CarPlay is Apple's smart driving companion, designed to bring your iPhone’s apps and features to your car’s infotainment system. This intuitive system works with newer car models and is perfect for plugging in when you’re on the go. Whether you're navigating, making calls, or listening to music, CarPlay makes it safer and more convenient to access essential iPhone functions while on the road.

What is CarPlay on iPhone?

CarPlay is a feature that integrates your iPhone with your car’s built-in display, providing a streamlined and hands-free experience. With CarPlay, you can use Siri, access Apple Maps or Google Maps, play music, send and receive messages, and more—without ever picking up your phone. Many modern vehicles come with CarPlay support, and if yours does, setting it up is quick and easy.

How to set up Apple CarPlay

Setting up Apple CarPlay in your vehicle is easy, but the process varies depending on whether you connect via USB or wirelessly. Follow these steps to get started.

How to use CarPlay via USB

Once you've set up CarPlay in your car, it should launch automatically when you plug in your iPhone. Here’s how to get started:

  1. Start your car and make sure Siri is enabled on your iPhone.
  2. Use a compatible USB cable to connect your iPhone to your car’s USB port.
  3. Your car’s infotainment system should recognize your device and prompt you to enable CarPlay.
  4. When prompted on your iPhone, tap Allow to grant access.
  5. CarPlay should now appear on your car’s display, giving you access to navigation, music, and more.

How to connect Apple CarPlay wirelessly

If your car supports wireless CarPlay, you can connect without using a USB cable. You should only have to follow these steps for the initial setup. After that, your device will connect automatically.

  1. First, ensure Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are enabled on your iPhone.
  2. Start your car and press and hold the voice control or CarPlay setup button.
  3. On your iPhone, go to Settings > Bluetooth.
  4. Select your car from the available options and follow the on-screen instructions.
  5. Confirm the connection by tapping ‘Allow’ when prompted.

Your iPhone will now automatically connect to CarPlay wirelessly whenever you start your car.

Quick Question: How many photos of your car do you have?

If you love your car, chances are you've taken plenty of photos of it—road trips, scenic drives, or just a clean, shiny finish. But did you know all those car photos (and other images you don’t need) might be cluttering your iPhone storage?

With CleanMy®Phone, you can now organize your car-related photos with a dedicated Transport category in the Organize module. This makes it easy to group, declutter, and free up valuable storage space in just a few taps!

More CarPlay settings for your iPhone to use

Once CarPlay is set up, you might want to fine-tune a few settings to make it work exactly the way you like.

How to turn on CarPlay

CarPlay should connect automatically when you start your car. If you're using a USB cable, it should activate as soon as you plug in your iPhone. If it doesn’t, follow these steps to make sure CarPlay is enabled:

  1. Open Settings on your iPhone.
  2. Tap General, then select CarPlay.
  3. Find your car in the list and make sure CarPlay is turned on.

How to сhange settings on CarPlay

Managing your settings is simple. You can easily toggle options, rearrange apps, or even rename your car in your device settings to personalize how you interact with CarPlay.

Here’s how to do it:

  1. Go to Settings
  2. Choose Bluetooth
  3. Select your Car

How to remove a car from CarPlay

If you’ve connected CarPlay to multiple vehicles or are selling your car, you might want to remove it from your iPhone’s CarPlay settings. Here’s how:

  1. Open Settings on your iPhone.
  2. Go to General > CarPlay.
  3. Select the car you want to remove.
  4. Tap Forget This Car to disconnect it.

This will remove the vehicle from your CarPlay settings, so it won’t connect automatically in the future.

How to get CarPlay on iPhone

CarPlay is supported on iPhones running iOS 7.1 or later, but it requires a compatible vehicle or aftermarket stereo system (perfect for older cars). If your car doesn’t support CarPlay natively, you can still enjoy its benefits by installing a CarPlay-enabled head unit from brands like Pioneer, Kenwood, or Alpine.

Running low on iPhone storage? If you need to free up space before downloading updates or new apps for CarPlay, check out this guide for expert tips on clearing storage efficiently.

Apple CarPlay makes connecting to your digital life while driving easier and more enjoyable, giving you quick access to navigation, music, and messages—all while keeping your focus on the road. With just a few quick steps, you can set up and customize CarPlay to fit your lifestyle and needs.

And here’s a pro tip: Keeping your iPhone storage organized with CleanMy®Phone ensures you have plenty of space for all your road trip must-haves. Safe travels and happy driving!