CarPlay stopped working after iOS 26 update.

I have an iPhone 16 Pro and a third party head unit with CarPlay which has been working flawlessly for over two years with two different iPhones, an SE and my current iPhone 6 Pro. The morning after I updated my iPhone to iOS 26, the Maps screen did not appear on the device as it normally would and instead, a connection error screen appeared. I tried repeatedly to reconnect without success and in the evening, I found various accounts of how this problem had arisen in iOS 26 beta releases and that it might be fixed by resetting everything, forgetting devices etc. well, I sat in my car for an hour doing just that. I managed to connect to the device via Bluetooth and WiFi and when I tried to initiate CarPlay, the device appeared. When I selected it, a CarPlay screen came up which I okayed and then the device disappeared from the CarPlay settings.

I gave my old SE to my girlfriend and there is no problem when I try to connect with that but it doesn't work with my £1000 iPhone 16 Pro literally since I updated to iOS 26.

I think it is fair to say that the iOS 26 update broke and I'm pretty annoyed.

iPhone 16 Pro, iOS 26

Posted on Sep 17, 2025 7:14 AM

Top-ranking reply

Brandon2021

Level 1

37 points

Posted on Oct 8, 2025 3:06 PM

The CarPlay widgets are what’s causing the issue. Your CarPlay head unit isn’t powerful enough to have them running even in the background. To fix it, go to Settings > General > CarPlay, select your CarPlay stereo, and then go to Widgets. Now, slide the Show Widgets toggle off to disable them.

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117 replies

Nov 20, 2025 2:49 PM in response to Brandon2021

This didn’t help at all. Car Play worked adequately with iOS 26 on iPhone 17 pro max; sometimes wouldn’t connect. With iOS 26.1, CarPlay has stopped working completely. I turned off widgets, as you suggested. Still didn’t work. I’ve restarted infotainment system and I phone multiple times. Forgotten and repaired phone and car multiple times. Tried wired with wire that worked with iOS 26. Nothing. iOS 26.1 seems to be the culprit. Any other suggestions?

Nov 22, 2025 9:45 AM in response to Alf Megson

I have an IPhone 13 Pro Max. My vehicle with the problem is a 2021 Ford F150 with the factory entertainment system.

Carplay has worked well since I bought my truck in 2021. With the IOS 26.1 update I lost the main feature I need the most, turn by turn directions on my screen. Carplay works fine until turn by turn directions starts, then Carplay will completely shut down from my vehicle and will not return until I turn the vehicle off than back on. Maps continue to work on my phone, but that is not what I want. Now I have to rely on my Garmin, which was my backup, for this feature.

Looking at these replies it seems the particular issues with this update vary from user to user. I have turned off widgets, deleted than reconnected my phone and have not resolved the issue. The exact thing happens whether I use Apple Maps or Google Maps (I always use Apple Maps but have the other, just in case). So far, it appears that the other apps work, just not the one I need the most.

Dec 1, 2025 7:02 AM in response to Zoerose33

Also having this exact same thing, have even done a factory reset on my phone only for it to still not work. I have tried multiple cables, other iphones (my mom is running iOS 14 and it works fine). Would love for Apple to offer other suggestions.

allroad

Level 1

6 points

Sep 28, 2025 9:01 AM in response to Alf Megson

Max 17 pro IOS 26 Carplay constantly dropping out ... Its not good enough !!!!

rich710

Level 1

14 points

Sep 29, 2025 9:41 AM in response to allroad

I have the same problem, the day after I connected my iphone 17 pro. Lose connection every 3-4 minutes. Reconnect immediately again, but it's very annoying