Hidden iOS 7 Settings Reveal 'iOS in the Car' Could Work Over AirPlay

Shortly after Apple seeded iOS 7 Beta 3 to developers earlier today, user Hamza Sood (via 9to5Mac) discovered toggles in the beta's "Accessory Developer" settings that allow for iOS 7's "iOS in the Car" initiative to work over Wi-Fi in addition to USB.

ios_7_car_airplay
iOS in the Car is an initiative Apple revealed at its Worldwide Developers Conference keynote that provides enhanced iOS integration in automobiles, displaying iOS on in-car monitors to make calls, get messages, look at maps and more.

While it was largely assumed that iOS in the Car would work over a wired USB-to-30-pin or USB-to-Lightning connection, it now appears that iOS in the Car may be available at great convenience with users not having to take their devices out of their pockets or bags to instantly connect to their automobiles, which would have to be outfitted with AirPlay or Wi-Fi to take advantage of the feature.

Major car manufacturers that plan to support iOS in the Car include Honda, Acura, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Infiniti, Ferrari, Chevrolet, Hyundai, Kia, Volvo, Opel and Jaguar. The feature is expected to roll out in 2014 following the launch of iOS 7 this fall.

Related Roundup: CarPlay

Popular Stories

Tim Cook WWDC 2018

Report: Tim Cook to Step Down as Apple CEO 'as Soon as Next Year'

Saturday November 15, 2025 2:40 pm PST by
Apple is preparing for Tim Cook to step down as CEO of the company "as soon as next year," according to the Financial Times. The company's board of directors and senior executives "recently intensified preparations for Cook to hand over the reins," the report said. While the report said that Apple is unlikely to name a new CEO before its next earnings report in late January, it went on to ...
AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, and AirPods 4

Thursday November 13, 2025 11:35 am PST by
Apple today released new firmware designed for the AirPods Pro 3, the AirPods 4, and the prior-generation AirPods Pro 2. The AirPods Pro 3 firmware is 8B25, while the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 firmware is 8B21, all up from the prior 8A358 firmware released in October. There's no word on what's include in the updated firmware, but the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods 4 with ANC, and AirPods Pro 3...
iOS 26

Everything New in iOS 26.2 Beta 3

Monday November 17, 2025 3:20 pm PST by
Apple provided developers with the third beta of an upcoming iOS 26.2 update, and there are still new features that are being added with each beta that we get. We've rounded up all of the changes that Apple made in beta 3. AirDrop Apple added new AirDrop functionality, providing a way for two people to share files temporarily without having to add one another as contacts. iOS 26.2...
best early black friday deals

Best Black Friday Apple Deals Live Now - Save on AirPods, iPads, and Apple Watches

Saturday November 15, 2025 1:45 pm PST by
We're officially in the month of Black Friday, which will take place on Friday, November 28 in 2025. As always, this will be the best time of the year to shop for great deals, including popular Apple products like AirPods, iPad, Apple Watch, and more. In this article, the majority of the discounts will be found on Amazon. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When ...
iPhone Pocket Short

iPhone Pocket Now Available to Order, But Already Selling Out

Friday November 14, 2025 6:20 am PST by
Apple recently teamed up with Japanese fashion brand ISSEY MIYAKE to create the iPhone Pocket, a limited-edition knitted accessory designed to carry an iPhone. iPhone Pocket is available to order on Apple's online store starting today, in the United States, France, China, Italy, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. However, it is already completely sold out in the United...
Apple Wallet ID Illinois

iPhone Driver's License Feature Launching in Illinois

Tuesday November 18, 2025 8:47 am PST by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Starting this Wednesday, November 19, the feature will be available to residents of Illinois. The announcement confirmed that the...
apple silicon mac lineup 2024 feature purple m5

Apple's 2026 Mac Plans

Friday November 14, 2025 3:23 pm PST by
Most of Apple's Macs are slated to get M5 chips across 2026, and there's a possibility we'll even see the first M6 chips toward the end of the year. Updates are planned for everything from the MacBook Air to the Mac Studio. MacBook Air (Early 2026) The MacBook Air will be one of the first Macs to get a 2026 refresh, with an update planned for the first few months of the year. The MacBook...
CarPlay Liquid Glass Dark

Here's When Tesla is Expected to Add Support for Apple CarPlay

Sunday November 16, 2025 6:49 am PST by
In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reiterated that Tesla plans to add Apple CarPlay support to its vehicles "in the coming months." This is easily the biggest news for the regular version of CarPlay in years, should Tesla actually follow through with offering the system in its vehicles. As noted by Gurman, this would be a stunning reversal for Tesla and its CEO Elon ...
Apple Sports App Preview Feature

Apple Sports App on iPhone Now Available in More European Countries

Monday November 17, 2025 6:27 am PST by
The free Apple Sports app on the iPhone was released in additional European countries today, including Belgium, Croatia, Czechia, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Poland, Hungary, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Serbia, Greece, Estonia, Latvia, Romania, Ukraine, and others. The app was already available in the U.S., the U.K., Canada, Austria, France, Germany,...
tvOS 26 Profiles

tvOS 26.2 Adds a Useful New Feature to Your Apple TV

Friday November 14, 2025 10:02 am PST by
Starting with the upcoming tvOS 26.2 update, currently in beta, additional profiles created on the Apple TV no longer require their own Apple Account. In the Settings app on the Apple TV, under Profiles and Accounts, anyone can create a new profile by simply entering a name and indicating whether the profile is for a kid. The profile will be associated with the primary user's Apple Account,...

Top Rated Comments

Leehro Avatar
161 months ago
iAP is the iPod Accessory Protocol (http://mfi.apple.com/faqs#1-1). It's how iOS devices communicate with external accessories, historically over the dock connector or bluetooth.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Steve J0bs Avatar
161 months ago
I wonder if there will ever be a way to install a new head unit that would be capable of iOS in the Car? If not, i guess it would be a cool DIY.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Robert.Walter Avatar
161 months ago
Where the hell is Ford & Lincoln?

Ford might have been an early-mover with its Microsoft based Sync, but the world has moved-on and the market has spoken, and MS, Windows Phone, and Sync are not it.

Ford, you have been slammed in customer reviews and surveys for the lousy performance if Sync, such that you have had to start adding knobs back into your best seller vehicles.

Time to realize you are the maker of fine cars and bury your connectivity wet dream and move to iOS before your competitors steal a march on you. (Or did MS tie you up and tie you down?)

One clear way to demonstrate to the market that you get it is to move off platform to a new one.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DotCom2 Avatar
161 months ago
Why is't BMW in that list?
They were one of the first with ipod/iphone support?

Yeah...and what about Lexus/Toyota?
My next car might not be a Lexus unless they step it up!!!
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dannys1 Avatar
161 months ago
Why is suddenly any connection over wifi called "airplay" - Apple are not referring to it as Airplay so why is Mac Rumors? Presumably iOS in the car is not just the output of the iPhone onto an external monitor. I presuming you can use the monitor and the radio to do other things too, otherwise what would be the point of it?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sparrky Avatar
161 months ago
I am REALLY looking forward to this.

----------



Toyota (and therefore presumably Lexus) was originally on the list presented at WWDC if I remember correctly. Not sure why it's not on MacRumor's list.

Toyota wasn't. I was looking for it specifically because that's what I always buy. Switching to Nissan now if Toyota doesn't get with the program :p
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)