- iOS 26 will initiate CarPlay’s biggest overhaul for years
- Expect great improvements of maps and other popular driving apps
- Live activityswidgets allow more information to be displayed on screen
In September, Apple users receive a message to update their many devices to iOS 26 – which is undoubtedly one of the biggest updates to its products in recent years.
Alongside a new “Liquid Glass” interface, the California tech giant introduces a number of new features and app updates that will benefit those who like to connect their iPhone and make use of CarPlay convenience on the road.
It is likely that the hottest new feature involves live activities that debut in the CarPlay environment and act as a practical widget that can sit with navigation instructions and audio apps to make easy digesting updates on important live events.
In the examples, Apple has released so far, live activity appears as a flight tracking app showing the progress and flag of the aircraft if it is delayed or not-not-by-not to pick up friends and family from the airport.
Other uses for the feed include updates of living weather, keeping up with sports results or tracking the progress of an Uber EAT’s delivery. But that’s not the only update that comes to CarPlay in iOS 26 – here’s what else changes …
1. Keep things personal
The new Liquid Glass look can also afford CarPlay users greater control over the way their CarPlay system feels. Instead of simple light and dark conditions, there is also the possibility of easy to adjust the background from a pre -selected list of wallpaper.
Users can also choose a ‘transparent’ appearance that gives more separation between the app icons and the background. Early insight, like this one from Tom’s Guide, claims that it is less distracting and easier to use while driving.
2. First responder
In the current generation of CarPlay, incoming text messages are mainly handled by Siri, which means that the answers must be composed using vocal prompts.
Anyone who uses CarPlay regularly knows that this can be a little hit-and-miss, with the often noisy car environment confusing Siri, resulting in confused messages. Personally, it often takes me several attempts to prepare a coherent reaction.
In iOS 26, CarPlay will offer a ‘tapback’ feature for incoming messages, allowing quick answers via a pre-populated list of regular response offenses you can on an iPhone right now.
This lapses the need to compose a message as you can simply answer with “I drive, call you later” or something about this via a single touch.
At the top of this, Apple builds in call screening, which collects information from the one who rings and delivers it to the driver so you can decide if you need to interrupt the fascinating podcast and make the call or not.
3rd home screen hero
Alongside the ability to customize the appearance and feeling of CarPlay to some extent, Apple will also introduce widgets to a dedicated panel that will provide things like a digital watch, a calendar and even Apple Home shortcuts that can be organized on a home screen for effortless viewing.
This setup can act as a total shortcut to more iPhone integrated content. For example, clicking on a calendar input can also get any affiliated place, which is then opened in a mapping service after selection.
In general, there must be less need to pick up your iPhone and interact with it when behind the wheel, which is not only distracting and dangerous, it is also very illegal in many countries.
4. Video on-demand
After this summer’s WWDC 2025 show, Apple still revealed that CarPlay would allow videos to be played on vehicle infotainment screens via its airplay streaming standard, which means users could enjoy content when parked.
However, there are a few big warnings, the first is that not all entertainment apps support AirPlay so you can’t watch Netflix, for example.
Secondly, earlier this year we reported that car manufacturers must activate this feature separately for the rest of the CarPlay functionality, so that it is added on a case-by-case basis, taking into account local laws and legislation.
This is not a massive problem as many modern vehicles already offer a number of popular streaming services naturally through their various infotainment systems. But the opportunity to stream video can also be a blessing for those with older or less skilled infotainment systems.
