Apple CarPlay Not Working? How to Fix

BySerhat Kurt Posted on Reading Time: 5 minutes

Are you having issues with Apple CarPlay? Sometimes you may not be able to connect your iPhone to CarPlay. Another common issue is that CarPlay suddenly stops working or keeps disconnecting after it is connected, and this may start after an iOS update. Sometimes, your iPhone may not be detected by CarPlay. Sometimes CarPlay may freeze and you may see a black screen. And lastly, you may have a CarPlay sound problem.

Apple CarPlay

You can use CarPlay easily. Once connected, your iOS apps will show up on your car display. Then, for example, you can send or receive messages, get directions or make or receive phone calls; hands-free so that you can focus on the road.

Please see the tips below. After each step, try using CarPlay again.

First, let’s review the CarPlay requirements:

To run the CarPlay app, you will need an iPhone or a car or stereo that’s compatible with CarPlay.

Check if your car or stereo is compatible

An increasing number of makes and models are compatible. The numbers are changing quickly. There are currently more than 500 car models. You can see the full list of compatible vehicles on the Apple website.

The following aftermarket stereos are also compatible:

  • Alpine
  • Blaupunkt
  • Clarion
  • JVC
  • Kenwood
  • Pioneer
  • Sony

Check if your iPhone is compatible

These iPhone models support CarPlay:

  • iPhone 11 Pro and newer
  • iPhone 11 Pro Max
  • iPhone 11
  • iPhone Xs
  • iPhone Xs Max
  • iPhone XR
  • iPhone X
  • iPhone 8
  • iPhone 8 Plus
  • iPhone 7
  • iPhone 7 Plus
  • iPhone 6s
  • iPhone 6s Plus
  • iPhone 6
  • iPhone 6 Plus
  • iPhone SE
  • iPhone 5s
  • iPhone 5c
  • iPhone 5

Other iPhone models are not compatible.

Check if your country or region supports CarPlay

CarPlay is not available everywhere. See Apple’s website that CarPlay is currently available.

Check if Siri is turned on

Siri needs to be enabled:

  • On your iPhone, go to Settings > Siri & Search. Make sure that the following options are enabled:
    • Listen for “Hey Siri”.
    • Press Side Button for Siri or Press Home for Siri.
    • Allow Siri When Locked.

See this article if Siri is not working.

Check if CarPlay is allowed while locked 

On your iPhone, go to Settings > General > CarPlay > Your Car > and turn on “Allow CarPlay While Locked”.

Allow CarPlay

Furthermore. make sure that CarPlay is not restricted. On your device, go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Allowed Apps and make sure that CarPlay is enabled.

Check if your iPhone and your car’s infotainment system are turned on

Yes, it is obvious. But check anyway.

Furthermore, make sure that if your car has a “activate” option, make sure that that option is selected.

See also: Fix When your iPhone Won’t Charge or Charges Slowly

If you are unable to connect

If you are having issues connecting your iPhone to your vehicle and using CarPlay. To connect your iPhone to your car, there are two ways, depending on your car:

  1. Simply plug in your phone using a USB cable. If you are having issues:
    • Make sure that your USB cable is Apple certified, especially if you see the “This Accessory Is Not Supported By This Device” message.
    • If possible, try a different USB port to connect.
    • If possible, try a different USB cable.
    • Make sure that your USB cable is connected properly.
    • Make sure that your charging port and the USB port are clean and there are no damages.
  2. If your car supports wireless connection, pair your phone with your car’s Bluetooth.
    • Turn on Airplane Mode on your iPhone, wait 10 seconds and turn it off (Settings > Airplane Mode).
    • Restart your iPhone.
    • Make sure that Bluetooth is turned on on your iPhone. (see this article if you cannot turn on Bluetooth).
    • Restart your car’s infotainment system (it is usually done by pressing and holding the volume or power knob).

See also: iPhone Not Connecting To a Car Stereo Using Bluetooth

Update everything

Update your iPhone to the latest version of iOS. You can update your iPhone wirelessly. Here is how:

  • Make sure that your iPhone is connected to the Internet.
  • Then go to Settings > General > Software Update.
  • Tap Download and Install.
  • And follow the onscreen instructions.

If you are using an aftermarket device, please check the manufacturer’s website to see if a firmware update is available and if there is, find out how you can update.

Restart everything

Restart your iPhone, your car’s infotainment system and your car. Here is how you can restart your iPhone:

  • iPhone X, 11 or later: Press and hold the power (side or top) and volume up (or down) buttons together until you see the power off slider. Drag the slider to turn it off. Then press and hold the power button until your device starts.
  • Other iPhone models: Press and hold the side or top button until the power off slider appears. Slide the slider. Then press and hold the side or top button until the Apple logo appears.

You can also restart your car’s infotainment system. This is different for different cars and models. For example, you may need to press and hold down the audio system power knob for at least 10 seconds. Again this may be different for your car. Simply check your car’s manual.

Forget and set up

If you are still having your problem, try to re-setup. Here is how:

  • On your iPhone, tap Settings > General > CarPlay > your car > Forget This Car.

Forget This Car

Now you will need to set up again. Here is how:

Depending on your car:

  • Simply plug your iPhone into the USB port in your car.
  • Or if your car supports wireless CarPlay, go to Settings > General > CarPlay, tap Available cars, and then select your car.

If you are still having this issue, this may mean that there is an issue with your car’s stereos system. You can also contact Apple Support.

See also: ‘Show Parked Car Location’ Not Working?

Dr. Serhat Kurt worked as a Senior Technology Director specializing in Apple solutions for small and medium-sized educational institutions. He holds a doctoral degree (or doctorate) from the University of Illinois at Urbana / Champaign and a master’s degree from Purdue University. He is a former faculty member. Here is his LinkedIn profile and Google Scholar profile. Email Serhat Kurt.

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21 Comments

  1. Hello,
    When I drive through one area my internet drops and so does my CarPlay. Then every few times this happens it doesn’t connect back right away. I get the cars Home Screen and it say CarPlay is running but it does not show my phone projection. I have tried clicking off the Bluetooth, the WiFi on phone, turning of my phone, but nothing works while I am driving to get my phone to project even though my car says it is projecting. Any ideas would be great. It is so frustrating.
    Thanks
    Jen

    Reply

  2. My Apple Carplay screen intermittently resets from good to blank to good again. Audio stays good. Troubleshot and found that an Original Apple USB to Lightning cable works great. No issues. I would suggest original Apple USB chord or maybe a MFI Certified cable, when hardired through USB to Apple Carplay. Toyota Rav4 Limited 2021

    Reply

  3. I have a Seat Ibiza and this is the second time that I get Apple’s CarPlay icon (and support) removed from my infotainment system. Not sure why this happens but it is very easy to fix (even though it took me 2 weeks to figure it out): just navigate to System > Settings > Factory Settings > Infotainment.

    Apparently you can reset to factory settings individual modules in Seat’s infotainment and infotainment itself is one of them.

    I reset it to factory settings which took 1 second and Apple’s CarPlay icon appeared again.

    Reply

  4. I have the new Toyota Yaris my Apple Play works but I can’t use the app icons to switch between apps it worked perfectly for 6 months then stopped

    Reply

    1. For me it’s Yaris 2020… but my CarPlay can only support iPhone Xs. It will stop working times by times if I change into iPhone 12 pro…. really annoying when I need the navigation ><

      Reply

  5. CarPlay was working perfectly in my 2021 Kia Soul. Then suddenly it has started disconnecting one of my apps after about 30 seconds. It also freezes up the app where it becomes unresponsive. I’m not sure what to do

    Reply

  6. i have an Acura 2020 RDX and Apple Car Play has stopped working
    The only way I can get it to work is be doing a Factory Reset
    each and everytime
    I have brought it to the dealer 4 times with no success
    and called Apple and spoke to senior reps multiple times
    No one seems to have any answers
    at he dealer all of the staff have Androids and they work fine in my car
    If anyone has any suggestions that would be great

    Reply

  7. Cadillac CT6 2019; getting multiple sources at same time (radio and music from iPhone) when CarPlay is engaged

    Reply

  8. Similar issue here on a 2018 VOlt. It connects fine but as soon as I go to play music it disconnects. A few seconds later it reconnects with the same disconnect if I try to play music.

    Reply

  10. 2020 70 plate Kia Niro.
    iPhone 6s+
    Phone connects via wifi (yes that is right) after about 1-5 mins message on car info system “phone is not responsive reconnect”.
    I have connected via media USB port (turned wifi off on phone) and the same message appears.
    Phone worked perfect before last iOS update and in a 67 2018 Vauxhall Zafira connected via usb.

    Reply

  11. My Apple Car Play has worked perfect for the last year in my 2019 Honda HRV. All of a sudden it has decided to not connect when I plug in. Turn off the car & phone. Nothing. Randomly it works but not consistently. Weird!

    Reply

    1. I’ve had similar issues ever since the last IOS upgrade — CarPlay worked seamlessly for 18 months in my 2018 Ford, and now it won’t play any audio at the same time I use Waze?

      Reply

      1. Same here. I had to switch to Maps and now CarPlay also intermittently quits entirely. This happened the other day while I was relying on directions to get to my destination! It’s become wholly unreliable.

        Reply

  12. My wife has a (new) 2018 Audi Q5. She ha a brand new iPhone SE and it is updated. At first the Car play would work intermittently. Now it does not at all. It does connect by USB so I know teh connection works, I have reset the phone and no joy. My iPhone X works fine so I know the car can work. Only weird thing is when I go to the CarPlay app on her phone it does not show a car (only shows how to wirelessly). My X does show teh car. The car does not have wirelsss CarPlay. Any ideas??

    Reply

    1. got the same problem after the recent update. Audi A3 (2019): np wireless connection as well: my husband’s iPhone X works okay, but my new iPhone 11 pro max doesn’t 🙁 everything worked before the update

      Reply

    2. Same issue here- 2018 SQ5 with new iphone 11. My iphone X works fine, wife’s iphone 11 is not recognized by Carplay. Nor does Carplay app show up on Audi display. Were you able to fix?

      Reply

    3. Same here. My iPhone 6s charges but does not connect to CarPlay while wife’s iPhone 10R connects fine. Both phones used to work fine a week ago.

      Reply

  13. I have a new Acura 2020 RDX. I tried everything but couldn’t get CarPlay to work. My daughter finally switched plugging in the cord from the USB outlet under the dash to inside the armrest and voila! success. Shouldn’t work that way, but at least now I have CarPlay working.

    Reply

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