CarPlay on iOS 26: Here's Everything New

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Apple this week announced iOS 26, and the upcoming software update includes many new features and changes for CarPlay.

CarPlay Liquid Glass Light
To try out these features now, you will need to be using an iPhone running iOS 26, which is currently available in developer beta.

Below, we recap nine changes to CarPlay.

Liquid Glass Design

CarPlay Liquid Glass Dark
When you are using CarPlay with an iPhone running iOS 26, the new Liquid Glass design extends to the CarPlay interface. Like on the iPhone, the new look includes more shimmery app icons and translucent user interface elements.

New Messages App Features

CarPlay Messages Tapbacks
Starting with iOS 26, you can respond to messages with standard Tapbacks like a heart, thumbs up, or exclamation marks directly through CarPlay.

Pinned Conversations

CarPlay Pinned Messages
You can now view your pinned conversations in the Messages app on CarPlay.

Compact View for Phone Calls

CarPlay Compact Phone Calls
CarPlay has a new compact view for incoming phone calls, so that you can still see other information on the screen, such as turn-by-turn directions.

Live Activities

CarPlay Live Activities
CarPlay's Dashboard screen can now show Live Activities, letting you keep track of things like a flight's arrival time at a glance.

Widgets

CarPlay Widgets
The regular version of CarPlay now has a widgets screen, for things like calendar appointments and HomeKit accessory controls.

Widgets were previously limited to CarPlay Ultra.

On a related note, all of these new features are coming to CarPlay Ultra.

Multi-Touch Maps

Starting with iOS 26, CarPlay users can interact with mapping apps using multi-touch gestures in supported vehicles. This allows users to zoom and pan on the map with their fingers, just like they can on an iPhone.

Watch Videos While Parked

iPhone users will be able to wirelessly stream videos to the CarPlay screen using AirPlay, according to Apple. For safety reasons, video playback will only be available when the vehicle is parked, to prevent distracted driving. The connected iPhone will be able to detect when the vehicle is in motion and end playback.

Automakers need to add support for this feature, so it might be limited to newer vehicles and take some time to roll out.

Smart Display Zoom

iOS 26 adds a new Smart Display Zoom setting to CarPlay.

When the setting is enabled, CarPlay will be automatically resized to better fit the shape and size of your vehicle's dashboard screen, if possible.

The images below show what CarPlay looks like before and after the Smart Display Zoom setting is enabled. With the setting turned on, all of the user interface elements become smaller, allowing for an extra row of app icons to fit on the screen.

CarPlay Smart Display Zoom BeforeBefore
CarPlay Smart Display Zoom AfterAfter

iOS 26 should be released in September.

Related Roundup: CarPlay
Related Forum: HomePod, HomeKit, CarPlay, Home & Auto Technology

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Top Rated Comments

alexandr Avatar
alexandr
9 months ago





CarPlay has a new compact view for incoming phone calls, so that you can still see other information on the screen, such as turn-by-turn directions.
This alone makes this update worthwhile.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
turbineseaplane Avatar
turbineseaplane
9 months ago

It’s doable, but not with CarPlay.

This is also illegal in US while driving
Nobody is suggesting doing this.
Can we leave the behavior policing out of these discussions?

Folks will do what they are going to do.

Right now we have huge swaths of the population flying along with the phone in their hand or in a cradle -- getting used while driving. It's all unsafe and against rules and people are doing it in droves right now.

I don't like it .. trust me.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
pratax2 Avatar
pratax2
9 months ago
I was expecting UI improvements on dashboard but it seems nothing is coming. Current layout is wasting a lot of space in useless tiles as the one of maps (with info that could be easily integrated in the map tile itself) and having a very poor experience with the music tile for example.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
A
anakin44011
9 months ago
Aside from minor quibbles about sizing, readability, complexity (as everyone always has quibbles -- it is just our nature)...this is one of the most exciting CarPlay upgrades.

Depending on what you do (or want to do) in your car -- some of these capabilities could be seen as major usability upgrades to our existing vehicles. Just take a few of those and imagine how difficult it would be for Honda or Nissan to try to implement those separately (without CarPlay). And Apple is giving them to us for free. Let's give credit where credit is due - Bravo, Apple. I now forgive you for Genmoji.?

However, on a side note, I see some of these being unruly on cars without touchscreens (those relying solely on jog wheels and trackpads). I wish all car manufacturers would make touchscreens standard (with other controller as optional add-ons).
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
biggest father1 Avatar
biggest father1
9 months ago
If someone uses wired CarPlay, would AirPlay video be needed to play a video on the vehicle's entertainment screen? You'd think a video would just play on the vehicle's display from the iPhone, right? Only asking because I don't have faith that auto manufacturers will update older vehicles to use this feature.

Edit: This question is regarding the new iOS 26 feature that lets you watch videos on the vehicle’s infotainment display while the car is parked.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jphall Avatar
jphall
9 months ago

I don’t think this upgrade is that exciting at all. I think it’s rather underwhelming frankly…
I do hope you've filed feedback with Apple with specific things you'd like to have on your car's CarPlay.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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