Apple did not find yourself constructing its personal automobile, but it surely did give us CarPlay. With iOS 26, CarPlay is getting a number of neat enhancements, which incorporates improved design, an choice for larger font sizes, and helpful accessibility options too. This is all the pieces new coming to CarPlay with Apple’s upcoming replace:
Credit score: Apple
With iOS 26, Reside Actions come to CarPlay. These pop-ups can help you preserve a tab on essential updates with out fiddling together with your cellphone or the top unit. Reside Actions in your iPhone is beneficial to trace deliveries, flight statuses, and far more, and whereas not all iOS use instances will probably be related right here, a few of these will even be accessible in CarPlay. (I believe the flight standing characteristic will probably be particularly helpful for airport pickups and drop-offs.)
You needn’t do something to see Reside Actions in CarPlay. So long as it is seen in your iPhone, it will present up on the CarPlay dashboard, or seem as a popover on high of different apps corresponding to your navigation app. Apple says you can disable Reside Actions when you do not wish to see them, and even management their look by setting totally different Focus modes.
CarPlay can be including assist for widgets, together with issues like calendar entries, climate, and dawn/sundown occasions. You’ll choose which widgets you see on the CarPlay dashboard by going to Settings > Normal > CarPlay on iPhone, choosing your automobile, and selecting the widgets.
A brand new compact view for incoming calls
Credit score: Apple
The redesigned CarPlay with iOS 26 now features a compact view. For instance, if you obtain a cellphone name, it’s going to present up as a small pop-up on the display, as an alternative of taking over extra space. Which means different essential info, corresponding to driving instructions, aren’t hidden if you obtain a cellphone name.
What do you assume to date?
A couple of Messages upgrades
Credit score: Apple
With iOS 26, the Messages app in CarPlay will can help you use Tapbacks—Apple parlance for reacting to textual content messages with emojis. This can allow you to shortly faucet an emoji to reply to somebody by way of the automobile’s show. Messages will even allow you to view your iPhone’s pinned conversations, which makes it simpler to textual content individuals you are steadily in contact with.
Model new icons
Credit score: Apple
Sure, Liquid Glass is coming to your automobile as properly. The icons from iOS 26 have made their approach to CarPlay. Whether or not you’re keen on them or hate them, you will see this new design in your automobile’s show.
Improved accessibility options
CarPlay with iOS 26 will even assist Giant Textual content, which will increase font sizes and makes textual content simpler to learn in your automobile’s display. Apple can be including Sound Recognition to CarPlay, which can notify drivers and passengers when iOS detects sure sounds. The notifications can warn you when CarPlay detects sirens, a crying child, horns, or different essential sounds.
