New iOS 26 CarPlay functions, widgets and more

The new ‘Liquid Glass’ user interface of iOS 26, iPados 26 and MacOS 26 Tahoe is also extended to CarPlay. In addition, CarPlay also gets a number of new functions such as Widgets and Live activities.

Every car with CarPlay support, both wireless and wired, is given this refreshed version of CarPlay from iOS 26.

iPhone Widgets on CarPlay

iPhone widgets can be added from iOS 26 to CarPlay, also from apps that do not have a special CarPlay version. The widgets are very similar to the standby widgets of the iPhone, this is because this technology is shared.

CarPlay-Widgets can be configured from your iPhone with the settings app. For this you go to General â–¸ CarPlay â–¸ My car â–¸ Widgets.

New iOS 26 CarPlay functions, widgets and more

Here you can select which widgets must be displayed in a ‘stack’. Depending on the multimedia system in your car, several of these piles can be available. Via the settings it is also possible to switch on or off various functions such as: widgets, background, widget suggestions and the rotation of the screen.

By adding widgets, the standard app display moves to the third CarPlay screen. The widgets appear on the first start screen, the dashboard on the second followed by the app display.

Live activities visible in CarPlay

CarPlay also receives support from live activities from iOS 16. This can be very useful if, for example, you have to pick someone up at a refuge. With live activities you can, for example, view information about an upcoming flight in real-time. But of course also the information about the delivery process of a meal or the scores of sports competitions. All this clearly shown in the CarPlay screen and without losing the focus on the road.

AIRPLAY for CarPlay

iPhone users can stream wireless videos to the CarPlay screen with AirPlay. For safety reasons, playing video is only available when the vehicle is parked to distract during driving. The connected iPhone can detect when the vehicle is moving and end the playback.

Other changes

In addition to the new user interface, widgets and live activities, a number of smaller changes have been added that make the use of CarPlay more convenient and safer in practice.

Compact display Incoming conversations

For example, a new compact display has been added for incoming conversations, so that you can see who is calling without missing the next route. In the previous version, the screen was completely taken over during an incoming conversation. Under iOS 26, an incoming conversation at the bottom of the screen is displayed compactly.

CarPlay iOS 26 Incoming SREK

Respond with a tapback

The display of the messages has also been adjusted, making it look clearer. New is the possibility to respond to a message using a tapback, so that you can respond quickly to messages with an emoji. In addition, it is possible to secure a conversation on the message screen.

Adjust text size

A new option has been added to the accessibility options with which the text size can be adjusted. This allows you to improve readability if this is necessary.

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