Due to many makes and models of the cars and cars units, there are numerous reasons from a glitch to a hardware error due to which the Apple CarPlay may not work.
Reconnect or Repair the Devices
A temporary communication glitch may lead to the CarPlay issue at hand and reconnecting or repairing the devices may solve the problem. But before trying that, make sure to remove any case, particularly, a case with a wireless charging feature or protector from the iPhone as these are reported to create the issue.
Reconnect the Devices
If the issue continues, check if the CarPlay on another iPhone connects fine with the car unit.
Re-pair The Devices
Disable Siri Options in the iPhone Settings
Carplay might not work if Siri’s smart features are hindering iPhone communications. In such a case, disabling the Siri options in the iPhone settings may solve the problem.
Refresh Memory of the iPhone
The Apple CarPlay may fail to work if the iPhone’s memory is glitched out and refreshing the iPhone’s memory (RAM) may solve the problem.
Perform a Hard Restart of the iPhone
A temporary glitch of the iPhone may cause CarPlay not to work and performing a hard restart of the iPhone may clear the Apple CarPlay issue. The exact instructions may differ depending on the iPhone model but the general guidelines will be as under for an iPhone with a Face ID. But before going on that route, check if disabling the VPN (if enabled) on the iPhone solves the problem.
Force Restart the Car Unit
A temporary glitch in the car unit’s modules can lead to the Apple CarPlay issue under discussion and performing a force restart of the car unit may solve the problem. The general guidelines are as under (but the exact instructions may depend on the make and model of the car unit):
Update the iOS of iPhone to the Latest Build
Apple Carplay might fail to work if the OS of the iPhone is outdated as it can cause incompatibility between the Carplay and the head unit. Moreover, if the issue was a result of a bug in the iOS, then the outdated phone might be missing the patch and could be the reason for the issue. In this scenario, updating the iOS of the phone to the latest build may solve the problem. Keep in mind that for some car models, a user may have to re-enter the password for the first CarPlay connection after an iOS update. Before proceeding, make sure the iPhone is charged to 100% and connected to a Wi-Fi network (avoid mobile data as it can be spotty at times).
Update the Firmware of the Car Unit to the Latest Build
The CarPlay may fail to function if the firmware of the car unit is outdated as it can cause incompatibility between the iPhone and car unit. In this context, updating the firmware of the car unit to the latest build may solve the problem.
Allow Carplay in Content & Privacy Restrictions of the iPhone
Your Apple CarPlay may not work if it is restricted from operating on the iPhone. In this case, allowing the Carplay to operate in the Content & Privacy Restrictions of the iPhone may solve the problem.
Enable Smart Device Mirroring of the Car Unit
The Smart Device Mirroring is a Dodge Charger feature (other cars and their car units may have a similar feature) that plays an essential role in the communication between the car unit and CarPlay. If this feature is disabled, then your Apple CarPlay may not work but the phone may keep on charging. In this case, enabling the Smart Device Mirroring of the car unit may solve the problem.
Enable USB Enhanced Mode of the Car Unit
Many car units (like Toyota) come up with two USB modes: basic and enhance. The basic USB mode of the car unit does not support CarPlay (in many cases, only supports charging), whereas, enhance USB mode supports data transfer. If your car unit is configured to use the basic USB mode (the default mode), then that could be the reason for the Apple CarPlay’s not working. In such a case, enabling the Enhanced USB mode of the car unit may solve the problem.
Set the iPhone to Always Enabled in the Car Unit’s Settings
If the iPhone is not enabled in the connectivity settings of the car unit, then that could be the root cause of the Apple Play issue. Here, enabling the iPhone in the connectivity settings of the car unit may solve the problem.
Disable Wi-Fi of the Car Unit
If the iPhone is connected through a USB cable to the car unit and the unit’s Wi-Fi is enabled, then the unit may try to communicate over the Wi-Fi protocol which may cause a handshake problem between the iPhone and car unit, resulting in the Apple CarPlay issue. In such a case, disabling the Wi-Fi of the car unit may solve the problem.
Disable Wi-Fi Networking in the iPhone Settings
The Wi-Fi networking feature of the iPhone is used to enhance the GPS accuracy of the iPhone but it can break the handshake operation between the Carplay and the car unit. In such a case, disabling the Wi-Fi Network feature of the iPhone may solve the problem.
Perform a Network Reset of the iPhone
If the iPhone’s communication modules are glitched out, then it may result in the Carplay issue at hand. Here, performing a network reset of the iPhone may solve the Apple Carplay issue. Do not forget to note down the network-related settings (Wi-Fi details) as these will be wiped clean.
Discharge the Car Unit’s Mother Board
If an electronic component (like a capacitor controlling the USB connection) is stuck in an error state but fails to completely discharged when the unit (or car) is powered off, then that may result in the Apple CarPlay functioning issue. In such a case, discharging the car unit’s motherboard may solve the problem.
Perform a Factory Reset of the App Connect of the Car Unit
App connect is the feature of the Volkswagen car unit (other makes/models may also have a similar option) that is used to communicate with the Apple CarPlay and if it is in a corrupt state, then that may lead to the CarPlay issue at hand. Here, resetting the App Connect module of the Car Unit to the factory defaults may solve the problem.
Reset All iPhone Settings to the Defaults
The Apple Carplay might fail to work if an iPhone configuration is not set as per Carplay’s requirement. As it is not possible to isolate the setting, performing a reset of all settings of the iPhone may solve the problem. Make sure to note down the configurations and customizations (like Wi-Fi passwords, etc.) that you may require after reverting the iPhone Settings to its defaults.
Reset the Car Unit to the Factory Defaults
You may encounter the CarPlay issue if the firmware of the car unit is corrupt and resetting the car unit to the factory defaults may solve the problem.
Reset the iPhone to the Factory Defaults
If none of the above solved the Apple Carplay issue, then the corrupt iOS of the iPhone could be the reason for the Carplay problem and the tedious task of resetting the iPhone to the factory defaults may solve the problem. Before going to that route, make sure to back up your iPhone (as its data will be wiped cleaned). If none of the above worked (alas!), then probably downgrading the iOS of the iPhone may solve the problem, if the issue started to occur after an iOS update. If that is not an option or did not work, then get the car unit or iPhone checked for a hardware error (a loose or wrongly seated data cable on the back of the car unit or the iPhone’s lightning port gone bad, etc.).
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