Since downloading IOS 26 I have noticed that sound on car play is distorted in the car speakers. Radio is fine, Bluetooth connection sounds fine too. It's just with car play. Everything sounds fine through the phone and earbuds. Car dealer said it's an Apple issue. I have turned on and off, and re-connected the phone to the car a couple times.
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
Original Title: Car play sound issues ios 26
iPhone 11, iOS 26
Update as at 15:15 GMT Thu 30th October 2025
Following upgrading my iPhone 11 Pro Max to iOS26.0.1, three apps that play recordings or streaming have a problem when delivering output over CarPlay. The gain is far too high and the sound is distorted. The affected apps are:
Podcasts; Audible; Libby
The Music app is unaffected.
Switching on the camera (see other comments in this thread) removes both the excess gain and the distortion in both apps. I haven't yet found any other app that has this effect.
@AllesandroBG (27 Oct 2025) suggested disabling the "sound check" setting in the Music app. For me, switching the setting off (or back on) has no effect on the output in the affected apps, nor in the Music app.
I read earlier this week elsewhere that iOS26.1 RC (Release Candidate) has now been released. It’s now also thought that iOS26.0.2 (which was known to be being tested) has been scrapped.
I haven’t seen anything in sites discussing iOS26.0.2 and/or iOS26.1 explicitly mentioning this CarPlay issue.
I also have an iPhone 11 Pro Max and exactly the same issue with the addition of Audible books app being loud and distorted through Carplay. Have Apple acknowledged this issue yet?
I have the same issue with the same iPhone. The Maximum Capacity of mine is 79%
Distorted sound on CarPlay after iOS 26 update on my iPhone 11
