iOS 26 Adds New Zoom Setting to CarPlay

[MacRumors]

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​

Apple highlighted the setting in a WWDC 2025 video for developers this week.

"Vehicle screens come in many shapes and sizes," said Olivia Hess, a CarPlay software engineer. "In iOS 26, some screen configurations allow drivers to adjust their display scale with Smart Display Zoom configurable within Settings in CarPlay. When Smart Display Zoom is enabled, your CarPlay app will be automatically resized to the new display scale."

To see this new CarPlay setting, you will need to be using an iPhone running iOS 26, which is currently in developer beta. A public beta will be available next month, and the update should be released in September for the iPhone 11 and newer.

CarPlay is gaining many other new features with iOS 26, including a Liquid Glass design, Live Activities on the Dashboard screen, a new widgets screen, Tapbacks and pinned conversations in the Messages app, multi-touch support in mapping apps, the ability to play videos from an iPhone via AirPlay while the vehicle is parked, and more.

Article Link: iOS 26 Adds New Zoom Setting to CarPlay

 

[turbineseaplane]

Wait, why is "after" better there?
More icons, but they are all smaller
I mean .. whateves .. I'm sure it'll remain an option to go either way, so good to have I guess.

Removed above as I misunderstood


I'd like to be able to control what's in the dock!

 

[chrism238]

Wait, why is "after" better there?

More icons, but they are all smaller

Agreed, why are smaller icons and unnecessarily wasted (empty) space better?

 

[sw1tcher]

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.

Making the app icons smaller means this is a Smart Display Zoom Out setting.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Making the app icons smaller means this is a Smart Display Zoom Out setting.

Thank you - I completely missed this and misunderstood.

I will stick with the "before" look personally.

 

[Boeingfan]

Perhaps in Carplay 3 we can use the windscreen as a touch screen.

 

[EugW]

I am very much looking forward to the updated CarPlay, but I won't be installing iOS 26 until maybe dev beta 4 / pubic beta 2 or so. I have iPadOS 26 dev beta 1 on my iPad Pro M4 and not surprisingly, it's not really suitable for everyday mainstream use.

Perhaps in Carplay 3 we can use the windscreen as a touch screen.

FWIW, current CarPlay turn-by-turn navigation in Apple Maps shows up on my car's headup display.

 

[momskirbyok]

I was hyped for this feature on my 2023 Ford Escape Platinum, but it looks like it doesn't support all CarPlay displays.

Mine is oddly very wide; I was thinking this would be an option to enable so that I could take advantage of my car's 13" screen.

It's kind of ironic because one of the screenshots in this post was taken from a car running Ford's Sync infotainment system haha.

 

[ScreenSavers]

The sidebar is so frustrating. I really wish they would let us choose which apps are pinned there and how many of them.

 

[turbineseaplane]

The sidebar is so frustrating. I really wish they would let us choose which apps are pinned there and how many of them.

It drives me crazy on roadtrips with my EV, as I like to have two map Apps going and only one of that "type" is allowed on the sidebar at once for some reason.

 

[DocMultimedia]

Why can't you use two finger zoom in/out on Carplay Apple maps? I guess I should try this on Google maps one of these days. Trying to figure out what works where has become a big issue with my limited time to think.

 

[4 bit 9d api]

Agreed, why are smaller icons and unnecessarily wasted (empty) space better?

It sounds crazy but having an optional choice for people who want more icons is inherently better.

 

[turbineseaplane]

It sounds crazy but having an optional choice for people who want more icons is inherently better.

Agreed. No qualms with more options and especially with CarPlay, which could use SO many more ways to change and customize it.

 

[Finalcountdown]

I am very much looking forward to the updated CarPlay, but I won't be installing iOS 26 until maybe dev beta 4 / pubic beta 2 or so. I have iPadOS 26 dev beta 1 on my iPad Pro M4 and not surprisingly, it's not really suitable for everyday mainstream use.


FWIW, current CarPlay turn-by-turn navigation in Apple Maps shows up on my car's headup display.

I’m starting to think that the CarPlay updates are going to be some of my favorites iOS 26 features.

 

[callison]

This is an absolute banger update for the Ford Lightning's screen. CarPlay has never looked better.

 

[AlanBeyond]

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​

Apple highlighted the setting in a WWDC 2025 video for developers this week.

"Vehicle screens come in many shapes and sizes," said Olivia Hess, a CarPlay software engineer. "In iOS 26, some screen configurations allow drivers to adjust their display scale with Smart Display Zoom configurable within Settings in CarPlay. When Smart Display Zoom is enabled, your CarPlay app will be automatically resized to the new display scale."

To see this new CarPlay setting, you will need to be using an iPhone running iOS 26, which is currently in developer beta. A public beta will be available next month, and the update should be released in September for the iPhone 11 and newer.

CarPlay is gaining many other new features with iOS 26, including a Liquid Glass design, Live Activities on the Dashboard screen, a new widgets screen, Tapbacks and pinned conversations in the Messages app, multi-touch support in mapping apps, the ability to play videos from an iPhone via AirPlay while the vehicle is parked, and more.

Article Link: iOS 26 Adds New Zoom Setting to CarPlay

I want multi-touch support for CarPlay

 

[segfaultdotorg]

Does it work better if I have an iZoom Pro subscription?

 

[tennisproha]

pretty sure that's the opposite of zoom

 

[Nermal]

pretty sure that's the opposite of zoom

Zooming in and zooming out are both zooming.

 

[Braz0s]

Can't wait to throw this up on my large Lightning screen.

 

[haydesigner]

Perhaps in Carplay 3 we can use the windscreen as a touch screen.

You really want a windshield full of fingerprints?? 😝

 

[Boeingfan]

You really want a windshield full of fingerprints?? 😝

Imagine the trademarked Apple cleaning rag sales opportunities!? 😄 The Apple Polishing Cloth will have a new lease of life!

 

[Kottu]

In my car, both the manufacturer’s maps and Apple Maps show directions on the instrument cluster, which I find really useful. However, when I use Waze, the directions only appear on the main screen.

 

[StoneJack]

I have 9 inch Pioneer headunit display, would really welcome this feature.

 

[RodThePlod]

I’m starting to think that the CarPlay updates are going to be some of my favorites iOS 26 features.

I agree! CarPlay seems to have been paid much more attention this time around - after years of looking pretty much the same. Implementation of widgets, for example, looks awesome (I'm often dropping off or collecting my kids and family at Heathrow, or Gatwick airports - so the flight tracker widget will be super-useful for me on those occasions).

I can't wait to use the new features in the refreshed CarPlay!