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Be aware that not all USB-C cables & other peripherals are created equal. It became so bad that Google Engineer Benson Leung created a list to verify what are complaint.

Apple having MFi avoided all that problems. With the iPhone being forced to go USB-C means we have to put up with substandard cables left and right.
 
So it seems Apple's USB-C to USB-C cable is the most reliable, which is good for newer cars with USB-C, but would require a dongle for USB-A.

Whatever you do, I strongly recommend against getting an adapter-style female USB-C to male USB-A solution, as they violate the USB standard and can be a fire hazard.
 
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I use an Insignia USB-A to USB-C cable and it works fine (not sure if Insignia is a good brand or not).
 
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2021 Porsche Macan (which has USB-C connections), third-party 1.6 foot cable, working fine with my 15 Pro Max so far. If anything, the new phone seems to have improved how CarPlay works…it now pops up almost immediately, where with my 14 Pro Max there were sometimes delays in making the connection.
 
I found that some of my USB-A to USB-C cables were charging only, while the rest did both charging and data. CarPlay works fine with the cables that support data in my 2019 Ford with Sync 3.
 
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So it seems Apple's USB-C to USB-C cable is the most reliable, which is good for newer cars with USB-C, but would require a dongle for USB-A.

Whatever you do, I strongly recommend against getting an adapter-style female USB-C to male USB-A solution, as they violate the USB standard and can be a fire hazard.
Some of those converters are very basic (480Mbps), only for charging.. The good ones are made for data (5-10Gbps).
 
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It sounds silly, but this is exactly what made me hesitant to preorder an iPhone 15. My 2021 Volvo only has usb-a (yikes, I know) and I use CarPlay daily. It has been very finnicky about which usb-lightning cables work, so waiting until someone can point me to an actual link to a usb-a to usb-c cable that *definitely* will work for this use case.
 
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I'm using Apple's Lightning to USB-C adapter, and mine is working (knock on wood) in my 2019 Toyota Rav 4.

Edit: I thought about trying a 3rd party Lightning to USB C adapter but I went with Apple's (overpriced) adapter because I didn't want to run the risk of CarPlay not working.
 
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The old USB A-to-C cable that I got from IKEA several years ago works just fine for CarPlay in my 2018 Chevy Volt. What kind of janky cable is everyone else using?

My USB A-to-C cable was 2 for $10 on Amazon and works fine with my 7 year old MB GLS450 and a 15PM without issue, so I agree, what kind of cables are giving problems?


These:
 
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CarPlay is not working as expected for some iPhone 15 users, an issue that is likely linked to the transition to USB-C. There are multiple complaints from MacRumors readers and Reddit users who are unable to get CarPlay to work with their new devices.

CarPlay-SharePlay.jpeg

Cable type and available port options are a common theme in the CarPlay reports, with many of the functionality problems linked to USB-A to USB-C cables. Many cars, even some that are more recent, have only USB-A ports and not USB-C ports, so a USB-A to USB-C cable is required.

Unfortunately, it appears that not all USB-A to USB-C cables on the market will work, and some that work in certain vehicles will not work in others. A Reddit user explains:Other CarPlay users chimed in and mentioned having the same problems, though some were able to get CarPlay to work with USB-A to USB-C cables like those from Belkin. Several people had success getting CarPlay working with a USB-A port using Belkin's BoostCharge USB-A to USB-C cable, but others had no luck.Trying a variety of cables, specifically those from known brands and with data transfer support, seems to be the best way to get CarPlay to work, but it is worth noting that some people have not been able to get iPhone 15 CarPlay to work even with Apple's adapters and cables. From Reddit:One MacRumors reader that contacted us said that the issue had been reported to Apple and that Apple is working on a fix for the problem. Apple could perhaps implement a software update that improves compatibility with some cables, or the company could better explain which USB-C cables will work with the new iPhones.

While most of the complaints have been from car owners who are limited to USB-A connection ports, there are also reports from some who have vehicles with USB-C ports and even some complaints about wireless CarPlay. One MacRumors thread suggests that VPNs may be responsible for some recent connection issues, though turning off a VPN did not work for all users.With the wide range of reports, there appear to be multiple CarPlay issues at the current time. CarPlay users may need to transition to different cables, but Apple may need to release a software update to solve some of the CarPlay problems.

If you've had issues with CarPlay on the iPhone 15, let us know in the comments below.

Article Link: CarPlay Not Working for Some iPhone 15 Users, Possibly Because of USB-C Cables
This was totally to be expected, and this issue predates and is more pervasive than iPhones' switch to USB-C. There's so much variability in USB-C cable capability, and there's little to no way to tell one from the other, except for premium thunderbolt ones that are usually labeled. Im pretty savvy with tech, and I find it infuriating. Im certain average people who aren't savvy will be bewildered and unhappy.
 
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