Apple has given CarPlay a big makeover with its iOS 26 update. The new look feels more like the iPhone itself. Drivers will see glass-like buttons and a new background that matches the fresh iOS style. Small arrows at the bottom make it easier to flip between screens. Icon designs also adapt to light or dark mode, so they always stand out.
Widgets and Live Activities
One of the most exciting additions is support for widgets. These are the same widgets you use on your iPhone home screen. Now they can live on your car display. Drivers can check weather forecasts or see health stats without leaving the map view. Smart home controls land in CarPlay as well. You can glance at your garage door or turn off the lights at home from behind the wheel.
Live Activities also arrive in CarPlay. They sit in a corner of the screen to show real-time updates. A food delivery countdown or sports score can stay visible as you drive. A long press on a Live Activity clears it from view. This new feature helps keep your focus on the road.
Smarter Maps
Apple has tuned CarPlay maps to learn your habits. It can suggest the routes you use most or warn of delays ahead, even before you start navigation. While driving, the map will now report a wider range of incidents. You will see alerts for road work, closures, hazards, and speed checks.
A hidden benefit is the new history tracking. CarPlay can log spots you have visited before. Later, you can ask Siri, “What was that coffee shop on Fifth Street?” and get the name and address. This view is only on your iPhone but works in concert with CarPlay navigation.
Music and Messages
The Music app gains a small but welcome change. You can pin your favorite playlists or albums so they appear first in CarPlay. This makes it faster to play the songs you love.
Messages now highlight your pinned threads at the top. A new tap-to-reply UI lets you send quick replies or emoji reactions without hunting for the menu. Incoming calls are less jarring, too. A slim banner at the bottom of the screen shows the caller and lets you answer without losing your map view.
Video, Screenshots, and More
Apple has kept some hidden gems in iOS 26 CarPlay. You can now watch a video on the car display once the vehicle is parked. The moment the car moves, the screen flips back to apps. Screenshots remain disabled by default. You can turn them on in your iPhone settings under screen capture. Then your CarPlay view is just a tap away from your camera roll.
A richer driving experience
The iOS 26 CarPlay update brings dozens of quality-of-life improvements. New design touches make the system feel more alive. Widgets and Live Activities add real-time info into view. Maps learn your patterns and build a route deck you will actually use. Music and messaging get faster to navigate.
All these updates appear in both CarPlay and the high-end CarPlay Ultra mode. There is no need for a costly new car. Drivers of supported cars will be able to access all the features when iOS 26 is released this fall. In the meantime, a public beta will allow interested testers to test it before launch. Apple says more features like Car Key support are on the way. Keep an eye on AppleInsider for the latest CarPlay news.
