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iOS 26.2 Adds New CarPlay Setting

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iOS 26 extended pinned conversations in the Messages app to CarPlay, for quick access to your most frequent chats. However, some drivers may prefer the classic view with a list of individual conversations only, and Apple now lets users choose.

CarPlay-Pinned-Messages.jpg

Apple released the second beta of iOS 26.2 this week, and it introduces a new CarPlay setting for turning off pinned conversations in the Messages app. After installing the beta on your iPhone, simply open the Settings app on CarPlay, look for the Pinned Conversations toggle in the main menu, and turn it off if you prefer to.

iOS 26.2 will be released to all users in December, according to Apple.

CarPlay received many other upgrades on iOS 26, including a Liquid Glass design, Live Activities, widgets, a compact view for phone calls, and more.
Article Link: iOS 26.2 Adds New CarPlay Setting
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2025/11/13/ios-26-2-adds-new-carplay-setting/
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Apple needs to make the basics just work before adding more features.

CarPlay does not work on my RAV4. The maps jump all over the place. Toyota won't (can't?) fix it, but I'm sure Apple could fix it. Friends' Android devices work fine with the maps.
 
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In Messages remember being initially excited for pinned people in messages since some people message all the time. But quickly realized those people then don't show excerpt of their latest message to see without marking as read, and so never used pinned people. Hopefully some day it can be updated to be able to pin people to the top but still allow latest message excerpts.
 
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I really wish the title of these articles would give the actual version of the software. It's not in iOS 26.2, it's in 26.2b2. And as we all know, things occasionally get pulled from beta versions before release.

I actually thought 26.2 had already been released since so many posts put that version in the title.
 
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CarPlay in iOS 26 has been a nightmare for me. So many poor UI choices to accommodate the look and feel of Tahoe. Maps has been the biggest mess up. I used to depend on going to history in Maps to get a location and now I can't even find the history. Nothing is convenient and I have to spend more time looking at the screen to use it instead of driving. And don't get me started on Siri not working when trying to give it voice commands.
 
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markgpearse said:
Am I the only one who thinks the CarPlay GUI is ugly? I am a fan of how iOS and MacOS look on my iPhone, iPad, and MacBook.
Click to expand...
Me too. More than that, I have a strong feeling it’s almost useless and pretty poor. I recently tried its features. On one hand, I didn’t know what to expect; on the other hand, it looked awful. No YouTube, crappy messaging apps due to safety restrictions, it's impossible to relocate those directional announcement plates in map apps to the right in my RAV4. Finally, it looks very disabled.
 
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dwsolberg said:
Apple needs to make the basics just work before adding more features.

CarPlay does not work on my RAV4. The maps jump all over the place. Toyota won't (can't?) fix it, but I'm sure Apple could fix it. Friends' Android devices work fine with the maps.
Click to expand...
How can Toyota fix anything in iOS? Everything works fine on my RAV4 2025. IDK what are you talking about.
 
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Every new “feature” from apple these days is just a preference. It’s a preferences company now. Wish they would have instead, worked on fixing the connection issues.
 
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dwsolberg said:
Apple needs to make the basics just work before adding more features.

CarPlay does not work on my RAV4. The maps jump all over the place. Toyota won't (can't?) fix it, but I'm sure Apple could fix it. Friends' Android devices work fine with the maps.
Click to expand...

CarPlay works great on my wife's Toyota. Sounds like it's an issue with your car.
 
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Why isn’t it possible to change CarPlay settings directly on the iPhone.
It would be even better if they can be changed even if the phone is not connected to CarPlay.
I mean, it’s already possible to order the apps and change the widgets.
Why not every setting?
 
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MacRumors said:
iOS 26 extended pinned conversations in the Messages app to CarPlay, for quick access to your most frequent chats. However, some drivers may prefer the classic view with a list of individual conversations only, and Apple now lets users choose.
Click to expand...

Good. I wouldn't say I prefer the classic view, but I find CarPlay's pinned view pretty poorly designed for at-a-glance information.
 
ATmahe said:
Why isn’t it possible to change CarPlay settings directly on the iPhone.
It would be even better if they can be changed even if the phone is not connected to CarPlay.
I mean, it’s already possible to order the apps and change the widgets.
Why not every setting?
Click to expand...
Further, why can’t we have a default setup instead of whatever iOS feels like creating when your pair for the first time. Managing fleet vehicles is an absolute pain with the current setup. Gotta drive a vehicle an hour+ somewhere? Yeah, recreate your entire CarPlay setup for the hundredth time.
 
dwsolberg said:
Apple needs to make the basics just work before adding more features.

CarPlay does not work on my RAV4. The maps jump all over the place. Toyota won't (can't?) fix it, but I'm sure Apple could fix it. Friends' Android devices work fine with the maps.
Click to expand...
My iPhone 16 Pro works just flawlessly in my 2021 RAV4 XLE with all CarPlay apps. I have used it with a USB wired connection until recently when I got a little USB plug from Amazon that makes a WiFi connection.
 
Giving Apple until 26.2 official, if CarPlay connection issues aren’t fixed, going off beta and going to Apple Store to request a replacement 17PM. This is stupid and infuriating. I had hoped this wasn’t a chip problem, but starting to think it might be. Never had an issue with 26 betas and my 12PM, only when I got the new phone. Stop adding features and fix the basics. It’s unusable for me.
 
miric said:
How can Toyota fix anything in iOS? Everything works fine on my RAV4 2025. IDK what are you talking about.
Click to expand...

JustSomeHuman:​

My iPhone 16 Pro works just flawlessly in my 2021 RAV4 XLE with all CarPlay apps. I have used it with a USB wired connection until recently when I got a little USB plug from Amazon that makes a WiFi connection.
Click to expand...

These are different head units than I have in my car. All RAV4s for all model years are not the same.

I've tried it with five different iPhones and several Android phones. Works with Android, not iOS.

When two different systems communicate with each other and have miscommunication, sometimes either one can fix the issue. For example, maybe Apple is expecting updates every 250 ms but Toyota is only sending every 400 ms (or vice versa). Sometimes these small differences can cause weird interference. In that case, either Toyota could recalibrate to 250 ms or Apple could dynamically allow different update frequency. This is just one example of a lot of different things that can happen.

The central point is that just because your experience is different doesn't mean that my experience is wrong.
 
Good to see that Apple is allowing users to choose what they prefer. I prefer the older classic view.
 
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markgpearse said:
Am I the only one who thinks the CarPlay GUI is ugly? I am a fan of how iOS and MacOS look on my iPhone, iPad, and MacBook.
Click to expand...
I came from Android Auto and I think that CarPlay looks nicer. Now, if only they could get Siri to respond properly to requests…
 
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