If your car supports only a wireless connection – or you don’t want to use a cable – the connection process is slightly more complicated, and the procedure will vary from car to car.
Some require you to plug your phone in for the first time, before connecting wirelessly every time afterwards. Others will act as a Wi-Fi hotspot which you can connect to through phone.
Apple CarPlay in 2024
Apple CarPlay received a big update in September 2024 to coincide with the brand’s iOS 18 software update.
It added a larger number of accessibility features including new background and text colours, new voice commands and sound recognition. Siri, Apple’s AI voice control system, also gets an update for improved effectiveness.
The messages app will now display a profile image for each of your contacts, plus a new weather app will appear on the homescreen.
A larger update, dubbed ‘CarPlay 2’, was set to arrive this year, bringing with it a far more customisable interface. We’re not sure when it might arrive just yet, but we know Aston Martin and Porsche will be the first brands to use the next-generation Apple CarPlay,
What apps can I use through Apple CarPlay?
Not all apps support Apple CarPlay, but those that do will display on your car’s infotainment screen while you’re connected. Many popular apps do support CarPlay. Here’s a list of some of our favourites:
Spotify A popular music, podcast and audiobook streaming service
Messages You can’t text while driving, of course, but Apple’s Siri software will read out your received texts and allow you to send messages back via voice control
Amazon Music A music streaming app from commercial giant Amazon
BBC Sounds The BBC’s own streaming app for podcasts and live radio
