Apple’s iOS 26 brings a major revamp to CarPlay, transforming the in-car experience into something sleeker, smarter, and far more functional. From a refreshed user interface to advanced widgets and improved apps, the update reflects Apple’s ambition to make driving safer while keeping you seamlessly connected.
With Liquid Glass visuals, smarter music playback, enhanced Maps, and even AirPlay support (depending on your vehicle), CarPlay has matured into a truly dynamic dashboard companion.
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A new design language with customisation options
Just like the iPhone, CarPlay now adopts the Liquid Glass design language. Icons appear with a reflective, glass-like sheen, and users can personalise their dashboard layout with widgets. These widgets range from weather forecasts to media shortcuts and can be customised from the iPhone’s settings. A “smart rotate” option even uses Apple Intelligence to predict which widget you’ll want next.
The ability to turn on and off CarPlay screenshots is now available for the first time, through a setting accessed on your iPhone.
Go to: Settings -> General -> Screen Capture -> enable or disable CarPlay Screenshots
New wallpapers give drivers a chance to tailor the look of their display, with options spanning from subtle grey tones to richer colours. Apple has also added the ability to switch between light, dark, or clear icon styles, though some older wallpaper options have been retired. STILL no custom wallpapers though!
Music, Podcasts, and Messages get smarter
Entertainment apps have received perhaps the most attention. Apple Music has been redesigned to mirror its iPhone counterpart, with pinned playlists, albums, and even Shazam tracks available at a glance.
A standout feature is Automix, which uses Apple Intelligence to transition between songs seamlessly, DJ-style, based on tempo and beat.
Enable this in Settings -> Apps -> Music -> Song Transitions (mine was enabled by default)
Gesture support makes navigation smoother, and SharePlay integration allows passengers to queue music directly.
The Podcasts app benefits from a similar redesign, offering clearer navigation and playback speed options up to 3x for those who prefer to race through episodes. Messages also sees a boost, now allowing pinned conversations and “Tapback” reactions just like on iOS. Notifications take up less space, ensuring directions remain visible even when calls or messages arrive.
Maps, widgets, and live activities
Apple Maps is more useful than ever in CarPlay. Drivers can now pinch to zoom (manufacturer depending), view upcoming turns in advance, and report a wider range of road conditions, from closures to construction.
The new on-screen keyboard has been redesigned in the Liquid Glass style, with improved clarity and functionality. Apple has confirmed that pinch-to-zoom support will roll out to third-party navigation apps like Google Maps and Waze in the near future.
Widgets play a central role in iOS 26 CarPlay. Depending on screen size, vehicles can support up to three widgets columns, with up to four widgets available to swipe through once in each column.
These include Apple TV controls, YouTube Search, and weather updates. Live Activities also debut, allowing real-time updates to display beneath media playback—for example, flight tracking or sports scores. Long-pressing a live activity clears it instantly, while multiple activities can be swiped through when needed.
Some older displays will only show one widget stack at a time.
To add or edit your Widgets go to:
- When you’re not driving, go to the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap General, tap CarPlay, then tap your car.
- Tap Widgets, then tap Add Widgets.
- Follow the onscreen instructions to add a widget.
Smarter settings, safety features, and AirPlay support
CarPlay’s settings menu has been overhauled with practical additions. Smart Zoom automatically adjusts text and icons to best fit a car’s display, optimising readability without sacrificing aesthetics. Accessibility options include sound recognition, which now detects crying babies alongside sirens and horns—an important safety upgrade for parents.
AirPlay support is another standout, though it depends on your vehicle manufacturer. If approved through Apple’s MFi certification programme, drivers can stream video content to their car’s display while parked. This would allow YouTube, workout tutorials, or streaming apps to play directly on the infotainment screen. While some automakers may enable this quickly, others (such as Ford, according to early reports) may delay adoption.
Incoming call alerts have been redesigned too. Rather than taking over the full display, calls now appear in a more compact overlay, ensuring maps and navigation remain visible. Users can still switch back to the older full-screen call view if preferred.
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Final thoughts
With iOS 26, Apple has delivered its most ambitious CarPlay update to date. The Liquid Glass design brings visual consistency across Apple’s platforms, while practical improvements like Automix music transitions, live activities, and more detailed Maps reporting make CarPlay genuinely more useful day-to-day. The balance between personalisation, safety, and entertainment has been carefully refined, making long drives both more engaging and less distracting.
Not every feature is available yet—AirPlay streaming, for example, requires automaker cooperation, and third-party navigation pinch-to-zoom is still rolling out. Still, for most drivers, the update represents a substantial leap forward. Whether you’re a daily commuter or a road-trip enthusiast, CarPlay in iOS 26 is no longer just a smartphone extension—it’s a fully realised driving platform that feels designed for the future.
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