Google Maps and Waze Coming to CarPlay in iOS 12

carplay third party apps ios 12

Beginning this fall with iOS 12, Apple will allow navigation apps to work with CarPlay, including both Google Maps and Waze.

The change was announced at WWDC, and — for consumers — could be one of the most immediately useful announcements made during the entire keynote.

Since CarPlay was first introduced a few years ago, Apple has prevented all navigation apps not named Apple Maps from working with CarPlay. This means that anyone who wanted to use an alternative app like Google Maps, Waze, or TomTom was forced to use a phone mount instead of the otherwise very useful CarPlay.

Apple didn't actually say when (or even if) Google Maps and Waze would be available with CarPlay, but MacRumors has reached out to Google and will update if we hear back.

Related Roundup: CarPlay

Popular Stories

Apple Shopping Event 2025

Apple Announces 2025 Black Friday Event, Here's What You Can Get

Thursday November 20, 2025 6:28 am PST by
Apple's annual four-day Black Friday through Cyber Monday shopping event is returning on Friday, November 28 through Monday, December 1 in many countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, Thailand, and others. During the shopping event, customers can get an Apple gift card with...
applecare apple care banner

Apple Brings New AppleCare+ Options to India

Tuesday November 18, 2025 8:42 am PST by
Apple today announced an expansion of AppleCare+ coverage in India, with new options for monthly and annual plans, and the addition of Theft and Loss for iPhone for the first time. Options for monthly and annual AppleCare+ plans in India provide more choice and flexibility, allowing users to keep coverage for as long as they require. Apple's vice president of Worldwide iPhone Product...
iPhone 17 Pro Cosmic Orange

10 Reasons to Wait for Next Year's iPhone 18 Pro

Wednesday November 19, 2025 4:00 am PST by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models at the same time, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 18 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. One thing worth...
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...
ipad mini 7 feature red and blue

iPad Mini 8: Four Major New Features to Expect

Wednesday November 19, 2025 7:50 am PST by
Apple's eighth-generation iPad mini is highly likely to arrive next year, offering a significant refresh of the device with at least four major new features. OLED Display The next-generation version of the iPad mini could feature an OLED display, as part of Apple's plan to expand the display technology across many more of its devices. Apple's first OLED device was the Apple Watch in 2015, ...
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...
iPhone 17 Pro and Air N1 Feature

iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 16 Wi-Fi Speeds: New Study Reveals the Winner

Tuesday November 18, 2025 10:53 am PST by
A new study has revealed that the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air achieve significantly faster average Wi-Fi speeds compared to the iPhone 16 series, thanks to Apple's custom-designed N1 chip. The study was conducted by Ookla, the company behind the popular Speedtest website and app. It said the results are based on global, crowdsourced Speedtest user data...
macbook black friday

The Best Early Black Friday Mac Deals

Tuesday November 18, 2025 7:32 am PST by
We're getting closer to Black Friday, which lands next week on Friday, November 28. In the lead-up to the shopping holiday, we're tracking a few lowest-ever prices on Apple's most popular Macs, including the M4 MacBook Air and brand new M5 MacBook Pro. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment,...
Magic Keyboard Touch ID Feature

Apple Releases New Firmware for 140W USB-C Power Adapter, Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad

Tuesday November 18, 2025 1:05 pm PST by
Apple today released updated firmware for several accessories, including the 140W USB-C Power Adapter, the Magic Trackpad 2, the Magic Trackpad USB-C, the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID, and the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad. There is no word on what's included in the updated firmware at this time, but it could offer performance improvements and security updates. Accessory...
watchos 26 workout app

Apple Watch Users Claim Workout App Is Now Worse in Every Way

Thursday November 20, 2025 7:01 am PST by
Apple Watch owners have been voicing their frustration online over changes to the Workout app that Apple introduced in watchOS 26, with many finding the redesigned interface makes starting exercises difficult and exasperating. When Apple launched watchOS 26 in September, the Workout app went from large, easily tapped workout tiles to a scrolling, corner-button interface. Instead of tapping a ...

Top Rated Comments

44267547 Avatar
97 months ago
This is huge. I’m Actually surprised Apple is making this change. And now it allows for more diversity like Google Maps, which has its advantages over Apple Maps.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MadDane Avatar
97 months ago
I had two gripes with CarPlay. Being unable to search for music with Spotify and not being able to use Google Maps. Now one of them is coming. This is the biggest news from WWDC for me :D I use CarPlay almost daily.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Boyd01 Avatar
97 months ago
Anxious to hear more about this. My new VW has CarPlay. Used it on the way home from the dealer and have not tried it again since then. Third party apps would definitely be a reason to revisit CarPlay.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
one more Avatar
97 months ago
This is good that they're allowing competition but I really wish they'd improve Apple maps.
With Apple allowing third party navigation apps into CarPlay, not mentioning Maps a single time during today’s presentation or in iOS 12 new features ( https://www.apple.com/ios/ios-12-preview/features/ ), I am also wondering what the future of Apple Maps might be like. I hope they are not giving up on it.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
scottct1 Avatar
97 months ago
It don't work yet. :(

Updated to Beta 1 today then went to my car and plugged into my CarPlay unit (New 2018 car) and no Waze icon. :(
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
einmusiker Avatar
97 months ago
This is absolutely huge. A game changer. Android auto will probably become completely obsolete
[doublepost=1528153681][/doublepost]
Doesn't this require CarPlay 2? Which I assume means the car manufacturers will have to push out an upgrade. Wonder how long that will take?
In a word no. I’ve had other new apps show up on CarPlay without a major update
[doublepost=1528153816][/doublepost]
You didn't look very hard. Google came up with this as the first entry:

https://9to5mac.com/2018/06/04/apple-wwdc-app-updates/
There’s no way apple wouldn’t have mentioned CarPlay 2 in the keynote if that was accurate
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)