In addition to a Liquid Glass design overhaul, iOS 26 will improve the CarPlay experience by bringing several iPhone features to cars’ infotainment displays.
If you’re a fan of Apple’s in-car software, check out how iOS 26 will upgrade your experience later this year.
Everything new in CarPlay in iOS 26
Since its introduction in 2014, Apple’s CarPlay has become a vital part of the in-car infotainment system for the majority of iPhone users. Some people won’t even consider buying a car that doesn’t support CarPlay. (Don’t have CarPlay? You can add it on the cheap with after-market hardware like this $65 dashboard display.)
Every year, Apple keeps improving CarPlay with new features and enhancements. iOS 26 takes things up a notch, pairing that translucent Liquid Glass design with a bunch of improvements that will make CarPlay smarter and more useful than ever.
Note: iOS 26 will bring these features to the regular version of CarPlay that you already know and love, not the more ambitious CarPlay Ultra that takes over the whole dashboard. That advanced infotainment system remains in limbo, with few automakers willing to give Apple so much control.
Table of contents: Everything new in CarPlay in iOS 26
- Liquid Glass design
- Compact view
- Tapbacks support in the Messages app
- Pin your important conversations
- Better use of the available display
- Live Activities
- Widgets
- Stream videos
- New incident reporting in Apple Maps
- iOS 26 brings big improvements to CarPlay
Liquid Glass design
Like all of Apple’s other operating systems, the revamped CarPlay experience in iOS 26 adopts Apple’s new Liquid Glass design. The buttons and other UI elements have a glassy look with a depth effect. (The glassy design also extends to CarPlay Ultra.)
Compact view comes to CarPlay in iOS 26 so you can see navigation better
Soon, an incoming phone call will no longer take over your car’s entire infotainment screen. Instead, the CarPlay upgrade introduces a compact view, where incoming calls appear in a floating bar at the bottom. This will ensure you can view turn-by-turn navigation directions without losing sight of the incoming call.
Tapbacks support in the Messages app
Photo: Apple
The Messages app in CarPlay gains support for Tapbacks in iOS 26. So, you can respond to messages with a thumbs up/down, heart, etc., with a simple tap.
Pin your important conversations
Photo: Apple
Similar to the Messages app on the iPhone, CarPlay in iOS 26 will let you pin important conversations to the top for quick and easy access.
Better use of the available display
CarPlay will automatically adjust the size of icons and UI elements depending on the size of your car’s infotainment display. This will provide a better experience, with the UI elements not looking out of place on a smaller display.
Live Activities
Photo: Apple
Apple expands Live Activities beyond the iPhone and Mac to CarPlay with iOS 26. That means you can easily keep track of real-time notifications while driving, including your food delivery status, sports scores, etc.
Widgets
Photo: Apple
Alongside Live Activities, iOS 26 brings iPhone widgets to CarPlay, complete with full-stack support. Depending on the size of your car’s infotainment display, you can place one or more widgets appear on the screen.
Stream videos
After you upgrade to this year’s iPhone software, you will be able to play videos directly on your car’s infotainment system. However, the functionality will only work in parked vehicles.
New incident reporting in Apple Maps
Apple Maps in CarPlay will add support for three new incident types: roadwork, road closures and traffic.
iOS 26 brings big improvements to CarPlay
These improvements will land on your car’s infotainment system once Apple releases iOS 26 to the public this fall. But you can always try out the new CarPlay by installing the iOS 26 beta on your iPhone. Just be ready to deal with bugs and random app crashes.
