iOS 26's Biggest CarPlay Feature Was Quietly Hiding on Apple's Website

[MacRumors]

Apple recently announced that iPhone users will soon be able to watch videos right on the CarPlay screen in supported vehicles.

This is arguably the biggest new CarPlay feature coming with the iOS 26 update later this year, and yet Apple did not even mention it during its WWDC 2025 keynote last month. Instead, it was buried on Apple's developer website.

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.

Apple says that automakers need to add support for CarPlay with AirPlay video, so it will likely take some time to roll out. It appears that the AirPlay functionality will be available for both regular CarPlay and the higher-end CarPlay Ultra, but it is unclear if it will be enabled in any existing vehicles, or if it will be limited to new vehicles.

From the CarPlay page on Apple's developer website:

Video in the car

AirPlay video in the car enables people to watch their favorite videos from iPhone right on their CarPlay display when they aren't driving. Integrate support for CarPlay with AirPlay video to enable this feature in your car.

This feature would be especially beneficial in electric vehicles with CarPlay, as it would provide the driver and any passengers with entertainment while they are parked at a charging station. Some electric vehicles already offer this capability natively. Tesla, for example, has long offered a Theater app that can play videos from apps like Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, and Twitch on the dashboard screen, while the vehicle is parked.

Apple has not shared any further details or images for AirPlay video in the car. Availability of the feature might vary by country based on safety regulations.

There were already some unapproved ways to watch videos through CarPlay, with various jailbreak tweaks and TestFlight beta apps promising to unlock such functionality. Now, it is something that Apple will officially allow.

Article Link: iOS 26's Biggest CarPlay Feature Was Quietly Hiding on Apple's Website

 

[alexandr]

Sadly CarPlay updates are the most exciting part of iOS 26 for me...

 

[wvayens]

Unfortunately, the rest of the CarPlay 26 beta is an absolute mess....the interface is such that you no longer have any idea which button is going to do what. That blue button? Don't do a select because that's not the active button. Select it and then select and it will then turn grey (?) which means it's the selectable button. And don't even try to find other options on your map screen.....

 

[DocMultimedia]

Unfortunately, the rest of the CarPlay 26 beta is an absolute mess....the interface is such that you no longer have any idea which button is going to do what. That blue button? Don't do a select because that's not the active button. Select it and then select and it will then turn grey (?) which means it's the selectable button. And don't even try to find other options on your map screen.....

I'm definitely going to wait a few versions before doing the update to 26.

 

[icwhatudidthere]

You guys covered this last month!

Apple to Let iPhone Users Watch Videos on CarPlay Screen While Parked

Apple this week announced that iPhone users will soon be able to watch videos right on the CarPlay screen in supported vehicles. iPhone users will...

www.macrumors.com

You also mentioned that automakers would need to support it so I guess I probably won't be getting it. Would've been cool instead of the slow built-in YouTube in my car.

 

[darngooddesign]

Unfortunately, the rest of the CarPlay 26 beta is an absolute mess....the interface is such that you no longer have any idea which button is going to do what. That blue button? Don't do a select because that's not the active button. Select it and then select and it will then turn grey (?) which means it's the selectable button. And don't even try to find other options on your map screen.....

Do you have any screenshots to refer to?

My Mazda shows a blue on buttons, but that's to indicate what ever has focus due to the physical rotary controller. I haven't seen any regular maps screenshots which display a blue button.

 

[AppleTO]

Apple says that automakers need to add support for CarPlay with AirPlay video, so it will likely take some time to roll out.

So basically it won’t be available in any existing vehicles. That’s unfortunate, especially given it’s being added to the original CarPlay.

 

[DavidLeblond]

What about if you have wired CarPlay?

 

[pavelbure]

Automakers won’t be adding any support for this. Anything that doesn’t make them a cent isn’t a priority.

 

[xxray]

Unfortunately, the rest of the CarPlay 26 beta is an absolute mess....the interface is such that you no longer have any idea which button is going to do what. That blue button? Don't do a select because that's not the active button. Select it and then select and it will then turn grey (?) which means it's the selectable button. And don't even try to find other options on your map screen.....

The indicating colors are a mess in Apple Maps on iOS 18, too. I have to actively take a second to remember what I’m selecting every time. The highlighting colors are blue and green. Blue is the correct color to select something, but green is the other color to show other selection options you have but are not choosing. Makes no sense. You’d think green means go.

 

[jlc1978]

You also mentioned that automakers would need to support it so I guess I probably won't be getting it. Would've been cool instead of the slow built-in YouTube in my car.

In addition, what about third party head units that support CarPlay?

What about if you have wired CarPlay?

You're driving wrong...

Automakers won’t be adding any support for this. Anything that doesn’t make them a cent isn’t a priority.

I also think they would avoid simply for the potential liability if someone watches it while driving and causes an accident. I realize Apple says the iPhone a prevent viewing while in motion, but if someone can figure out a way to bypass Apple's restriction then it could become a liability and something companies would not want to chance.

 

[Godspeed8230]

Now that’s what I call Plug and Play.

 

[iMacDragon]

I also think they would avoid simply for the potential liability if someone watches it while driving and causes an accident. I realize Apple says the iPhone a prevent viewing while in motion, but if someone can figure out a way to bypass Apple's restriction then it could become a liability and something companies would not want to chance.

The car can already command carplay to not allow keyboard entry when moving - video display prevention would be part of the same procedure.

 

[rchornef]

If I want to watch a movie or stream whatever I will use my iPad. But mostly when my car is charging I will get out of the car and walk around - hopefully in the future electric charging locations will be more like gas stations with things to do and places to eat or walk around, maybe some shops. . .

 

[iMacDragon]

If I want to watch a movie or stream whatever I will use my iPad. But mostly when my car is charging I will get out of the car and walk around - hopefully in the future electric charging locations will be more like gas stations with things to do and places to eat or walk around, maybe some shops. . .

It does vary hugely, I've only used ones attached to shops /services over here so far.

 

[MakaniKai]

Apple says that automakers need to add support for CarPlay with AirPlay video, so it will likely take some time to never roll out (and you will need to buy a new car).

Fixed that for you! Glad I could help

 

[akatsuki]

I want to be able to play on rear entertainment systems... That to me is the golden application of this.

 

[tyrnnsrs]

This feature is a solution looking for a problem. Perhaps newer cards that are still getting OTA updates will update thier Carplay to support it, but older ones definitely not.

 

[JPack]

This is hardly the biggest feature. Most passengers have their own phones and want to watch their own videos.

 

[jz0309]

This feature would be especially beneficial in electric vehicles with CarPlay, as it would provide the driver and any passengers with entertainment while they are parked at a charging station.

Luckily I can charge my IONIQ 5 at home, and, when on a trip, I use that time at the charger to stretch, bio break, get a snack etc but never sit in the car and look at the screen, but that’s just me.
I guess this feature is nice, just doesn’t add value to me.

 

[roncron]

Not sure when I'm going to watch videos in my car while my car is parked.

But if I do, I can always watch them on my iPhone.

I hope there are lots of others who will be able to benefit from this feature.

 

[jlc1978]

The car can already command carplay to not allow keyboard entry when moving - video display prevention would be part of the same procedure.

My point was not around technical capabilities but would carmakers willingly take on an additional potential liability from a product they do not control.

I agree with posters who say it is no big deal. Passengers can already view videos while moving, and how many people will really sit in their car to watch a movie?

 

[TOM1211]

Electric cars time to watch a film in your car with your kids while charging they have never shown that in futuristic films lol what a future what a laugh . Remember that time we all got round the car screen and watched the titanic while it was Raining in a motorway service station waiting for the car to charge lol .

 

[tennisproha]

Unfortunately, the rest of the CarPlay 26 beta is an absolute mess....the interface is such that you no longer have any idea which button is going to do what. That blue button? Don't do a select because that's not the active button. Select it and then select and it will then turn grey (?) which means it's the selectable button. And don't even try to find other options on your map screen.....

That's why it's called a BETA. I'm sure you're filing reports for all these bugs instead of complaining here right?

 

[tennisproha]

Why would they not market this hard in the keynote? Seems like a great reason for people to demand CarPlay in more cars.