CarPlay on iOS 26: Here's Everything New

[MacRumors]

Apple this week announced iOS 26, and the upcoming software update includes many new features and changes for CarPlay.

To try out these features now, you will need to be using an iPhone running iOS 26, which is currently available in developer beta.

Below, we recap nine changes to CarPlay.

Liquid Glass Design

When you are using CarPlay with an iPhone running iOS 26, the new Liquid Glass design extends to the CarPlay interface. Like on the iPhone, the new look includes more shimmery app icons and translucent user interface elements.

New Messages App Features

Starting with iOS 26, you can respond to messages with standard Tapbacks like a heart, thumbs up, or exclamation marks directly through CarPlay.

Pinned Conversations

You can now view your pinned conversations in the Messages app on CarPlay.

Compact View for Phone Calls

CarPlay has a new compact view for incoming phone calls, so that you can still see other information on the screen, such as turn-by-turn directions.

Live Activities

CarPlay's Dashboard screen can now show Live Activities, letting you keep track of things like a flight's arrival time at a glance.

Widgets

The regular version of CarPlay now has a widgets screen, for things like calendar appointments and HomeKit accessory controls.

Widgets were previously limited to CarPlay Ultra.

On a related note, all of these new features are coming to CarPlay Ultra.

Multi-Touch Maps

Starting with iOS 26, CarPlay users can interact with mapping apps using multi-touch gestures in supported vehicles. This allows users to zoom and pan on the map with their fingers, just like they can on an iPhone.

Watch Videos While Parked

iPhone users will be able to wirelessly stream videos to the CarPlay screen using AirPlay, according to Apple. For safety reasons, video playback will only be available when the vehicle is parked, to prevent distracted driving. The connected iPhone will be able to detect when the vehicle is in motion and end playback.

Automakers need to add support for this feature, so it might be limited to newer vehicles and take some time to roll out.

Smart Display Zoom

iOS 26 adds a new Smart Display Zoom setting to CarPlay.

When the setting is enabled, CarPlay will be automatically resized to better fit the shape and size of your vehicle's dashboard screen, if possible.

The images below show what CarPlay looks like before and after the Smart Display Zoom setting is enabled. With the setting turned on, all of the user interface elements become smaller, allowing for an extra row of app icons to fit on the screen.

Before​

After​

iOS 26 should be released in September.

Article Link: CarPlay on iOS 26: Here's Everything New

 

[pratax2]

I was expecting UI improvements on dashboard but it seems nothing is coming. Current layout is wasting a lot of space in useless tiles as the one of maps (with info that could be easily integrated in the map tile itself) and having a very poor experience with the music tile for example.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I was expecting UI improvements on dashboard but it seems nothing is coming. Current layout is wasting a lot of space in useless tiles as the one of maps (with info that could be easily integrated in the map tile itself) and having a very poor experience with the music tile for example.

Exactly why I have no interest in "CarPlay Ultra" (Apple theming my entire car)

 

[anakin44011]

Aside from minor quibbles about sizing, readability, complexity (as everyone always has quibbles -- it is just our nature)...this is one of the most exciting CarPlay upgrades.

Depending on what you do (or want to do) in your car -- some of these capabilities could be seen as major usability upgrades to our existing vehicles. Just take a few of those and imagine how difficult it would be for Honda or Nissan to try to implement those separately (without CarPlay). And Apple is giving them to us for free. Let's give credit where credit is due - Bravo, Apple. I now forgive you for Genmoji.😜

However, on a side note, I see some of these being unruly on cars without touchscreens (those relying solely on jog wheels and trackpads). I wish all car manufacturers would make touchscreens standard (with other controller as optional add-ons).

 

[smizzle]

Has anyone tested to see if you can use the Home widget to unlock your front door without having to unlock your phone? That's the potential feature I'm most excited about.

 

[User 6502]

Aside from minor quibbles about sizing, readability, complexity (as everyone always has quibbles -- it is just our nature)...this is one of the most exciting CarPlay upgrades.

Depending on what you do (or want to do) in your car -- some of these capabilities could be seen as major usability upgrades to our existing vehicles. Just take a few of those and imagine how difficult it would be for Honda or Nissan to try to implement those separately (without CarPlay). And Apple is giving them to us for free. Let's give credit where credit is due - Bravo, Apple. I now forgive you for Genmoji.😜

However, on a side note, I see some of these being unruly on cars without touchscreens (those relying solely on jog wheels and trackpads). I wish all car manufacturers would make touchscreens standard (with other controller as optional add-ons).

I don’t think this upgrade is that exciting at all. I think it’s rather underwhelming frankly…

 

[biggest father1]

If someone uses wired CarPlay, would AirPlay video be needed to play a video on the vehicle's entertainment screen? You'd think a video would just play on the vehicle's display from the iPhone, right? Only asking because I don't have faith that auto manufacturers will update older vehicles to use this feature.

Edit: This question is regarding the new iOS 26 feature that lets you watch videos on the vehicle’s infotainment display while the car is parked.

 

[FrankieG889D]

If someone uses wired CarPlay, would AirPlay video be needed to play a video on the vehicle's entertainment screen? You'd think a video would just play on the vehicle's display from the iPhone, right? Only asking because I don't have faith that auto manufacturers will update older vehicles to use this feature.

It’s doable, but not with CarPlay.

This is also illegal in US while driving

 

[turbineseaplane]

It’s doable, but not with CarPlay.

This is also illegal in US while driving

Nobody is suggesting doing this.
Can we leave the behavior policing out of these discussions?

Folks will do what they are going to do.

Right now we have huge swaths of the population flying along with the phone in their hand or in a cradle -- getting used while driving. It's all unsafe and against rules and people are doing it in droves right now.

I don't like it .. trust me.

 

[jphall]

I don’t think this upgrade is that exciting at all. I think it’s rather underwhelming frankly…

I do hope you've filed feedback with Apple with specific things you'd like to have on your car's CarPlay.

 

[jz0309]

Some nice upgrades, worthwhile for me.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I do hope you've filed feedback with Apple with specific things you'd like to have on your car's CarPlay.

The Apple feedback inbox is right above a paper shredder

 

[nottooshabby]

Hopefully we'll be able to make the icons on the left side of the screen larger. I find them to be too small to touch without taking my eyes full off the road.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Hopefully we'll be able to make the icons on the left side of the screen larger. I find them to be too small to touch without taking my eyes full off the road.

That's a really good point I'd not thought of.

Why so much wasted space there on the top / bottom?

Those definitely should be configurable to be much larger.

 

[rjp1]

Automakers need to add support for this feature, so it might be limited to newer vehicles and take some time to roll out.

I wonder if this just a legal thing? Apple can say - well Nissan enabled it. My fear is I have a 2025 car and I'm sure this feature will be held hostage. Obviously, I'm not buying a new car for this one feature. Just disappointed here

 

[alexandr]

CarPlay has a new compact view for incoming phone calls, so that you can still see other information on the screen, such as turn-by-turn directions.

This alone makes this update worthwhile.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

Nobody is suggesting doing this.
Can we leave the behavior policing out of these discussions?

Folks will do what they are going to do.

Right now we have huge swaths of the population flying along with the phone in their hand or in a cradle -- getting used while driving. It's all unsafe and against rules and people are doing it in droves right now.

I don't like it .. trust me.Commenting tghat something is illehal in the USA is not

No. Commenting that some discussed software issue is illegal in the USA is not "behavior policing." It is a totally appropriate comment about the software, not "behavior policing."

 

[bluespark]

It’s doable, but not with CarPlay.

This is also illegal in US while driving

Your first appears incorrect, as the point of the article is that this is a feature of CarPlay. (I haven’t used this so don’t know for sure.) Your second sentence is irrelevant, as the question was about a technical capability.

 

[AlexisV]

Still need GPS live speed in Maps!

In the UK we are plagued with 70mph speed cameras on the freeway. Basically everybody does 85, slows down to 70, and then speeds up to 85 again. And repeat every 3 miles.

Being able to see I'm doing 72 or 73 when passing these cameras would be far easier than relying on the inaccurate car speedo.

 

[biggest father1]

It’s doable, but not with CarPlay.

This is also illegal in US while driving

My apologies, this question was meant for the feature of watching videos while the car is parked. I just forgot to specify that.

 

[citysnaps]

Nice design and upgrades. Looking forward to using it.

 

[avgjoefriday]

I loved the pinned messages piece. Does anyone know if the pinned playlists in the Apple Music app on iOS 26 will also appear pinned in CarPlay? That would be a game changer for me!

 

[pacmania1982]

I just noticed that when I do a screenshot in the car, it only does it on my iPhone now. Annoying as sometimes I liked to capture the head unit display.

 

[eXoenDo]

I just noticed that when I do a screenshot in the car, it only does it on my iPhone now. Annoying as sometimes I liked to capture the head unit display.

That setting can be changed in "Settings" -> "General" -> "Screen Capture"


I have had an audio issue since the first iOS 18 beta in my car. Every time Siri speaks when responding to a text or reading a text with music playing, when it comes back the audio sounds wonky like it's still in Siri speaking mode. I've seen a few threads about this on Reddit and here - sad that it lived through the entire 18 series and now made it to 26. I submitted feedback for every build of 18 on it with multiple videos. It wasn't present at all in iOS 17, which worked great.

 

[Mick-Mac]

So I'm genuinely confused here and would very much like somebody to help me with this. I'm at a complete loss as to why the Contacts app is permanently missing from every CarPlay update. Am I missing something?