Maximize Your CarPlay Experience: Tips and Tricks

For many users, CarPlay is essential. Apple’s in-car interface significantly enhances the infotainment options compared to most car manufacturers. It offers quick access to your preferred apps, Siri integration, smooth connectivity, and much more.

Below are some of my favorite tips and tricks to ensure you’re maximizing your CarPlay experience…

Tailor Your CarPlay Apps and Home Screen

While many of your favorite apps might be accessible through CarPlay, it doesn’t mean you need all of them on your CarPlay Home Screen. Fortunately, customizing these options is quite simple.

1. Launch the Settings app on your iPhone
2. Select “General”
3. Tap on “CarPlay”
4. Choose your vehicle’s name and then select “Customize”

From here, you’ll have access to a comprehensive list of all the CarPlay-compatible apps on your phone. Just tap the red minus sign to remove any app you don’t want to show on CarPlay.

You can also modify the arrangement of your CarPlay Home Screen on this Settings page. Simply drag the apps to arrange them in your preferred order using the three horizontal lines next to the app icons.

CarPlay Wallpapers

While you cannot set any image as your CarPlay wallpaper, Apple does provide a variety of built-in options for you to choose from.

1. On CarPlay, open the Settings app
2. Select “Wallpaper”
3. Pick your desired wallpaper and tap “Set”

Apple periodically introduces new wallpaper choices for CarPlay, but the selection remains limited.

Wired vs. Wireless

CarPlay can function both wired and wirelessly, depending on your vehicle’s design. Wired CarPlay typically offers a quicker and more dependable connection. When utilizing wireless CarPlay, you might notice some lag, particularly while changing songs or interacting with Siri.

Here’s how I approach it:

• I opt for wireless CarPlay for quick trips when I’m frequently entering and exiting the vehicle while running errands.
• I prefer wired CarPlay during extended road trips for a consistent experience.

Your experience may differ based on your car model. However, there are methods to enable wireless CarPlay in any vehicle. I recommend the CarlinKit 5.0 adapter, which allows you to convert wired CarPlay into a wireless setup for less than $60.

Dark Mode

CarPlay offers both light and dark mode interfaces. Within the CarPlay Settings app, you can choose from three settings:

1. Light
2. Dark
3. Automatic

I prefer the automatic setting, which switches between light and dark modes based on the time of day and ambient lighting conditions.

Driving Focus Mode

One of the significant advantages of CarPlay is its ability to improve in-car safety by reducing the urge to reach for your phone. The Driving Focus mode blocks incoming notifications, messages, and calls, helping you maintain your attention on the road.

You can customize Driving Focus mode through your iPhone’s Settings app. You have the option to allow notifications from specific individuals and enable an automatic response that lets others know you’re driving. Additionally, you can configure Driving Focus to activate automatically when connected to CarPlay.

Announcement of Messages

Announce Messages is a popular feature on the iPhone that utilizes Siri to read texts aloud, allowing you to respond verbally. This feature works not only with Apple’s Messages app but also with third-party applications like WhatsApp.

1. Navigate to Settings > Siri & Search > Announce Notifications on your iPhone
2. Toggle on Announce Notifications and select the compatible apps
3. In CarPlay, ensure that Announce Messages with Siri is activated within the CarPlay Settings app

SharePlay

If you’re like me, you want to maintain control over the music while driving. However, if you wish to allow passengers to add songs to the playlist, CarPlay offers that feature as well.

Look for a SharePlay icon in the upper right corner of the Apple Music Now Playing screen. Tapping this icon will allow you to generate a QR code for others to scan. Once they do, you’ll be notified that someone wants to join your SharePlay session.

Once a participant joins, they can add songs, view the current playlist, and adjust the order – even without an Apple Music subscription.

Conclusion

Are you a user of CarPlay? What are your favorite tips and tricks? Feel free to share in the comments below.

Of course, the most notable topic is Apple’s eagerly awaited next-generation CarPlay platform. Unfortunately, there are minimal details about when this will be released.

If you own an electric vehicle, consider charging it with rooftop solar panels. To find a reputable and competitive solar installer near you, check out EnergySage, a free service that simplifies the solar installation process. They have numerous pre-vetted installers competing for your business, ensuring high-quality solutions while saving you 20-30% compared to going independently. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t receive sales calls until you choose an installer and provide your phone number.

Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online, and you can reach out to unbiased Energy Advisers who will assist you throughout the entire process. Get started here.