CarPlay app not installed after restoring to a new iPhone 15 Pro Max

After doing an iCloud restore the CarPlay app is missing from the device. How can I download the app? This has happened twice. Is it possible my backup is corrupted?

iPhone 13 Pro Max, iOS 18

Posted on Mar 26, 2025 5:29 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Mar 26, 2025 5:39 PM

There is no CarPlay app. There never was a CarPlay app. You enable CarPlay in Settings > General > CarPlay

14 replies

Mar 26, 2025 6:34 PM in response to TheLittles

TheLittles wrote:

"Do you use CarPlay? Clearly not. If you did, you'd know there is no, nor has there ever been a CarPlay app. My response above is how to get to CarPlay.[...]"
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Yes. "CarPlay app" seems a bit generic to me. Does it not?

No, CarPlay app does not seem generic in any way. And by the response you posted, it's clear you didn't think it was generic either. If you thought it was, why would you and I quote the following: "Are you referring to an app that accessible through CarPlay? If so, and it did not come back, then it may have been removed from the App Store."


How could an app which has never existed, EVER have been removed from the App Store. This alone demonstrates you don't know there has never been a CarPlay app, which is honestly quite surprising for a senior member of this forum, who is rapidly approaching 200,000 points.


CarPlay is and has ALWAYS been accessed exactly where it is, which is in Settings.

Mar 26, 2025 7:31 PM in response to Axel Foley

Hey Axel. If there is any validity there, it is lost on me for sure. The Author was pretty specific and said: "After doing an iCloud restore the CarPlay app is missing from the device. How can I download the app? This has happened twice. Is it possible my backup is corrupted?"


I don't see how one can not see that they think the CarPlay app is gone from their device. Had they said, it was gone from their car that would be different. But saying it's gone from their device means they think they lost the CarPlay app. Which we know they couldn't lose an app which has never existed. CarPlay is a setting in Settings. Not an App. So, suggesting maybe Apple removed the App from the App Store, simply makes no sense at all. TL even suggested they look at their purchase history. WHY? There would be NO record of having downloaded an app which has never been in the App Store to begin with. The only thing I can surmise is TL simply didn't understand the question.


I guess I approach things differently. If I come along and another member posted a response, I'd want to make certain their answer was correct, before I'd add a solution which doesn't address the question. If I don't understand a question, I'll go try to answer something I do understand. Clearly, I'm just wired differently in this regard.


Anyway, good to see you!

Mar 26, 2025 5:58 PM in response to ultradoink

"CarPlay app not installed after restoring to a new iPhone 15 Pro Max: After doing an iCloud restore the CarPlay app is missing from the device. How can I download the app? This has happened twice. Is it possible my backup is corrupted?"

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CarPlay App?:

Are you referring to an app that accessible through CarPlay? If so, and it did not come back, then it may have been removed from the App Store. Sometimes, Apple removes apps from the App Store, and they never become accessible again. It's something you would have agreed to, upon opening an Apple Account. So, view your purchase history, and see if you can recognize which app it is, and then redownload it: View your Purchase History for the App Store and Other Apple Media Services - Apple Support

Mar 26, 2025 6:06 PM in response to TheLittles

TheLittles wrote:

"CarPlay app not installed after restoring to a new iPhone 15 Pro Max: After doing an iCloud restore the CarPlay app is missing from the device. How can I download the app? This has happened twice. Is it possible my backup is corrupted?"
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CarPlay App?:
Are you referring to an app that accessible through CarPlay? If so, and it did not come back, then it may have been removed from the App Store. Sometimes, Apple removes apps from the App Store, and they never become accessible again. It's something you would have agreed to, upon opening an Apple Account. So, view your purchase history, and see if you can recognize which app it is, and then redownload it: View your Purchase History for the App Store and Other Apple Media Services - Apple Support

Do you use CarPlay? Clearly not. If you did, you'd know there is no, nor has there ever been a CarPlay app. My response above is how to get to CarPlay. Why take your time to answer a question about something you clearly don't know anything about?

Mar 26, 2025 7:01 PM in response to lobsterghost1

Good evening LG. How have you been?

I wanted to summarize what I believe, TheLittles may have meant by, “Are you referring to an app that accessible through CarPlay?” I believe this would be the app(s) accessible when CarPlay is active on the screen. For example, one can access Google Maps, Teams and multiple other apps through the CarPlay screen in your car, In this example, Google Maps would have to be installed on the iPhone so that it can be accessed from the CarPlay screen. If, Google removes its accessibility from CarPlay, then it would cease from appearing on the CarPlay screen as a choice. This could also be an app that could have been abandoned by the developer and therefore removed from the App Store and OP could not reinstall it during the restoration process.

Your original response to OP is probably right on, however, there is an outside chance that TheLIttles’ response has some alternate validity. Juz’ Sayin’.


Axel F.

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CarPlay app not installed after restoring to a new iPhone 15 Pro Max

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