We live in a technology-focused age where phones have become a necessity. Unfortunately, staying connected while driving is a major distraction that can lead to serious accidents or even death. The good news is that most new vehicles on the road come with smartphone integration via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.
Apple CarPlay is a technology that connects your iPhone to your car’s infotainment system. The technology takes the apps on your phone and transfers them to your vehicle’s easy-to-drive, hands-free control interface. With CarPlay, you can make calls, send messages, navigate, control your music and much more without risking your life or that of others on the road.
In this article, we’ll look at Apple CarPlay, including how it works and how to add it to an older car.
How to find out if a car has Apple CarPlay
Determining whether your vehicle has Apple CarPlay is not a difficult task. You can carry out this process in several ways. First, do a Google search to get the year, make and model of your car. Most vehicles manufactured in 2014 and later have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto functionality.
According to A Girls Guide to Cars, the second way to check if your vehicle has Apple CarPlay is to plug your phone into your vehicle’s main USB port if it doesn’t have a wireless dock. If the car has Apple CarPlay functionality, the app will appear on the screen asking for permission on your phone. Third, you can know if your vehicle has CarPlay functionality by going through its owner’s manual.
Some vehicle systems, like Hyundai’s, automatically launch Apple CarPlay when you connect your phone to the infotainment system; for others, you must activate it through the system. Read the section below if you find that your car has CarPlay but you don’t know how to connect it. On the contrary, if your vehicle lacks Carplay, skip to the last section and find out how to add it to your car.
Why doesn’t Apple CarPlay show up in my car?
Apple CarPlay may fail to appear in your car for several reasons. First, the app may be faulty or accidentally turned off. In this case, the solution is to set it up properly on your iPhone. Also, CarPlay requires Siri to work effectively. To solve this problem, enable Siri in the application settings.
Another reason why Apple CarPlay does not appear is the lack of the latest updates. So make sure your iPhone and Apple CarPlay are running on the latest iOS and app versions. The problem could also be due to a damaged USB cable if you are not using a wireless connection. Make sure you plug the phone securely into a working USB port and the cable works.
Finally, the CarPlay connection may break, requiring you to connect again from scratch. If you try all the solutions and they don’t work, you may need to restart your iPhone and clean up all corrupted data and digital junk, including broken apps. Otherwise, contact Apple for assistance.
How to add CarPlay to an old car
Fortunately, most automakers, including Jaguar, Audi, BMW, Bentley, Porsche, and Maserati, have or plan to produce vehicles that support Apple CarPlay. Unfortunately, most automakers don’t offer upgrades for older vehicles, although some, like Porsche, allow you to add a 3.5-inch screen to your car even if it was made in the 1960s.
If your car manufacturer does not offer an option to upgrade your vehicles to add Apple CarPlay, you will need to install an aftermarket universal display. Most of these CarPlay-compatible touchscreens are available starting at $250, but you’ll pay up to $1,000 for premium-quality displays. If your vehicle is older than the 2014 model year, you can use CarPlay, but you’ll need some add-ons, including additional apps, to make the system work.
Displays that support CarPlay come with additional features that can increase the cost of installation. For example, they might include SiriusXM radio connectivity, HD radio, an HDMI connection, or a backup camera.
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