iOS 26 to Upgrade CarPlay in Two Ways - MacRumors
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iOS 26 to Upgrade CarPlay in Two Ways

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While the spotlight has been on CarPlay Ultra lately, the regular version of CarPlay is set to receive some enhancements alongside iOS 26.

carplay hero dashboard
Apple will announce iOS 26 at WWDC 2025 next week, and the software update is expected to upgrade the CarPlay experience in at least two ways.

The first iOS 26 beta should be seeded to developers shortly after Apple's keynote, and the update will likely be released in September.

There will likely be more CarPlay changes alongside iOS 26 — these are just the known ones.

New Design

9to5Mac this week reported that at least some of iOS 26's rumored design changes will extend to the CarPlay interface, which would make sense.

iOS 26 is expected to feature a sleeker, glass-like design with added translucency for app icons, menus, buttons, and other elements.

Sound Recognition for Crying Babies

CarPlay Sound Recognition
CarPlay gained support for Sound Recognition with iOS 18 last year. The accessibility feature can alert drivers or passengers who are deaf or hard of hearing to horns and sirens outside of the vehicle, such as from a police car, ambulance, or fire truck.

Last month, Apple previewed new accessibility features coming in iOS 26, including an expansion of Sound Recognition for CarPlay. With the update, the feature will be able to provide a notification if it hears a crying baby inside the vehicle.

Apple said CarPlay will also be getting a Large Text option, which has long existed on iPhones.

Related Roundups: CarPlay, iOS 26, iPadOS 26
Related Forums: HomePod, HomeKit, CarPlay, Home & Auto Technology, iOS 26

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Top Rated Comments

al256 Avatar
al256
17 months ago
I don't want full screen incoming calls. There have been so many times when I'm trying to get to the right exit then get a call and can't see the navigation.
Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AgeOfSpiracles Avatar
AgeOfSpiracles
17 months ago

Like get rid of calendar as being a default?! Who wants that?
People who are driving to an appointment, for one.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
J
joshml
17 months ago
Like get rid of calendar as being a default?! Who wants that?
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
turbineseaplane Avatar
turbineseaplane
17 months ago

I don't want full screen incoming calls. There have been so many times when I'm trying to get to the right exit then get a call and can't see the navigation.
Agreed - I HATE this.

It's made me go into DND mode if I'm nearing or in the middle of a critical part of a drive where I need the turn by turn directions/map to 100% be there.

It's yet another design decision that makes you think Apple doesn't have real people test some of this stuff in the real world.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mookc1 Avatar
mookc1
17 months ago
It needs a calculator.......
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
B
Biro
17 months ago
As long as I can turn off Sound Recognition, I’ll be glad it’s there for people who need it. All Apple devices have a nasty habit of suddenly becoming “helpful” at exactly the wrong moment.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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