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How to Customize CarPlay and Unlock Hidden Secrets

Get the most out of CarPlay with these tips

By Daniel Nations Daniel Nations Writer University of Texas at Arlington Daniel Nations has been a tech journalist since 1994. His work has appeared in Computer Currents, The Examiner, and other publications. He is a developer who has published apps in the Apple App Store, Google Play marketplace and Amazon Appstore; he also has worked as a data analyst and DB administrator. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on June 17, 2022 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email

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Expand Jump to a Section What Comes With CarPlay CarPlay Compatible Apps Step-by-Step: Customize CarPlay Hidden Tricks and Secrets Frequently Asked Questions Apple CarPlay isn't so much an app as it is an interface you use to access certain features of your iPhone through your car's infotainment system. It's easy to customize some of the best CarPlay apps and rearrange the apps on the CarPlay screen using an iPhone with iOS 14 or iOS 13.

What Comes With CarPlay

CarPlay is controllable by the Siri voice assistant. Siri makes phone calls, reads your text messages, sends your dictated replies, and adds events to your calendar. CarPlay is also designed to work with each car's available knobs, buttons, and touchscreen, and it includes an app for your car that takes you back to the home screen with a tap. The CarPlay dashboard comes equipped with the iPhone, Music, Maps, Messages, and Calendar apps, and it supports additional apps you can opt to use with CarPlay. One of the best parts of CarPlay is the opportunity to customize it.

Apps Compatible With CarPlay

Apple makes it easy to install apps: Select them on your iPhone, and they appear on your CarPlay screen. If you use more than eight apps, you can swipe to the next screen just as you do on your iPhone. Among the apps available for CarPlay are: Music Apps: You aren't limited to Apple Music. CarPlay supports alternatives such as Spotify, YouTube Music, Tidal, and the Amazon Music app. You can listen to your music no matter where it is located. You can also stream music from Radio Disney. Radio Apps: Sirius XM Radio, CBS Radio News, iHeartRadio, and Pandora allow you to listen to actual radio stations or create your own custom radio stations. Have a favorite local station? Check to see if it has an app. Many radio stations are moving into the App Store. PodCast Apps: If you are addicted to podcasts, you aren't limited to the Apple Podcasts app. Some of the podcast player apps available are Overcast, Downcast, Pocket Casts, and Stitcher. News Apps: There are a few great apps for getting your news fix on your daily commute. NPR One is designed with the commuter in mind. The Stitcher podcast player does double duty as it stitches together news from several publishers, and the MLB app is a must-have for baseball fans. Audiobooks: In addition to audiobooks available through iBooks, you can also install the Audible or Audiobooks app. Messaging apps: Whether you prefer the Apple Messages app or WhatsApp Messenger, CarPlay has you covered. Navigation: In addition to Apple Maps, you can use Waze, Google Maps, or Sygic.

How to Customize the CarPlay Screen

You customize the CarPlay screen on the iPhone. It's easy to add and remove apps, and you can do it any time on your iPhone—even when you don't have CarPlay active. Here's how: Open iPhone Settings. Tap General. Tap CarPlay. Select your car for settings specific to it. Tap Customize. Use the plus sign (+) or minus sign (-) to add or remove apps. Tap and drag apps to change the order they appear on the CarPlay screen. The next time your iPhone connects with CarPlay in your car, the changes transfer.

Hidden CarPlay Tricks and Secrets

Using CarPlay is straightforward. Turning it on is as easy as connecting your iPhone with your car, and the interface is similar to your smartphone. Here are a few hidden secrets buried in CarPlay you may not have run across.

Create a Radio Station

Create a radio station when you want to hear more music similar to the song you are listening to. Tap the button with the three dots in the Now Playing screen, and you can create a radio station from the current song.

Find Your Car

Find Your Car works with CarPlay. A setting for Maps allows your iPhone to remember where you parked your car. It works through GPS, so if you are in a parking garage, it might not register, but it can be a fantastic time (and feet) saver in a big parking lot. Turn it on by going to the iPhone Settings app, choosing Maps from the menu, and tapping next to Show Parked Location.

Avoid a Ticket

This feature can be easy to miss, but when you have the turn-by-turn directions turned on, the speed limit of your current location displays on the screen. It doesn't work with every street, but it encompasses most highways. FAQ What cars have Apple CarPlay? More than 600 vehicle models currently support or plan to introduce CarPlay. You can view an updated list of cars that support CarPlay on the Apple website.
How do I organize apps in CarPlay? Rearrange the order of CarPlay apps in your iPhone settings. Go to Settings > General > CarPlay, choose your car, and select Customize. Tap and hold the app you want to move, and then drag it to the desired position. Can I add Netflix to CarPlay? No. Apple CarPlay doesn't support video streaming apps like Netflix.
Is myQ compatible with Apple CarPlay? Yes. Apple CarPlay integrates with the My Mitsubishi Connect app, allowing you to control your smart garage. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire The 9 Best Free Music Streaming Apps for iOS and Android (2022) How to Stop Apple Music From Automatically Playing How to Fix It When Apple CarPlay is Not Working How to Add Google Maps to CarPlay 14 Best Places to Listen to Free Music Online The 8 Best Podcast Apps for iPhone (2022) What Android Auto Is and How to Use It What Is Stitcher and How Does It Work? The 22 Best Free iPad Apps of 2022 13 Best Free Music Apps for iPhone The 10 Best Apple CarPlay Apps How to Listen to an iPod in a Car The 10 Best Podcast Apps for Android of 2022 How to Shazam a Song That's Already on Your Phone How to Fix It When an Apple Podcast Won't Play How to Download Podcasts Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies