Our guide to everything you need to know about Apple CarPlay
Have you considered adding the Apple CarPlay system to your car?
The system means your iPhone’s display is mirrored on your car’s infotainment screen and you can use it with Siri voice control, making it quicker and safer to make and receive calls and use your apps and features while you’re driving.
Apple CarPlay allows you to use your iPhone’s sat-nav apps such as Google Maps and Waze, helping you to reach your destination safely and quickly. You can also make calls without taking your eyes off the road.
What can you do with Apple CarPlay?
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Make calls
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Send and receive messages
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Listen to music through your car’s stereo system
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Get directions
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Find information
What do you need to do?
If you have Apple CarPlay in your car, you won’t need to do anything to upgrade it or the controls. It works with your touchscreen and the button controls in the car.
In most cases, all you need to do to set it up is to plug your iPhone into the USB slot in the car. The phone and the car will do everything for you.
To set it up, ensure you’re in an area which supports Apple CarPlay (you can check here) and that your car also supports it.
Start your car and make sure Siri is on. Get support for that here.
Connect your phone to the car, either by a USB cable or wirelessly. The USB port might have a CarPlay icon or an icon of a smartphone.
If you’re connecting wirelessly, press the voice command button on the steering wheel and hold it. Ensure your stereo is in wireless mode or Bluetooth mode and go to your iPhone settings. Look for General, then CarPlay, then tap ‘Available Cars’, and select your car. Look at your manual for more information.
To use the system with Siri, hold your steering wheel’s voice command button and say what you need. If you’re not sure where this button is, consult the manual for your car or your stereo.
Your car will show the available apps. If you want to customise the order or add or remove some, you can go to Settings, then General, tap CarPlay, select your car, then use the delete or add icons to remove or add apps. Tap them and drag them to arrange the order.
In which of our new models is this available?
CarPlay comes as standard or as an optional extra in the Audi A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, Q2, Q5, Q7, Q8, R8, TT, and e-tron, the Ford C-MAX, Edge, Fiesta, Focus, Fusion, Mustang, and EcoSport, the SEAT Ateca, Alhambra, Ibiza, Leon, and Toledo, the Skoda Fabia, Karoq, Kodiak, Octavia, Rapid, and Superb, and the Volkswagen Arteon, Amarok, Beetle, Caddy, California, Caravelle, Golf, Passat, Polo, Sharan, Tiguan, Touran, Transporter, T-Cross, and T-Roc.
Are you looking for a new car and need advice on adding Apple CarPlay? Take a look at our new car range or send us a message here.