CarPlay Music SharePlay

I'm having a problem in that my passenger always has to use the QR code. So the notification referenced in step 2 of the "Host a SharePlay Session" never occurs. I'll initiate playing a song through CarPlay. My passenger, who is in my contacts list, brings up Apple Music and nothing happens. I do have the 'Discoverable By Contacts' option selected CarPlay.

I am having the same problem. I have Apple Music subscription, family members who are in my Apple family even don’t show up. Always have to do the manual scan of the QR code and then it works for that one time.

I’ll add myself to the list. Same situation. My family members, who are all on some same Apple Music subscription as me, have to scan the QR code every time they want to connect, and even then it sometimes doesn’t work.

I don’t believe that anyone in my car has ever received the “would you like to join SharePlay” notification, despite all being in my Contacts.

I occurs to me now that you need to check to see if they perhaps all have notifications disabled for the Music app. I’m assuming that would cause problems with this.

Hello omarc131,

We have a great support article that might help with this. Please take a look at it here: Play music together in the car with iPhone - Apple Support. Make sure that all of these guidelines and steps are being followed to assure that this feature will work as expected.

"Before you begin

• The driver must have an iPhone with iOS 17 or later and be an Apple Music subscriber.
• Passengers must have an iPhone with iOS 17 or later, but don’t need to have an Apple Music subscription.

Host a SharePlay session

To use SharePlay in the car, you and your passengers each play a part.

1. Begin playing music from your iPhone using CarPlay.
2. A notification appears on the Lock Screen of passengers’ iPhones, asking if they’d like to join the SharePlay session. After they tap Connect, you receive a notification in CarPlay.
3. Tap a passenger’s name, then tap  to allow the passenger to choose and stream music from your iPhone.
4. After you approve a passenger, they’ll have access to future SharePlay sessions until you revoke their access.

Use a QR code to join a SharePlay session

Passengers can also join a SharePlay session over Bluetooth by scanning a QR code.

1. In the Now Playing screen in CarPlay, tap  in CarPlay.
2. A QR code appears on the CarPlay screen.
3. Ask a passenger to open the Camera app on their iPhone and point the camera at the QR code.
4. A button appears below the picture of the QR code on their iPhone to request a connection to the SharePlay session. The passenger taps the button, then taps Connect.
5. Tap  on the CarPlay screen to allow the passenger to join.

Use a QR code to add other passengers

If you’re a passenger using SharePlay to control music in a car, you can invite other passengers while the driver focuses on the road.

1. In the Music app , open Now Playing, then tap  at the bottom of the screen to show the SharePlay window, which lists all the participants as well as a QR code for joining the session.
2. Ask a passenger to open the Camera app on their iPhone and point the camera at the QR code, tap the button that appears below the code, then tap Connect.
3. The driver taps  on the CarPlay screen to allow the passenger to join.

Leave or end a SharePlay session in the car

• If you’re a passenger: Tap  at the bottom of Now Playing, then tap Leave.
• If you’re the driver: Tap End on the CarPlay screen."

We hope this helps. Let us know if we can assist with anything else at all. Take care.