
2013-2018 RAV4
Setting the radio station presets on the RAV4 models 2013-2018 is relatively straightforward.
- Access the radio system on the menu
- Locate six (rectangular) buttons on the radio interface. These manual buttons can be pressed for setting presets.
- Turn the rotatory “Tune” knob to choose the desired radio station
- Press and hold a manual preset button to assign the radio station to that button until it beeps
1994-2012 Toyota RAV4
If your RAV4 is older than 2011, i.e. models 2012 or older, setting presets is another piece of cake.
- Locate six manual buttons on the radio interface for presets
- Turn the rotary “Tune” knob to select the desired radio station
- Press and hold the numbered preset button to assign the station to that number
How to Delete Radio Preset
If you accidentally save the wrong radio station as a preset, you don’t have to worry about it.
As you might expect, the steps to reset may be different depending on the model you have. But cutting through the complexity, what is the solution?
- For the 2023-2025 RAV4, simply select the radio and click the heart icon on the top right to unfavorite it.
- For the 1994-2022 RAV4, you won’t be able to delete the radio preset, but you can save a new radio station over it. Simply, reset the steps mentioned earlier.
How to Reset Radio Presets
To reset the Toyota RAV4 radio you may follow the instructions given in this video. It details all of the steps needed to undertake the resetting process.
Available Presets
The total number of presets showing on your RAV4 depends on two things:
- Settings on your RAV4
- Model of your RAV4
Settings on Your RAV4
The audio setting on your RAV4 can alter the number of presets the screen shows. These can, however, be changed through your infotainment system. If you want to learn how to increase or decrease them, you may watch this video.
RAV4 Model Year
Here is a table showing the maximum number of presets by the year of the RAV4 model:
| RAV4 Model By Year | Maximum Number Of Presets |
| 2023-2025 | 20 |
| 2019-2022 | 36 |
| 1994-2018 | 6 |
Available Sources
The Toyota engineers are aware of the eclectic taste of most American drivers. For this reason, the Toyota RAV4 comes with several different music sources as well as means of connectivity with playlists or podcasts with driver’s smartphones. These sources have all been mentioned below:
- FM
- AM
- SiriusXM
- Apple CarPlay
- Android Auto
- Bluetooth
Since we all live in the year 2025, we are familiar with what FM and AM are. Therefore, I will be skipping over these and discussing here the other three sources i.e. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth.
Satellite Radio In The RAV4
The SXM, or SiriusXM, is the satellite radio of the RAV4. It comes with a 3-month free trial. This ad-free trial allows you to access SiriusXM’s music, news, sports, comedy, and entertainment channels. SiriusXM’s premium entertainment covers over 425 channels including more than 165 channels in your vehicle.
With the SXM App, you can listen to a broad collection of podcasts and personalized Pandora stations. You can also check out the Xtra channels of music SiriusXM videos and more.
To get these benefits, you subscribe to SiriusXM anytime. But, the time at which you pay the $350 MSPR subscription determines how long you can keep the satellite radio. Yes, that’s true. Here is a statement about the SiriusXM taken from the official Toyota website itself:
When purchased at the same time as your new vehicle, only Genuine Toyota Accessories are backed by Toyota’s 3-year/36,000-mile New Vehicle Limited Warranty, valid at any Toyota dealership nationwide.
For accessories purchased after the new vehicle purchase, the coverage is 12 months, regardless of mileage, from the date the accessory was installed on the vehicle, or the remainder of any applicable new vehicle warranty (whichever provides greater coverage).
This means if you purchase the SiriusXM from a “Genuine Toyota Accessories” store at the same time you purchase your new RAV4, you can pay the same $350 MSRP to get a 3-year subscription time (33 months extension plus 3 months of trial).
This is three times more than you would get (12 months) if you paid the subscription after purchasing your SUV.
Apple CarPlay
The Apple CarPlay lets you listen to all the playlists and podcasts saved on your iPhone. This wireless system can also bring access to making calls, listening to music sending and receiving messages all while being able to give undivided attention to the road.
Android Auto
With Android Auto, you can listen to your favorite playlists and podcasts saved on your smartphone without any hurdles. This all-in-one pack makes navigation, media, and communication apps easier to access with just a few clicks.
Bluetooth
Connecting Bluetooth is an easy and simple technology for a hands-free phone capability. This wireless technology can be used for seamless audio streaming allowing you to attend calls and enjoy music without getting distracted.
Trouble Shooting Common Radio Issues
If your Toyota RAV4’s radio is not working, there are a few checks to do.
- Check the fuse box to see if the fuse has blown
- Look for software updates in the infotainment system
If these two solutions don’t work, a resetting of the audio system might be in order. This procedure has already been outlined above. You can also refer to the vehicle’s manual for advanced troubleshooting solutions.
FAQ
How do I add favorites to my Toyota?
The presets can be made favorite following different steps based on your RAV4 model. To find the instructions, scroll above to where the steps for your specific model.
Does the Toyota RAV4 have a radio?
Yes, the Toyota RAV4 comes with an eight-speaker infotainment system. This system features AM, FM, SiriusXM, wireless Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay.
Where is the radio reset code?
If you want to look for the radio reset code, you might be able to find it on the sticker in the glovebox. Otherwise, you may check the vehicle handbook under the stereo or security section.
Does RAV4 have wireless CarPlay?
Toyota introduced the wireless Apple CarPlay in RAV4 in 2023. Most Toyota RAV4s starting from this time come standard with a Toyota audio multimedia system, which includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Does RAV4 have a satellite radio?
Yes, with SiriusXM® Satellite Radio, you can enjoy over 165 channels of coast-to-coast coverage, including commercial-free music plus the best sports, comedy, and more. Every SiriusXM® Satellite Radio-equipped Toyota RAV4 comes with a 3-month free trial of the All Access package.
Is Apple CarPlay free on Toyota?
Yes, the Apple CarPlay is free and comes with no additional fees. It is available on most trims after 2020, given they have the Toyota Audio Multimedia system. You’ll need an iPhone with model 5 or newer to connect to the system.
How can I delete preset stations?
You cannot delete radio stations, but, you can save new ones over them. Simply follow the same instructions to save the new preset as mentioned above.
Alternatively, you may reset the infotainment system back to factory settings to get rid of the old presets. This means you will have to connect your Bluetooth and other connections.
Sources
The information on the sources available in the Audio system of Toyota RAV4 was taken from the official Toyota website.
Conclusion
Setting presets for the type of radio station is very useful for maintaining a steady focus on the road and having a fun ride at the same time.
Setting presets can be perplexing as the steps to accomplish this are dependent on the type of RAV4 you have. But, if you follow the steps I mentioned earlier you can set your favorite presets with ease.
The model of your SUV and the settings of its audio system also determine the total number of preset slots you have available.
As for the audio sources available, Toyota is generous with the eclectic taste of its customers providing FM, AM, SiriusXM, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth to satisfy a diversity of preferences.
To know more about other features of the RAV4, like the coffee cup symbol, stay tuned to our upcoming articles.