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CarPlay Not Working for Some iPhone 15 Users, Possibly Because of USB-C Cables

I keep mentioning this, but the data pins on the USB-A end play a big part. I had a new Anker USB-C to USB-A cable, and it kept disconnecting from CarPlay. When I examined the cable, I saw that the Anker cable's data pins were recessed, so it lost connection more easily. I switched to a Google cable and it was fine.

But I'm not happy with the setup because I'm only getting 5W of power. I used to have an adapter which connected USB-C power and USB-A data out https://www.tindie.com/products/rkoripalli/usb-c-splitter-for-android-auto-apple-carplay/, which worked fine with Lightning, but now is only supplying power with the USB-C iPhone. CarPlay isn't working at all when I use it.
 
For those who want to dive into the stormy sea of USB speed/wiring specs that's further littered with about 8 connector types, here you go and good luck. The chart is pasted in from Tom's site. https://www.tomshardware.com/features/usb-decoded-all-the-specs-and-version-numbers.
VersionSpeedSuperSpeed NameSpeed NameConnectors
1.1 / 1.012 Mbps--Type-A, Type-B
2.0480 MbpsHi-Speed USB-Type-A, Type-B, Type-C,Mini, Micro
3.0 / 3.1 Gen 1 / 3.2 Gen 15 GbpsSuperSpeed USBUSB 5 GpbsType-A, Type-B, Type-C,Micro
3.1 Gen 2 / 3.2 Gen 210 GbpsSuperSpeed USB 10 GbpsUSB 10 GbpsType-A, Type-C
3.2 Gen 2x220 GbpsSuperSpeed USB 20 GbpsUSB 20 GbpsType-C
USB4 (aka USB 4)20 / 40 GbpsUSB 20 Gbps / USB 40 GbpsType-C
USB4 Version 280 GbpsType-C
 
SpotOnT said:
Apple probably should have come out with their own USB-A to USB-C cable when they released these phones.
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I assumed they had, until this thread proved otherwise. A few years ago Apple stopped including a charger, claiming it was to reduce waste, and now it seems that you can't even use your existing charger without a third-party cable. It seems bewildering to me.
 
I have two cars. One wireless CarPlay and no problem. One in my older Hummer is a dualDIN Sony XAV-1000 unit and when I plug in the USB C iPhone 15 Pro Max, it causes the head unit to freak out and cut out audio from all sources. Sometimes I can get audio to kick in by playing anything via CarPlay and then switching to radio or XM, but usually I have to plug/unplug multiple times after rebooting the stereo by turning the car off, opening the door and waiting 30 seconds before closing the door again.

I am using a real, MiFi 1" USB A to USB C cable. I will try a different brand and see if it has any effect.
 
2018 Mazda MX-5 with factory stereo (USB-A ports). I've tried several cables. Some will work, and then randomly stop. I had a similar issue with my iPhone 14 Pro and the beta of iOS 17, but I thought it was the phone's connector or the beta. At least I can use bluetooth to stream audio.
 
iOS Geek said:
Yet another possible USB-C problem? Shocker! Seems like this forced change is bringing more problems than it's worth!
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gaximus said:
This really is better for the user, thank EU
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Why don’t you guys lobby the EU to make lightning port the industry standard, since lightning is so perfect and far superior than USB-C in every way imaginable? Meanwhile Apple profit would go through the roof with all the license fees it is charging, exemplary news for shareholders too.
 
iPhone 15 Pro Max working well on USB-C and wireless CarPlay on Land Rover and Jaguar pivyPro.
 
nicolas_s said:
Thanks EU for that "superior" connector.
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Why you don’t lobby EU to make lightning an industry standard port?
sack_peak said:
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.
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Too bad only Apple lobby the EU to keep lightning, not from the likes of Intel, AMD, other Android manufacturers and so forth. I wonder why.
nycgeo said:
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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USB-IF is solely the one to blame to create inconsistent requirements for USB-C port and cable. They should’ve known simpler is better for this sort of thing, yet they never listen and never learn from their horrible mistake of USB2 era.
 
My car has only two USB-A ports and I used a no-name (JSAUX) USB-A to USB-C cable that I’ve had since July that costs $8.99 for a pack of 2. It worked with CarPlay just fine. Amazon calls it a USB 3.1 fast charging cable compatible with all sorts of phones, including Android and the iPhone 15 (added recently to the description since that didn’t exist when I bought them).
 
I have lots of usb c cable come with random devices, most of them only charge, no data pin.

Any cable capable of transferring data works.
Stupid users in this case.
 
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Gengar said:
I use Belkin USB-A to USB-C cables and haven't had any issues.

Probably people using cheap $3 cables from Wish and Temu complaining.
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Likely. I bought some Belkin USB-A to USB-C cables and they work fine with my aftermarket CarPlay radio.
 
I tried 3 different cables, and only the Apple cable worked, using a cheap USB-C female to USB-A male connector I got on Amazon a few years back. Unreal. I understand to have a data-transfer cable (as opposed to charging only), but it appears only certain cables with the data functionality will work.

Perhaps Apple needs to release a USB-C to USB-A cable?
 
hieubui said:
I have lots of usb c cable come with random devices, most of them only charge, no data pin.

Any cable capable of transferring data works.
Stupid users in this case.
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Nope. Tried three data-transfer cables and only one worked: Apple's.
 
Again, 2023 is a big joke for Apple. What a dump of a company Timmy has turned it into.
 
Can confirm that for whatever reason, VPN usage can cause weird issues with CarPlay. I've consistently seen that since iOS 7, long before USB-C was being used in iPhones. If the iPhone is set up to automatically reconnect to a VPN (and it disconnects), the CarPlay connection "negotiation" may not happen until the VPN is disabled.

Such a weird issue. I've reported it numerous times over the years.

But this is more likely due to the switch to USB-C and lots of low quality cables out there on the market.
 
nycgeo said:
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.
Click to expand...
The EU wanted to standardize to save the environment but will end up creating more e-waste than would have happened if they’d only left things alone. Not only will people throw away billions of Lightning cables, but many will buy cheap knockoff charging cables that can’t handle data and will end up throwing those away, too. While USB-C is a standard, it follows that old joke, “The great thing about this standard is that there are so many to choose from.”

A plain old power delivery cable isn’t going to work. It’ll need a cable that supports data, too. Those complaining should find an Android phone and see if it works with that bad cable on Android Auto. If it doesn’t work with an iPhone, I’d guess it wouldn’t work for Androids either.
 
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I’ve had no issues (Forester Wilderness), and currently using a cheap Walgreens USB-C cable. Ordered an adapter (Subaru didn’t put USB-C ports in an 2023 model-still using USB-A 🤦‍♂️) and will use the USB-C braided cable that came with my 15 Pro Max.
 
siddavis said:
What good is a standard port if the cables have no standards and it’s a crapshoot from the user’s perspective?

Maybe bureaucrats should stick to just wasting other people’s money.
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USB-C has always been a hot mess. The cables are so vastly different that I have to keep my zillions of USB-C cables in different places, separated by standard. I’ll put my USB 2.0 charging cables in one box, my USB 3.0 cables in another, my USB 3.1 gen 2 cables in a third, and my Thunderbolt/USB4 cables in a fourth. All of them are built differently and may not work with any particular device. For instance, I only use USB4 or Thunderbolt cables for my various external SSD’s that I put together myself with high speed NVMe’s. I use my charging cables exclusively in my charging stations in locations that will never use data.

I’ll bet most people with non-working cables are using exclusive charging cables that can’t carry data. I pity the average person who knows nothing about this so-called standard and just blindly buy a cable just because it says USB-C and doesn’t look at what variety of USB-C it supports.
 
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Primary vehicle is a 2023 Mazda CX-5. Worked immediately with USB A to C cables from Anker, UGreen and Cable Matters.

In my second vehicle, my head unit is a Pioneer 4100NEX with a 6 ft USB3 extension cable and a UGreen USB-A to USB-C 1.5ft right angle cable. Worked immediately with my iPhone 15 Pro Max off the bat.
 
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