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CarPlay iPhone Battery Level in CarPlay

Itinj24

Itinj24

Contributor
Original poster
Nov 8, 2017
4,665
2,722
New York
I can’t remember but was the iPhone’s battery level ever available on the CarPlay dashboard? Right now with iOS 13.1.2, I only see the type of network connection and the bars.
Could’ve sworn the battery level was there in iOS 12, or am I wrong?
 
iOS 13: It appears to depend on the head unit. On my Alpine ILX-107 (aftermarket) head unit, it does show the battery charge... but on my wife's Ford Edge (Sync 3), it does not.

IMG_1385.png IMG_1387.png
 
dwfaust said:
iOS 13: It appears to depend on the head unit. On my Alpine ILX-107 (aftermarket) head unit, it does show the battery charge... but on my wife's Ford Edge (Sync 3), it does not.

View attachment 867622 View attachment 867621
Click to expand...
Interesting. I haven’t changed my head unit (2017 Audi A6 MMI) but what changed was my phone (XS to 11 Pro Max) and iOS version. I def saw it before with iOS 12.
 
I've got built in Carplay on a 2018 Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport and its never showed the battery level as far as i can remember on either iOS12 or iOS13. Only way i see it is if i change the factory phone screen on the display and its there.
 
Itinj24 said:
Out of curiosity, is your aftermarket head unit wireless CarPlay?
Click to expand...

It is, but the battery charge icon shows whether I'm connected via wire or wireless.

Also, if you notice the pictures, there is a blank space on the Ford Edge display for the battery icon, it just doesn't show. Not sure if that's a head unit thing, or why it doesn't show.

As @BeatCrazy said, it did show on the Alpine unit under iOS 12... can't say about the Ford Edge, as I was already running iOS 13 betas when we bought it.
 
I have a pioneer aftermarket unit & the battery indicator is still shown (with the iOS 13).
 
bransoj said:
I've got built in Carplay on a 2018 Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport and its never showed the battery level as far as i can remember on either iOS12 or iOS13. Only way i see it is if i change the factory phone screen on the display and its there.
Click to expand...
Change the factory phone screen, as in the wallpaper?
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dwfaust said:
It is, but the battery charge icon shows whether I'm connected via wire or wireless.

Also, if you notice the pictures, there is a blank space on the Ford Edge display for the battery icon, it just doesn't show. Not sure if that's a head unit thing, or why it doesn't show.

As @BeatCrazy said, it did show on the Alpine unit under iOS 12... can't say about the Ford Edge, as I was already running iOS 13 betas when we bought it.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I have that same blank space there now in my Audi.
I’ll try restarting the CarPlay connection to see if that helps. Restarting is like the duct tape of tech lol
 
Just a thought, no way to personally test or verify.

the image on the left with battery was not at 100% and charging,
maybe once the battery is fully charged it stops showing?
 
waw74 said:
Just a thought, no way to personally test or verify.

the image on the left with battery was not at 100% and charging,
maybe once the battery is fully charged it stops showing?
Click to expand...
That’s not it but good thought. I docked my phone with less than 100% and didn’t show but this just gave me another idea... possibly the cable?
My wife and I are both using ProClip car docks with integrated lighting cables that I just installed a few days ago. I wonder if it needs to be an Apple approved cable which would explain why wireless shows the battery level. Was always using Apple stock cables before... Hmm, gonna test this out.
 
Itinj24 said:
That’s not it but good thought. I docked my phone with less than 100% and didn’t show but this just gave me another idea... possibly the cable?
My wife and I are both using ProClip car docks with integrated lighting cables that I just installed a few days ago. I wonder if it needs to be an Apple approved cable which would explain why wireless shows the battery level. Was always using Apple stock cables before... Hmm, gonna test this out.
Click to expand...

It's not the cable, as far as I can tell... I've tried my wife's Ford Edge (Sync 3) with both an Anker (MFi) cable and a genuine Apple cable... makes no difference - no battery status status ... same with my Alpine unit - regardless of cable (or via wireless), battery status does show.
 
dwfaust said:
It's not the cable, as far as I can tell... I've tried my wife's Ford Edge (Sync 3) with both an Anker (MFi) cable and a genuine Apple cable... makes no difference - no battery status status ... same with my Alpine unit - regardless of cable (or via wireless), battery status does show.
Click to expand...
Damn lol
 
Itinj24 said:
Change the factory phone screen, as in the wallpaper?
Click to expand...
Sorry, meant change to the standard in car screen rather than running carplay. Not changing anything like wallpaper on the phone. Presumably its down to the software on either the 3rd party head unit or the in built car display to take the battery information from the phone and display it.
 
Wireless CarPlay units show battery level, wired units do not. It has always been this way, at least I've yet to hear of a wired head unit that shows the charge.
 
seinman said:
Wireless CarPlay units show battery level, wired units do not. It has always been this way, at least I've yet to hear of a wired head unit that shows the charge.
Click to expand...

I thought it was this way also. With iOS12 and 13 it was the way I could tell what type of connection I was using.
 
That’s weird. I never had wireless CarPlay and I could’ve sworn... eh, I just don’t know anymore. Why would they do this anyway. Makes no sense.
 
seinman said:
Wireless CarPlay units show battery level, wired units do not. It has always been this way, at least I've yet to hear of a wired head unit that shows the charge.
Click to expand...

Can you clarify your statement?

Are you asserting that only head units that offer Wireless CarPlay will show iPhone battery level? Or are you saying that these head units will only show iPhone battery status when connected wirelessly to CarPlay?

I posted last night that my wireless head unit (Alpine ILX-107) shows the iPhone battery status regardless of the connection method.

dwfaust said:
It is, but the battery charge icon shows whether I'm connected via wire or wireless.

Also, if you notice the pictures, there is a blank space on the Ford Edge display for the battery icon, it just doesn't show. Not sure if that's a head unit thing, or why it doesn't show.

As @BeatCrazy said, it did show on the Alpine unit under iOS 12... can't say about the Ford Edge, as I was already running iOS 13 betas when we bought it.
Click to expand...
[automerge]1570665109[/automerge]
Itinj24 said:
That’s weird. I never had wireless CarPlay and I could’ve sworn... eh, I just don’t know anymore. Why would they do this anyway. Makes no sense.
Click to expand...

I suppose that it would make sense on some level if your phone was connected via Wireless CarPlay so you could monitor your battery via the CarPlay screen. If you are connected via wire, you are also getting some charging activity via the cable, so the battery status would not be (as big) an issue. But, again, my Alpine Wireless CarPlay head unit shows battery status regardless of the connection method.
 
dwfaust said:
Can you clarify your statement?

Are you asserting that only head units that offer Wireless CarPlay will show iPhone battery level? Or are you saying that these head units will only show iPhone battery status when connected wirelessly to CarPlay?

I posted last night that my wireless head unit (Alpine ILX-107) shows the iPhone battery status regardless of the connection method.


[automerge]1570665109[/automerge]


I suppose that it would make sense on some level if your phone was connected via Wireless CarPlay so you could monitor your battery via the CarPlay screen. If you are connected via wire, you are also getting some charging activity via the cable, so the battery status would not be (as big) an issue. But, again, my Alpine Wireless CarPlay head unit shows battery status regardless of the connection method.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I understand but a sensible driver would have their phone tucked away in the console and it would be nice to know where you’re at even while charging. At least a Siri query via CarPlay gives you your battery level. I just tested and confirmed this. Would be nice to see it at a glance regardless of wired or wireless.
 
dwfaust said:
Can you clarify your statement?

Are you asserting that only head units that offer Wireless CarPlay will show iPhone battery level? Or are you saying that these head units will only show iPhone battery status when connected wirelessly to CarPlay?
Click to expand...

I can't say for sure, because I've never had a head unit with wireless CarPlay. But what I've read, from many people both here and on Reddit, is that the battery level only shows up if it's a wireless CarPlay connection. There are some stereos, and again I can't say for sure which, that will use wireless for CarPlay even if plugged in to USB unless you change a setting or something. So it is possible, in theory, that you can be plugged in to your head unit for charging only, while CarPlay is connected wirelessly to the same unit, hence why you'd see the battery indicator.
 
seinman said:
I can't say for sure, because I've never had a head unit with wireless CarPlay. But what I've read, from many people both here and on Reddit, is that the battery level only shows up if it's a wireless CarPlay connection. There are some stereos, and again I can't say for sure which, that will use wireless for CarPlay even if plugged in to USB unless you change a setting or something. So it is possible, in theory, that you can be plugged in to your head unit for charging only, while CarPlay is connected wirelessly to the same unit, hence why you'd see the battery indicator.
Click to expand...

That's interesting. Can't say it makes much senses, logically... but it would not be the strangest thing that I have seen/experienced.
 
Itinj24 said:
Yeah, I understand but a sensible driver would have their phone tucked away in the console and it would be nice to know where you’re at even while charging. At least a Siri query via CarPlay gives you your battery level. I just tested and confirmed this. Would be nice to see it at a glance regardless of wired or wireless.
Click to expand...
There’s always that one....smh
 
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Remington Steel said:
There’s always that one....smh
Click to expand...
Always that one what? I don’t get it.

I think you misunderstood. I actually use a ProClip dash mount. However with the creation of CarPlay, Apple is expecting your cell phone to be tucked away which is why all information should be available to everyone on the screen. I don’t even know what your contribution is to this thread but I can tell from the picture of that ugly car in your profile that you don’t believe in following the laws of the road.
 
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