Apple is rolling out a slew of latest options for CarPlay and CarPlay Extremely in iOS 26. Here is what you may count on within the fall when the brand new working programs ship.
As with Apple’s different platforms, CarPlay is getting a contemporary coat of paint with iOS 26. The brand new Liquid Glass UI touches all elements of the CarPlay look.
Newly launched parts now match their iOS counterparts, full with glass-like depth. They do not have the identical shifting specular highlights, although.
There’s a new background possibility to finish the look, based mostly on the inventory iOS 26 background. Apple usually does this for every new launch.
The underside of the screens now have left and proper arrows within the decrease corners. This small change is appreciated, because it makes it simpler to modify between screens.
Icons can now be clear with iOS 26
Apple additionally took the chance to incorporate extra customization for the icons this time. Every icon now has a darkish and light-weight mode in addition to mild and darkish clear variations.
Apple has been sluggish on including new options to the vanilla model of CarPlay, however we’re getting extra love this 12 months with the addition of each widgets and Reside Actions.
The Clock widget with iOS 26 in CarPlay
Widgets are constructed on Apple’s WidgetKit framework, which implies the identical widgets you’ve in your iPhone and that work in StandBy mode will now work within the automotive. Even in the course of the beta, there are a ton of widgets to select from.
You’ll be able to view your good house equipment and management them from the widget
In our testing, we used widgets to point out blood sugar ranges, the climate forecast, music recommendations, and lots extra. Your cellphone can have different choices based mostly on the apps you employ.
You’ll be able to change the widgets through the CarPlay interface by swiping up and down. The variety of widget stacks will rely upon the dimensions of your automotive’s show.
You’ll be able to add, take away, and reorder widgets on iPhone
The widgets might be added from the Settings app in your iPhone. Widgets, or a model of them, have been beforehand unique to CarPlay Extremely. Now iOS 26 makes them commonplace for everybody.
This consists of the flexibility to manage good house equipment. Customers can test if a window was left open or if a fan continues to be working, and with only a faucet, the issue might be mounted.
Apple has launched Reside Actions to CarPlay in iOS 26. This useful function lets you observe occasions occurring in actual time.
Flighty Reside Exercise in CarPlay
These are proven on the split-view of the CarPlay interface, proper within the bottom-right nook. A protracted press lets you clear the exercise.
You may see the dwell climate predictions on when it might begin raining, sports activities scores, flight particulars, or the standing of your pickup meals order.
Much more adjustments with CarPlay
Contained in the Maps app, Apple has made a couple of small tweaks which are value mentioning. It is now utilizing on-device intelligence to get a greater understanding of how folks journey.
It will assist in route predictions and may higher supply most popular routes over what could be “quickest.”
The brand new CarPlay in iOS 26 can even predictively inform you about delays. Even if you happen to do not begin navigation, based mostly on the place you have gone, it might let you already know a couple of delay forward of time.
New incident sorts in CarPlay Maps
Whereas navigating, Maps has new kinds of incidents to report. Earlier than, you had hazards, pace checks, and accidents, which now sit beside visitors, roadwork, and highway closures.
Apple Maps has a brand new function that can show you how to keep in mind the place you have been. It may well now log your beforehand visited places for lookup later — all on-device.
Latest places saved in Maps
Then, you may return and say, “Hey, what was that restaurant we went to final week?” or “what was the title of that park we favored out west?” Whereas not every thing is displayed on CarPlay, all of it integrates seamlessly throughout navigation.
The Music app has seen a minor format adjustment, with some sections reordered. Hopefully, we’ll see the addition of pinned content material earlier than the discharge of iOS 26 within the fall.
You’ll be able to reply with a easy TapBack with iOS 26 in CarPlay
With Messages, iOS 26 CarPlay exhibits your pinned message threads prominently, making it quicker to get to who you need to discover. Plus, when a message is available in, you may reply with tapbacks within the up to date UI.
A cellphone name now would not interrupt the whole display. Credit score: Apple
Calls now function a brand new, smaller UI that seems on the backside of the display. It now not takes over the whole display, which is useful when attempting to navigate.
And, CarPlay will allow you to play video on the display whereas the gadget is stopped. It instantly reverts again to the person interface display when the iPhone detects any motion in any respect.
Lastly, and this is not a lot a brand new function, however I needed to say it — you may nonetheless take screenshots with CarPlay. Apple has simply disabled them by default.
If you wish to flip them again on, head to Settings > Display screen Seize > and toggle on CarPlay screenshots. Then, once you use the screenshot motion in your iPhone, it takes a screenshot of each screens.
The brand new CarPlay UI with Liquid Glass
General, it is a notable improve for Apple’s in-car system with huge new options, an improved UI, and plenty of different quality-of-life enhancements. Plus, they don’t seem to be tied to the higher-end model and will not require a brand new automotive to run.
Apple says extra help is coming for issues like Automotive Key and CarPlay Extremely. Observe together with AppleInsider and we’ll make sure you let you already know when extra get introduced.
At present, iOS 26 is in beta, and as such, a few of these options could change by the point the complete launch is out there.
