How can I fix Wi-Fi and CarPlay issues on iPhone 17 Pro Max?

iPhone Air + Apple Watch Ultra 2 here. When connected to CarPlay I get intermittent crack/pop interruptions when songs or podcasts are playing. I've also noticed in navigation, instead of the regular blue circle with arrow showing my location, the arrow disappears sometimes, or even becomes a wider circle, as if it isn't sure where I am.

My 17pro will not connect at all by bluetooth to my 2018 Camary. My 14pro was hardwired and I’m trying to find and A to C wire that might work as I don’t think it will connect to carplay wirelessly. But I can’t even get the bluetooth to work for audio or the phone. I just keep getting a fail to connect message though the phone does seem to recognize the car.

This keeps happening to me too with wired carplay and no apple watch. It’s almost as if my phone is drawing too much power and it’s shutting down my infotainment system. it comes right back on.

I haven’t had this happen with any other phones i’ve had

UPDATE

I just connected the HomePods back to check if there were updates for them through the Home app and all HomePods do offer version 26.0, quoting airplay stability improvements. Will try replicating the issue after the updates and some airplay attempts and will report back.

I can verify that with my iPhone 17 Pro Max 1TB and my Apple Watch SE Nike (GPS), this is indeed the issue. CarPlay and Bluetooth work just fine in my car until my watch “locks”. Then Bluetooth and CarPlay quit working. I simply raise my wrist and almost immediately Bluetooth and CarPlay go back to working as intended. Both my phone and watch are up-to-date in regards to software

iPhone 17 pro with Ottocast - iphone 14 with ios 26 was fine. No VPN, no apple watch. No other connections, but I see wireless car play disappear - every few minutes, but it comes back. Have not reset network connections yet.

Anonymous Panda wrote:

A bug has been found by someone on the macrumors form. While there’s workarounds, it’s up to an update to fix it.

Well, is someone said it on MacRumors, it must be true! That's even more trustworthy than reading it on Reddit.

I have the same issue, the wifi will disconnect and the bluetooth will disconnect with my car and even my AirPods! I can't believe this is happening! I get the new iPhone every year at the first time but it is the first time ever happened to me!

This seems to be another work around that at least a few people have said worked, both here and on the Reddit post. However, one person has said that they don’t have any VPNs installed and the issue still happens.

Anonymous Panda wrote:

This seems to be another work around that at least a few people have said worked, both here and on the Reddit post. However, one person has said that they don’t have any VPNs installed and the issue still happens.

In all likelihood, there are multiple problems with the same symptoms. We see that a lot. And that means not every suggestion will work for everyone. Annoying, I know.

Same issue. iPhone 17 CarPlay disconnects frequently on wireless mode. No VPN or anything. Tried CarPlay with other Bluetooth devices disconnected. No luck. iPhone 13 with iOS 26 works absolutely fine. Disappointed. Hope they bring up a fix.

I have had the 17 Pro Max activated since Saturday and my signal keeps dropping. I have no VPN and no watch currently (I have one but I haven't even opened it yet). I have turned on and off the phone and I continue to lose service many times throughout the day. It comes back within a few minutes each time. I can't figure out the cause because it's happened while at home, while in the car, while at work, and at my parents house too. It's definitely not my location so it has to be something with the phone. HELP!

This is happening on both of my Radio Carplay. Seems when I am listening to music and also your Apple maps for GPS, whenever Maps makes an announcement Carplay and bluetooth disconnect. Both radios (they are different) worked with my Iphone 16 Pro Max. The issue started with my Iphone 17 Pro Max.

Same here. My iPhone 17 pro max constantly loses its WiFi connection (no available WiFi detected at all even the WiFi signal is strong ) whenever it’s unlocked. No VPN has been used in the above situation.

Yeah I’m too having an issue with my 17 pro! I noticed that when I connect to my cars WiFi it’s horrible. I have to turn off my WiFi for it to work better (reception). I only noticed it when I get into my car me connect to CarPlay. So not sure if it’s when it’s connecting to CarPlay or when I’m using the car WiFi! I have updated to iso 23.1 and still same issue.