After more than 10 years helping drivers connect with their iPhones, Apple CarPlay is now supported by more than 800 different models of cars and motorcycles, and it’s about to get a major shakeup in the way it looks and operates.
Apple is updating the CarPlay experience with the newly revealed iOS 26. Apple announced the changes during its annual WWDC event in Cupertino, California on Monday, June 9.
Apple’s iPhone-compatible automobile operating system is used more than 600 million times per day, according to the tech giant. The entire CarPlay system is getting a refresh, including icons in light and dark modes, widgets to give you “quick and glanceable ways to get information” while you’re on the move and live activities like flight statuses.
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“We’ve also added new features to help keep you connected while driving, like a compact design when you get a call, so you can still see what’s on the screen, like your upcoming directions, along with tap backs and pinned conversations in messages,” Apple’s Emily Schubert said during the WWDC keynote.
There are also now vehicle controls in Apple CarPlay, including radio and climate controls.
You can use Apple CarPlay to control the climate in your car.
Footage from Apple during the keynote also showed you can send emoji reactions to messages while on the go, without navigating away from your driving directions. You can also see things like calendar reminders and smart home controls in widgets on the side of the display.
Apple launched CarPlay Ultra last month, bringing more customized features for automakers to include.
“It provides information for all of the driver’s screens, including real-time content and gauges in the instrument cluster, while reflecting the automaker’s look and feel and offering drivers a customizable experience,” Apple said in a blog post in May.
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