Apple CarPlay Is Not Working (Step-By-Step Guide)

You're driving, and you want to use your iPhone to listen to music or get directions, but your car's Apple CarPlay system isn't working.

This article may contain affiliate links where we earn a commission from qualifying purchases.

You're driving, and you want to use your iPhone to listen to music or get directions, but your car's Apple CarPlay system isn't working.

If you're like most people, you rely on your iPhone for a lot of things when you're driving - listening to music, getting directions, sending messages, making calls. And if your car's Apple CarPlay system isn't working, it can be really frustrating.

If your Apple CarPlay isn't working, there are a few things you can try. First, make sure that your iPhone is properly connected to your car's infotainment system. If the connection is loose, try restarting both your iPhone and your car. Also, make sure you are running the latest version of iOS.

If you're having trouble with Apple CarPlay, don't worry - you're not alone. A lot of people are reporting issues with the system since upgrading to iOS 11. In this article, we will provide a step-by-step guide on how to fix the problem. Whether you are having trouble connecting to your car or the audio is not working properly, we have you covered. Follow these simple steps, and you should be able to get your Apple CarPlay up and running in no time.

We spent countless hours on the phone with Apple support and scouring the internet for a solution, and we finally found a bunch of different things that worked for us.

Table of Contents

Why Your Apple CarPlay Isn't Working?

There are a few different reasons why Apple CarPlay might not be working.

iOS Update Issues

One of the most common reasons for CarPlay to stop working is because of an iOS update. If you recently updated your iPhone to the latest version of iOS, it's possible that something went wrong during the process and caused CarPlay to stop working.

Connection Issues

Another reason why Apple CarPlay might not be working is because of a connection issue. If your iPhone is not properly connected to your car's infotainment system, CarPlay will not work. Make sure that your Lightning cable is securely plugged in or that your Bluetooth connection is turned on.

Unable To Detect iPhone

If your car's infotainment system is not able to detect your iPhone, CarPlay will not work. Make sure that your iPhone is turned on and that it is within range of your car.

Compatibility Issues

Lastly, it's possible that your car is not compatible with Apple CarPlay. While most newer cars support the system, there are still a few holdouts. If your car is not listed on Apple's website as being compatible with CarPlay, then, unfortunately, there's not much you can do.

How to Fix Apple CarPlay When It's Not Working?

Now that we've gone over some of the reasons why CarPlay might not be working, let's take a look at how to fix the problem.

Check For An iOS Update

If you're having trouble with CarPlay, the first thing you should do is check for an iOS update. To do this, open Settings and tap on General. From there, tap on Software Update and see if there are any updates available. If there are, install them and then try using CarPlay again.

Restart Your iPhone

If updating your iPhone doesn't fix the problem, try restarting your device. This can sometimes clear up any minor software issues that might be causing problems with CarPlay You can restart your iPhone by holding down the power button until the slider appears. You can turn your phone back on by pressing and holding the power button.

Reset Your Car's Infotainment System

If restarting your iPhone doesn't do the trick, try resetting your car's infotainment system. This will clear any minor software issues that might be causing problems with CarPlay. To reset your system, consult your car's owner's manual. If you're still having trouble with CarPlay, it's possible that you need to update your car's infotainment system.

Enable Siri

If you're having trouble with the audio in CarPlay, check if Siri is enabled. First, go to Settings and tap on Siri & Search. Then, turn on the Listen for "Hey Siri" switch and the Press Side Button for Siri switch.

Turn Off Do Not Disturb

You can also try turning off Do Not Disturb mode. This can sometimes interfere with the audio output of CarPlay. You can disable it from the settings menu.

Make Sure Bluetooth is On

If you're using a Bluetooth connection to use CarPlay, make sure that the feature is turned on. To do this, open the Settings and tap on Bluetooth. From there, make sure that the switch next to "Bluetooth" is turned on. Once you've done that, try using CarPlay again and see if it's working.

Enable CarPlay When Locked

If CarPlay is still not working, try enabling the feature when your iPhone is locked. To do this, open the Settings and tap on Face ID & Passcode. From there, enter your passcode and scroll down to the "Allow Access When Locked" section. From there, make sure that the "CarPlay" option is turned on. Once you've done that, try using CarPlay again and see if it's working.

Check USB Cables (If Not Connected Wirelessly)

If you're not using a wireless connection, make sure that your USB cables are plugged in correctly. If they're not, CarPlay will not work. Make sure that the cable is plugged into the correct port and that it's snugly connected. You can also try using a different USB cable. If that doesn't work, try plugging your iPhone into a different port.

Turn Off USB-Restricted Mode

You can also try turning off USB-restricted mode. This can sometimes interfere with the connection. To do this, open Settings and tap on Face ID & Passcode. From there, enter your passcode and scroll down to the "Allow Access When Locked" section. From there, make sure that the "USB Accessories" option is turned on.

Forget & Re-establish Your CarPlay Connection

If you're still having issues with CarPlay, try forgetting your connection and then re-establishing it. To do this, open Settings and tap on General. From there, tap on CarPlay. From there, tap on the "i" button next to your car's name. Once you've done that, tap on "Forget This Car." Once your car has been forgotten, try connecting to it again and see if the issue has been fixed.

Restore Your iPhone

If none of the above steps have worked, it's possible that you need to restore your iPhone. This will delete all of your data so make sure you have a back up your device. First connect your iPhone to your computer and open iTunes. Once in, click on the "Summary" tab and then click on "Restore iPhone." Once your iPhone has been restored, try using CarPlay again.

Contact Apple Support

If you've tried all of the above steps and CarPlay still isn't working, it's possible that there's a problem with your iPhone or your car's infotainment system. If that's the case, you'll need to contact Apple support or take your car to a dealership. They might be able to help you troubleshoot the problem or tell you if there's a known issue that's causing problems with CarPlay.

Recent Articles

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Thank you! You're signed up for our free newsletter!

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form