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CarPlay iPhone Battery Level in CarPlay
- Thread starter Itinj24
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Yeah that’s what I thought. It’s gone now, for me at least. Very convenient feature.
AZhappyjack
Suspended
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.
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.
AZhappyjack
Suspended
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.
Mine still shows on iOS 13. Looks just like the image on the left. I'm using a BMW, which also has wireless CarPlay.
Change the factory phone screen, as in the wallpaper?
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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?
the image on the left with battery was not at 100% and charging,
maybe once the battery is fully charged it stops showing?
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.
AZhappyjack
Suspended
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.
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.
Chargerdan
macrumors member
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.
AZhappyjack
Suspended
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.
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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.
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.
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.
AZhappyjack
Suspended
That's interesting. Can't say it makes much senses, logically... but it would not be the strangest thing that I have seen/experienced.
Remington Steel
macrumors 6502
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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