Apple has released an update that brings two new features to CarPlay. This is how you get them!
New features CarPlay
CarPlay has added new functions! Apple has released iOS 26.2, the latest software version for your iPhone. The update not only brings improvements to your iPhone, CarPlay is also expanded with useful changes. The operating system gets two features in iOS 26.2. Are you curious about what they are and how you can use them? We put them together for you!
1. More widgets
The iPhone and iPad have supported widgets for years, but Apple only introduced them to CarPlay with iOS 26. You can add various widgets to the car’s screen, so you can see important information from applications in one go. This way you can see which appointments are in your calendar, what the weather forecasts are and what audio you are playing in the car without opening the apps in CarPlay.
In iOS 26.2, Apple expands the widgets, because more widgets can be placed on one page of CarPlay. While there are a maximum of two in iOS 26.1 and earlier, some cars will support three widgets on one screen. It depends on your car how many widgets there is room for. Cars with a larger display for CarPlay will support three widgets, with smaller screens the maximum will be two. It is not known at what exact screen sizes Apple chooses three widgets.
2. Pin conversations
The Messages app received a major update in iOS 26 and this is also reflected in CarPlay. Responding to messages has become easier as the Messages app in CarPlay has added support for quick responses with emoji. That’s not all, it is also possible for the first time to pin conversations in the Messages app. By default, these pinned conversations appear at the top of the list of all chats in the application.
Not all users are enthusiastic about this new feature, which is why Apple adjusted the feature in iOS 26.2. In the next software version you can choose whether pinned conversations are displayed in the Messages app at CarPlay. Are the pinned chats taking up too much space on your car screen? Then choose to hide pinned conversations so that you see the old view of the Messages app again.
This is how you get the new features
Furthermore, Apple is making improvements in the background in iOS 26.2, which fixes minor problems in CarPlay. Apple released the new software version on Friday December 12, 2025making all features available now. You will find the update on your iPhone under ‘Settings > General > Software update’. Download iOS 26.2 on your iPhone to expand CarPlay with useful features. Don’t want to miss any of Apple’s updates? Then sign up for our newsletter so you always stay informed!
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